Patent Publication Number: US-8993909-B2

Title: Button structure

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to China Application Serial Number 201210421587.4, filed Oct. 29, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention relates to a button structure. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As the technology of the consumer electronics is developing quickly, for the server, the desktop computer, the notebook computer, the tablet computer, the smart phone, the video camera, the camera or the video tape recorder, the demands for various storage devices become higher and higher. It is required to configure a proper input device on the above electronics as operated by a user, such as a mouse, a keyboard, a button and a touch screen, which is designed according to the designer&#39;s demands. 
     Although recently the ratio of the electronics using the touch screen as the input device has been become higher and higher, since physical buttons are direct viewing for users, can be operated quickly and can provide hand handle for users when being pressed, it is necessary to configure the physical buttons. For example, a power switch of the electronics, a camera shutter key and a volume adjustment key still employ the physical buttons mostly. A conventional button is connected to the inner surface of a shell. The shell has a hollow area at a position corresponding to the button, such that the button can be revealed in the hollow area of the shell. 
     However, the button is easy to fall off if hot melting process is not made during assembly between the button and the shell. Therefore, it is easy to cause button shift during the assembly, such that it is not easy for the button to align with the hollow area of the shell and a pressure sensitive element of the printed circuit board. Additionally, although the hot melting process can ensure the button is fixed in a particular position of the shell, the hot melting process is time-consuming and laborious, and the connection between the button and the shell is easy to be broken after being used for a period of time. That is, the conventional button is difficult to be assembled and firmly connected with the shell or the printed circuit board, and thus the human cost is increased. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the invention provides a button structure. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a button structure includes a support bracket and a button. The support bracket has two opposite edges, a first concave portion, a second concave portion, and a position limiting protruding point. The first and second concave portions are respectively located at the two opposite edges, and the position limiting protruding point protrudes from the second concave portion. The button is located on the support bracket and includes a body portion, two neck portions and two stop portions. The two neck portions are located on two opposite ends of the body portion, and the length direction of each of the two neck portions is perpendicular to the length direction of the body portion. The two neck portions are respectively coupled to the first and second concave portions. The neck portion coupled to the second concave portion is positioned by the position limiting protruding point. The two stop portions are respectively connected to a side of the two neck portions facing away from the body portion. The external diameter of each of the two stop portions is larger than the external diameter of the corresponding neck portion, such that the two stop portions can abut against the support bracket. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the above button structure further includes a flexible printed circuit board. The flexible printed circuit board is fixed on the support bracket and has at least one pressure sensitive element. The pressure sensitive element is located between the support bracket and the body portion of the button. When the body portion of the button is pressed, the body portion contacts the pressure sensitive element, such that the pressure sensitive element transfers a pressure sensitive signal. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the length of each of the above neck portions is greater than the thickness of the support bracket. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the above button structure further includes at least one elastomer. The elastomer is located between the support bracket and the body portion of the button and located between the two neck portions. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the above elastomer includes sponge, rubber or spring. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the above second concave portion has a slope surface, and the position limiting protruding point is located on the slope surface. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the above support bracket further includes a fixing arm. The length direction of the fixing arm is in parallel with the length direction of each of the two neck portions, and has a throughhole for penetration of a fixing element. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the above button structure further includes a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is connected to the fixing arm, and has a fixing hole aligned with the throughhole of the fixing arm so as to engage the fixing element into the fixing hole. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the above support bracket has at least one hollow portion. The hollow portion is located between the first and second concave portions. The body portion of the button has at least one protruding portion which penetrates the hollow portion. The printed circuit board has at least one pressure sensitive element which is aligned with the protruding portion. When the body portion of the button is pressed, the protruding portion contacts the pressure sensitive element, such that the pressure sensitive element transfers a pressure sensitive signal. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the length direction of the above protruding portion is in parallel with the length direction of each of the two neck portions. 
     In the above embodiments of the invention, the button is located on the support bracket. When the two neck portions of the button are coupled to the first and second concave portions of the support bracket respectively, the neck portion coupled to the second concave portion is positioned by the position limiting protruding point that protrudes from the second concave portion. Furthermore, the external diameter of the stop portion connected to the neck portion is larger than the external diameter of the neck portion. When the two neck portions of the button are shaken due to an external force in the first and second concave portions, the stop portion can abut against the support bracket to prevent the button departing from the support bracket. 
     Thus, the button and the support bracket can be connected firmly without the hot melting process. During assembly of the button structure, the button may be easily coupled to the first and second concave portions of the support bracket by the two neck portions, such that the button is aligned with the pressure sensitive element. Furthermore, since the hot melting process is omitted during the assembly of the button structure, the time and human cost can be reduced in assembly. After being used for a period of time, since no hot melting area is configured between the button and the support bracket, the button structure is not easy to be broken, so that the service life of the button structure can be lengthened. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a button structure according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded diagram of the button structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one of the two neck portions of the left-side button of  FIG. 1  before being assembled to the first concave portion of the support bracket; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one of the two neck portions of the button of  FIG. 3  after being assembled to the first concave portion of the support bracket; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the other one of the two neck portions of the button of  FIG. 4  after being assembled to the second concave portion of the support bracket; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram wherein the two neck portions of  FIG. 5  are respectively coupled to the first and second concave portions; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one of the two neck portions of the right-side button of  FIG. 1  before being assembled to the first concave portion of the support bracket; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one of the two neck portions of the right-side button of  FIG. 7  after being assembled to the first concave portion of the support bracket; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the other one of the two neck portions of the right-side button of  FIG. 8  after being assembled to the second concave portion of the support bracket; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram wherein the two neck portions of  FIG. 9  are respectively coupled to the first and second concave portions; and 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded diagram of a button structure according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A plurality of embodiments of the invention will be disclosed below with reference to drawings. For purpose of clear illustration, many details in practice will be described together with the following description. However, it should be understood that, these details in practice are not used for limiting the invention. That is, in some embodiments of the invention, these details in practice are not necessary. Furthermore, for purpose of simplifying drawings, some conventional structures and components will be shown schematically in the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a button structure  100  according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded diagram of the button structure  100  of  FIG. 1 . Referring both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the button structure  100  includes a support bracket  110  and buttons  130 ,  130 ′. The shorter button  130  is for example a power button of a mobile phone, and the longer button  130 ′ is for example a volume adjustment key of the mobile phone, but the invention is not limited to this. In the following description, a structure for connecting the button  130  and the support bracket  110  to each other will be described. 
     The support bracket  110  has two opposite edges  112 ,  114 , a first concave portion  116 , a second concave portion  118  and a position limiting protruding point  120 . The first and second concave portions  116 ,  118  are respectively located at the two opposite edges  112 ,  114 , and the position limiting protruding point  120  protrudes from the second concave portion  118 . The button  130  is located on the support bracket  110  and includes a body portion  132 , two neck portions  134  and two stop portions  136 . The two neck portions  134  are located on two opposite ends of the body portion  132 , and the length direction of each of the two neck portions  134  is perpendicular to the length direction of the body portion  132 . The two neck portions  134  are respectively coupled to the first and second concave portions  116 ,  118 . The two stop portions  136  are respectively connected to a side of the two neck portions  134  facing away from the body portion  132 , such that the two stop portions  136  can abut against the support bracket  110 . In this embodiment, the two opposite edges  112 ,  114  are the opposite edges of two long sides of the support bracket  110 . 
     Furthermore, the button structure  100  further includes a flexible printed circuit board  140 . The flexible printed circuit board  140  is fixed on the support bracket  110  and has a pressure sensitive element  142 . The pressure sensitive element  142  is located between the support bracket  110  and the body portion  132  of the button  130 . When the body portion  132  of the button  130  is pressed, the body portion  132  contacts the pressure sensitive element  142 , such that the pressure sensitive element  142  transfers a pressure sensitive signal. This pressure sensitive signal can be transferred to a control unit of a printed circuit board through the flexible printed circuit board  140 . 
     The button structure  100  may further include an elastomer  138 . The elastomer  138  is located between the support bracket  110  and the body portion  132  of the button  130  and located between the two neck portions  134 . The elastomer  138  may include, but not limited to the sponge, the rubber and the spring. In this embodiment, the elastomer  138  is the sponge. Since the button  130  is located above a single pressure sensitive element  142 , the elastomer  138  can be attached to the two opposite ends of the body portion  132 . When the user presses the central area of the body portion  132  of the button  130 , the central area of the body portion  132  may easily contact the pressure sensitive element  142 . When the user stops pressing the body portion  132  of the button  130 , the elastomer  138  located on the two opposite ends of the body portion  132  can enable the body portion  132  to depart from the pressure sensitive element  142  to reset. 
     In the following description, the operation step of assembling the button  130  onto the support bracket  110  is described. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one of the two neck portions  134  of the left-side button  130  of  FIG. 1  before being assembled to the first concave portion  116  of the support bracket  110 . The length L of each of the two neck portions  134  is greater than the thickness W of the support bracket  110 . The neck portion  134  located in the upper part of  FIG. 3  may firstly enter into the first concave portion  116  along a direction D 1 , such that the neck portion  134  located in the upper part of  FIG. 3  is coupled to the first concave portion  116 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one of the two neck portions  134  of the button  130  of  FIG. 3  after being assembled to the first concave portion  116  of the support bracket  110 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the other one of the two neck portion  134  of the button  130  of  FIG. 4  after being assembled to the second concave portion  118  of the support bracket  110 . Referring both  FIGS. 4 and 5 , after the neck portion  134  located in the upper part of  FIG. 4  is coupled to the first concave portion  116 , the first concave portion  116  can be used as a pivot around which the button  130  pivots. At this time, the neck portion  134  located in the lower part of  FIG. 4  may enter into the second concave  118  along a direction D 2 , such that the neck portion  134  located in the louver part of  FIG. 4  is coupled to the second concave portion  118 . 
     In this embodiment, the support bracket  110  may further include a fixing arm  111 . The length direction D 3  of the fixing arm  111  is in parallel with the length direction D 4  of the neck portion  134 . The fixing arm  111  has a throughhole  113  for penetration of a fixing element (e.g., a screw), such that the support bracket  110  can be fixed on the printed circuit board or the shell. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram wherein the two neck portions  134  of  FIG. 5  are respectively coupled to the first and second concave portions  116 ,  118 . Referring both  FIGS. 5 and 6 , since the position limiting protruding point  120  protrudes from the second concave portion  118 , the neck portion  134  coupled to the second concave portion  118  is positioned by the position limiting protruding point  120 . Therefore, the button  130  can be firmly assembled on the support bracket  110  and is less susceptible to the external force or gravity to depart from the support bracket  110 . Moreover, the external diameter D of the stop portion  136  is larger than the external diameter D of the corresponding neck portion  134 , such that the two neck portions  134  of the button  130  do not depart from the first and second concave portions  116 ,  118  along a direction opposite to the direction D 4 . In this embodiment, the second concave portion  118  has a slope surface  122 . The position limiting protruding point  120  is located on the slope surface  122 , such that the neck portion  134  can conveniently slide into the second concave portion  118  through the slope surface  122  and be positioned by the position limiting protruding point  120 . 
     Specifically, the button  130  is located on the support bracket  110 . When the two neck portions  134  of the button  130  are respectively coupled to the first and second concave portions  116 ,  118  of the support bracket  110 , the neck portion  134  coupled to the second concave portion  118  is positioned by the position limiting protruding point  120  that protrudes from the second concave portion  118 . Furthermore, when the two neck portions  134  of the button  130  are shaken due to the external force in the first and second concave portions  116 ,  118 , the stop portion  136  can abut against the support bracket  110  to prevent the button  130  departing from the support bracket  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  at the same time, the button  130  and the support bracket  110  can be connected firmly without the hot melting process. During assembly of the button structure  100 , the button  130  can be easily coupled to the first and second concave portions  116 ,  118  of the support bracket  110  by the two neck portions  134 , such that the button  130  is aligned with the pressure sensitive element  142 . Furthermore, since the hot melting process is omitted during the assembly of the button structure  100 , the time and human cost can be reduced in assembly. After being used for a period of time, since no hot melting area is configured between the button  130  and the support bracket  110 , the button structure  100  is not easy to be broken, so that the service life of the button structure  100  can be lengthened. 
     It should be understood, the element connection relationship that has been described in the above embodiments will not be described any more. In the following description, it should be noted firstly that, a structure for connecting the button  130 ′ and the support bracket  110  to each other will be described. 
     Referring both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support bracket  110  has the two opposite edges  112 ,  114 , a first concave portion  116 ′, a second concave portion  118 ′ and a position limiting protruding point  120 ′. The first and second concave portions  116 ′,  118 ′ are respectively located at the two opposite edges  112 ,  114 , and the position limiting protruding point  120 ′ protrudes from the second concave portion  118 ′. The button  130 ′ is located on the support bracket  110  and includes a body portion  132 ′, two neck portions  134 ′ and two stop portions  136 ′. The two neck portions  134  are located on the two opposite ends of the body portion  132 ′, and the length direction of each of the two neck portions  134 ′ is perpendicular to the length direction of the body portion  132 ′. The two neck portions  134 ′ are respectively coupled to the first and second concave portions  116 ,  118 ′. The two stop portions  136 ′ are respectively connected to a side of the two neck portions  134 ′ facing away from the body portion  132 ′, such that the two stop portions  136 ′ can abut against the support bracket  110 . 
     Furthermore, the flexible printed circuit board  140  further has two pressure sensitive elements  142 ′. The button structure  100  may further include an elastomer  138 ′. Since the button  130 ′ is located above the two pressure sensitive elements  142 ′ and the two pressure sensitive elements  142 ′ may have different functions (for example, the functions of increasing volume and decreasing volume), a single elastomer  138 ′ may be attached into the central area of the body portion  132 ′. When the user presses any end of the body portion  132 ′ of the button  130 ′, the body portion  132 ′ can easily contact the corresponding pressure sensitive element  142 ′. When the user stops pressing the body portion  132 ′ of the button  130 ′, the elastomer  138 ′ located in the central area of the body portion  132 ′ can enable the body portion  132 ′ to depart from the pressure sensitive element  142 ′ to reset. 
     In the following description, the operation step of assembling the button  130 ′ onto the support bracket  110  is described. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one of the two neck portions  134  of the right-side button  130  of  FIG. 1  before being assembled to the first concave portion  116 ′ of the support bracket  110 . The neck portion  134 ′ located in the upper part of  FIG. 7  may firstly enter into the first concave portion  116 ′ along a direction D 5 , such that the neck portion  134 ′ is coupled to the first concave portion  116 ′, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one of the two neck portions  134 ′ of the right-side button  130 ′ of  FIG. 7  after being assembled to the first concave portion  116 ′ of the support bracket  110 .  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the other one of the two neck portion  134 ′ of the right-side button  130 ′ of  FIG. 8  after being assembled to the second concave portion  118 ′ of the support bracket  110 . Referring both  FIGS. 8 and 9 , after the neck portion  134 ′ located in the upper part of  FIG. 8  is coupled to the first concave portion  116 ′, the first concave portion  116 ′ can be used as the pivot around which the button  130 ′ pivots. At this time, the neck portion  134 ′ located in the lower part of  FIG. 8  may enter into the second concave  118 ′ along a direction D 6 , such that the neck portion  134 ′ located in the lower part of  FIG. 8  is coupled to the second concave portion  118 ′. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram wherein the two neck portions  134 ′ of  FIG. 9  are respectively coupled to the first and second concave portions  116 ′,  118 ′. Referring both  FIGS. 9 and 10 , since the position limiting protruding point  120 ′ protrudes from the second concave portion  118 ′, the neck portion  134 ′ coupled to the second concave portion  118 ′ is positioned by the position limiting protruding point  120 ′. Therefore, the button  130 ′ can be firmly assembled on the support bracket  110 . 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded diagram of a button structure  100 ′ according to another embodiment of the invention. The button structure  100 ′ includes the support bracket  110  and the buttons  130 ,  130 ′. The difference from the embodiment in  FIG. 2  is that: the button structure  100 ′ does not have the flexible printed circuit board but includes a printed circuit board  150 . Furthermore, the support bracket  110  has hollow portions  119 ,  119 ′. The body portion  132  of the button  130  has a protruding portion  133 . The body portion  132 ′ of the button  130 ′ has a protruding portion  133 ′. 
     The printed circuit board  150  has a fixing hole  152  which is aligned with the throughhole  113  of the fixing arm  111  so as to engage a fixing element  154  (e.g., the screw) into the fixing hole  152  (e.g., a screw hole). Therefore, the circuit  150  can be connected to the fixing arm  111 . Moreover, the length direction of each of the protruding portions  133 ,  133 ′ is in parallel with the length direction of each of the neck portions  134 ,  134 ′. The hollow portion  119  is located between the first and second concave portions  116 ,  118 . The hollow portion  119 ′ is located between the first and second concave portions  116 ′,  118 ′. The body portion  132  of the button  130  has the protruding portion  133  which penetrates the hollow portion  119 . The body portion  132 ′ of the button  130 ′ has the protruding portion  133 ′ which penetrates the hollow portion  119 ′. The printed circuit board  150  has pressure sensitive elements  156 ,  156 ′. The pressure sensitive element  156  is aligned with the protruding portion  133 , and the pressure sensitive element  156 ′ is aligned with the protruding portion  133 ′. When the body portion  132  of the button  130  is pressed, the protruding portion  133  contacts the pressure sensitive element  156 , such that the pressure sensitive element  156  transfers a pressure sensitive signal. When any end of the body portion  132 ′ of the button  130 ′ is pressed, the protruding portion  133 ′ contacts the pressure sensitive element  156 ′, such that the pressure sensitive element  156 ′ transfers a pressure sensitive signal. 
     Compared with the prior art, the above embodiments of the invention have the following advantages. 
     (1) During assembly of the button structure, the button may be coupled to the first and second concave portions of the support bracket by the two neck portions, and the neck portion coupled to the second concave portion is positioned by the position limiting protruding point. 
     (2) When the two neck portions of the button are shaken by the external force in the first and second concave portions, the stop portion connected to the neck portion can abut against the support bracket, so as to avoid the button departing from the support bracket when being pressed. 
     (3) The button and the support bracket can be connected firmly without the hot melting process, such that the button can be precisely aligned with the pressure sensitive element. Therefore, the time and human cost can be reduced in assembly. 
     (4) After the button structure is used for a period of time, since no hot melting area is configured between the button and the support bracket, the button structure is not easy to be broken, so that the service life of the button structure can be lengthened. 
     Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to the above embodiments, these embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. It will be apparent to those of skills in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be defined by the appended claims.