PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8569642-B2
Application Number: US-201313855460-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Structurally enhanced switch assemblies

Abstract:
Slide switch assemblies with structural enhancements are provided for use in electronic devices. Slide switch assemblies in accordance with embodiments the invention can include a button, an engagement member, and switch box. The engagement member couples the button to the switch box and translates any movement of the button to the switch box. The switch box is mounted offset with respect to the button because another component such as, for example, a display screen occupies the space that would have been a better mounting position for the switch box. To compensate for the offset, and the added torsion that is applied to the engagement member during button movement events, the engagement member is structurally enhanced.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A switch assembly, comprising:
 an input member, the input member operative to move to one of at least two positions along a path; 
 a switch box having a center axis that is offset with respect to a center axis of the input member, the switch box including at least two contact portions each of which correspond to a respective one of the at least two positions; and 
 an engagement member, coupled to the input member and to the switch box, operative to move in relation to the path in response to movement of the input member to one of the positions, wherein the engagement member interfaces with the contact portion corresponding to the position of the input member. 
 
     
     
       2. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the switch box comprises at least one of a single pole single throw switch, a single pole double throw switch, a single pole center off switch, a double pole single throw switch, a double pole double throw switch, a double pole center off switch, a maintained contact switch, a momentary contact switch, a fader, or a limitless contact switch. 
     
     
       3. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein no portion of the input member cants when moved from to one of the positions. 
     
     
       4. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein no portion of the input member rotates when moved from to one of the positions. 
     
     
       5. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the input member is operable to slide along the path. 
     
     
       6. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two contact portions are coupled to at least one electronic component. 
     
     
       7. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the center axis of the input member passes through an electronic component. 
     
     
       8. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member comprises plastic structurally enhanced with metal. 
     
     
       9. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the switch box changes at least one a function or logic of at least one electronic component coupled to the switch box in response to movement of the input member to one of the positions. 
     
     
       10. The switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the movement of the input member to one of the positions comprises movement to one of the at least two positions from the other of the two positions. 
     
     
       11. An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing; and 
 a switch assembly coupled to the housing, comprising:
 an input member, the input member operative to move to one of at least two positions along a path; 
 a switch box having a center axis that is offset with respect to a center axis of the input member, the switch box including at least two contact portions each of which correspond to a respective one of the at least two positions; and 
 an engagement member, coupled to the input member and to the switch box, operative to move in relation to the path in response to movement of the input member to one of the positions, wherein the engagement member interfaces with the contact portion corresponding to the position of the input member. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the switch box changes at least one a function or logic of at least one electronic component of the electronic device in response to movement of the input member to one of the positions. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the movement of the input member to one of the positions comprises movement to one of the at least two positions from the other of the two positions. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein no portion of the input member cants when moved from to one of the positions. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein no portion of the input member rotates when moved from to one of the positions. 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the switch box comprises at least one of a single pole single throw switch, a single pole double throw switch, a single pole center off switch, a double pole single throw switch, a double pole double throw switch, a double pole center off switch, a maintained contact switch, a momentary contact switch, a fader, or a limitless contact switch. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the input member is operable to slide along the path. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the two contact portions are coupled to at least one electronic component. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the center axis of the input member passes through an electronic component of the electronic device. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the engagement member comprises plastic structurally enhanced with metal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/987,992, filed on Jan. 10, 2011, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Electronic devices may include several types of input components that can be used by a user for providing instructions or commands to the electronic device. For example, the input component may be a switch assembly including a button that may be moved to one of at least two different positions. The button may be aligned with a slider that can slide along a linear track. Consequently, as the button is moved from one position to another, the movement of the button causes the slider to slide along the track. A switch box can be coupled to the slider via an engagement member that can detect mechanical movement of the slider and translate this movement into electrical signals. These electrical signals can then be interpreted by other components of an electronic device in order to alter a functional state of the device. 
     Depending on the position of the switch box relative to the button, the engagement member may be subject to stresses that can cause it to break during normal and intended use of the device. Accordingly, improved switch assembly structures are needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Slide switch assemblies with structural enhancements are provided for use in electronic devices. Slide switch assemblies in accordance with embodiments the invention can include a button, an engagement member, and switch box. The engagement member couples the button to the switch box and translates any movement of the button to the switch box. The switch box is mounted offset with respect to the button because another component such as, for example, a display screen occupies the space that would have been a better mounting position for the switch box. To compensate for the offset, and the added torsion that is applied to the engagement member during button movement events, the engagement member is structurally enhanced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects of the invention, its nature, and various features will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative bottom perspective view of an electronic device having a switch assembly in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative left side view of a portion of the electronic device and switch assembly of  FIG. 1  in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified illustrative cross-sectional view of the portion of the electronic device and switch assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 4 . is a simplified illustrative perspective view of an inside portion of the electronic device and switch assembly of  FIGS. 1-3  in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified illustrative cross-sectional view of a switch box taken along lines A-A of  FIG. 4  in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrated perspective view of the engagement member and switch box of  FIGS. 3 and 4  in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative side view of the engagement member and switch box of  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6  in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative side view of an L-shaped engagement member in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an illustrative perspective view of an engagement member in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an illustrative side view of the engagement member of  FIG. 9  in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 11A-B  show illustrative force versus displacement graphs in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 12A-D  show buttons with different pin configurations in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       FIG. 1  shows an illustrative perspective view of an electronic device  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Electronic device  10  may generally be any portable, mobile, hand-held, or miniature electronic device having a switch assembly. Miniature electronic devices may have a form factor that is smaller than that of hand-held personal media devices, such as an iPod™ Shuffle available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Illustrative miniature electronic devices can be integrated into various objects that include, but are not limited to, watches, rings, necklaces, belts, accessories for belts, headsets, accessories for shoes, virtual reality devices, other wearable electronics, accessories for sporting equipment, accessories for fitness equipment, key chains, or combinations thereof. Alternatively, electronic device  10  may not be portable at all. 
     Electronic device  10  may include at least one input component (see, e.g., buttons  16  and  18  and switch assembly  200  of  FIG. 1 ) that can allow a user to manipulate at least one function of the device, at least one output component that can provide the user with valuable device generated information, and a housing (see, e.g., outer periphery member  12  and cover  14  of  FIG. 1 ) that can at least partially enclose the one or more input components and the one or more output components of the device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, device  10  can be hexahedral and may include a top wall  23 , a bottom wall  24  opposite top wall  23 , a right side wall  22 , a left side wall  21  opposite right side wall  22 , a front wall (not shown), and a back wall  14  opposite front wall. Each of the walls of device  10  may be substantially flat (see, e.g., right side wall  21 ), though the contours of one or more of the walls of device  10  can be at least partially curved, jagged, or have any other suitable shape or combination thereof. 
     Generally, device  10  may be said to have a depth D that may be defined by the gap between back wall  14  and the front wall (not shown). Similarly, housing  400  may be said to have a width W that may be defined by the length between right side wall  22  and left side wall  21 . Finally, device  10  may be said to have a height H that may be defined by the length between top wall  23  and bottom wall  24 . It should be noted that the design of device  10  described above is only exemplary and need not be substantially hexahedral, and that, in certain embodiments, the intersects of certain walls may be beveled, and device  10  itself could generally be formed in any other suitable shape, including, but not limited to, substantially spherical, ellipsoidal, conoidal, octahedral, or a combination thereof, for example. 
     Electronic device  10  can include at least one switch assembly  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for example, switch assembly  200  can include track  212  that is disposed along and through a portion of left side wall  21 . It is to be understood that track  212  of switch assembly  200  may be provided along and through any portion of any wall or walls of device  10  and not just left side wall  21 . 
     Switch assembly  200  may also include a button  214  that can slide within and along track  212  between at least two button positions to change a functional state of device  100  (e.g., to power the device up or to power the device down or to switch the ringer between a vibrate mode or a ring mode). For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , button  214  may slide within track  212  between a first button position adjacent a first end  212 A of track  212  and a second button position adjacent a second end  212 B of track  212 . In such embodiments, a user of device  100  can slide button  214  along track  212 , either in the linear direction of arrow  216 A away from the first button position adjacent first track end  212 A and towards the second button position adjacent second track end  212 B or in the linear direction of arrow  216 B away from the second button position adjacent second track end  212 B and towards the first button position adjacent first track end  212 A. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, button  214  may slide within track  212  from the first button position adjacent first track end  212 A and/or from the second button position adjacent second track end  212 B to a third button position (not shown) in between first track end  212 A and second track end  212 B to change a functional state of device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , for example, switch assembly  200  may also include a switch box  230  coupled to button  214  by button/switch engagement member  240 . Switch box  230  may be any suitable switching component, such as an electromechanical switching component, that can translate the mechanical movement of button  214  along track  212  into associated electrical signals to be interpreted by other components of electronic device  10  for potentially altering a functional state of device  10 . For example, switch box  230  may include button/switch engagement member  240  and two or more switch contact portions  234  (see, e.g., switch contact portion  234  of  FIG. 5 ). Engagement member  240  may be coupled to button  214  (e.g., via pins  250 ), and engagement member  240  may move along a switch path between different switch contact portions  234  of switch box  230  when button  214  correspondingly moves between different button positions along track  212 . Each switch contact portion  234  of the switch path of switch box  210  may be electrically coupled to an electronic component (e.g., a processor (not shown)) of device  10 , for example, via a circuit board  400  of device  10 . When button  214  is at a functional button position along track  212 , engagement member  240  may thereby contact a respective switch contact portion  234  associated with that functional button position, and switch box  230  may thereby change the function or logic of an electronic component of device  10  that is electrically coupled to that switch contact portion  234  (e.g., via circuit board  400  coupled to box  230 ). 
     In some embodiments, switch  230  of switch assembly  200  may be any type of switching component, including, but not limited to, a single pole single throw (“SPST”) switch, a single pole double throw (“SPDT”) switch, a single pole center off (“SPCO”) switch, a double pole single throw (“DPST”) switch, a double pole double throw (“DPDT”) switch, a double pole center off (“DPCO”) switch, a maintained contact switch, a momentary contact switch, a fader or limitless contact switch, or combinations thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , dashed line  301  is shown passing through the center of button  214  (which in this figure, moves in and out of the page along track  212 ). Dashed line  301  represents the ideal fulcrum point for engagement member  240  to be coupled to button  214 . However, electronic component  300  (e.g., a display screen module) is positioned within device  10  in a manner that prevents switch box  230  and engagement member  240  from being positioned any closer to the ideal fulcrum point. Dashed line  302  passes through the center of switch box  230 , and as shown, due to electronic component  300 , dashed lines  301  and  302  are offset from each other. This offset causes more torque or strain to be exerted on engagement member  240  than would otherwise be exerted if dashed lines  301  and  302  were co-aligned. Accordingly, engagement member  240  is structurally enhanced to compensate for the extra strain it will endure during normal use of device  10 . 
     A net result of the use of structurally enhanced engagements members such as engagement member  240  and other engagement member embodiments discussed in  FIG. 8-10  is that no portion of button  214  cants or rotates when switched from one position to another. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the edges of button  214  are parallel to the edges of outer periphery member  12  when in position  212 A. When button  214  is moved from position  212 A to position  212 B, that parallelism is maintained throughout the movement of button  214  along track  212 . This fluid and uncompromised button movement is accomplished (using engagement members according to embodiments of this invention) even though switch box  230  is located offset from the center of button  214 . 
     Structural enhancement can be achieved in a number of suitable different ways. One such structurally enhanced engagement member  240  is shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  6  and  7 . In these figures, engagement member  240  has a triangular shape and is sometimes referred to as a gusset. Engagement member  240  can include box interface portion  242 , which contains switch contact portions  234 , and gusset portion  244 , which is integrated with box interface portion  242 . Box interface portion  242  may be the part of engagement member  240  that fits within switch box  230 , whereas gusset portion  244  extends away from box  230  and interfaces with pins  250  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) on button  214 . 
     Gusset portion  244  has button interface sides  601  (which mounts flush against button  214 ),  602  (which interfaces with one of pins  250 ), and side  603  (which interfaces with another one of pins  250 ). When gusset portion  244  is coupled to button  214 , pins  250  may fit flush against sides  602  and  603  such that, for example, there is little or no slop in the coupling. Gusset portion  244  has a predetermined height, H, as measured from top side  604  to bottom side  605 . Any suitable height H may be used. In one embodiment, the height can extend up to or beyond dashed line  301  (of  FIG. 3 ). 
     Gusset portion  244  also includes triangular sides  606  and  607  which can span from top side  604  to box interface portion  242 . Because two triangular sides  606  and  607  exist, a gap may exist between those sides. If desired, sides  606  and  607  could be combined to produce a gusset portion with a single triangular side. In another embodiment, a rigidity-enhancing member (e.g., a metal member) could be secured in the gap to further structurally enhance engagement member  240 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an illustrative side view of engagement member  840  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Engagement member  840  is coupled with switch box  830  and both member  840  and box  830  can function in a manner similar to member  240  and box  230 . As shown, engagement member  840  has a L-shape construction and may be constructed from any suitable material such as plastic. In some embodiments, the plastic material can be structurally enhanced with a rigidity-enhancing member such as a piece of metal. 
     Engagement member  840  can have horizontal portion  842  and vertical portion  844 . Part of horizontal portion  842  may fit inside of switch box  830  but also extends away from switch box  830 . Vertical portion  844  interfaces with a button such as button  214  and pins such as pins  250 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show illustrative views of a switch box  930  having an engagement member  940  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, engagement member  940  has a more horizontally biased profile as compared to engagement members  240  and  840 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , spring member  500  and its interaction with engagement member  240 , and in particular to contact switch positions  234 , is discussed. As discussed above, when button  214  is switched from one position to another, this movement is translated to engagement member  240 , which results in member  240  sliding to correspondingly different locations within switch box  230 . When member  240  slides from one position to another, spring arm  502  engages one of switch contact positions  234 . 
     Spring arm  502  can be constructed to have a pre-load force for engaging contact positions  234  in a manner that is strong enough to eliminate any slop in the movement of engagement member  240  from one position to another. As used herein, “slop” in engagement member movement can be characterized as the wiggling of the engagement member that is created when a small amount of force is applied to the engagement member, where the applied force is insufficient to cause the engagement member to move to a different switch contact position  234 . 
     For example, when the pre-load force of spring arm  502  is below a pre-determined threshold, the engagement member can experience displacement-force curves  1101  and  1102 , as illustrated in the graphs of  FIG. 11A . As shown, the x-axis represents displacement of engagement member and the y-axis. When the engagement member is situated at a first switch position and a user applies a small amount of force to the button (e.g., a force in the range between f 1  and f 2 ), the engagement arm (and consequently the button) may wiggle slightly without sliding to a different switch contact position. This can create slop in the movement of the button. When the applied force eventually reaches a pre-determined threshold (e.g., a pre-determined threshold of f 3 ), the engagement member reaches an over-center point and moves to a different switch position. 
     When the pre-load force of spring arm  502  is at or above a pre-determined threshold, slop can be reduced or eliminated. For example, as shown in  FIG. 11B , a strong spring can generate displacement-force curve  1103 . In some embodiments, spring arm  502  can be configured such that it is fully compressed when the slider is in one of the switch contact positions. That is, the spring would otherwise touch the base if the engagement member was not positioned underneath the spring are. By using the strong spring to hold the slider in place, there can be a hard stop in displacement once the slider has reached a functional position. As such, slight changes in the applied force will not result in slop movement of the engagement arm. 
       FIGS. 12A-12D  show illustrative views of the backside of different buttons, each having different pin configurations for interfacing with an engagement member in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Each button (e.g., buttons,  1210 ,  1220 ,  1230 , and  1240 ) has center y-axis  1201 , center x-axis  1202 , and back plate  1203 . In addition, each button has pins that either form a coupled connection (e.g., buttons  1210   1220 , and  124 ) or decoupled connection (e.g., buttons  1230 ) with the engagement member. In a coupled connection, the pins apply a substantial wide planar surface interface to each side of the engagement member. In a decoupled connection, the pins apply a relatively narrow planar interface to each side of the engagement member. 
     The engagement member can vary in height from relatively short (e.g., engagement member  940  of  FIG. 10 ) to relatively high (e.g., engagement members  240  or  840 ). Depending on the height of engagement member and the sizing and coupling configuration of the pins, the amount of twisting or rotation the button experiences when switching from one position to another may vary. For example, referring to  FIG. 12A , button  1210  has a relatively short engagement member  1214  (e.g., engagement member  940  of  FIG. 9 ), and short arm coupling pins  1216 . Note that member  1214  and pins  1216  are positioned off center with respect to y-axis centerline  1201  of button  1210 . Thus, when a user moves button  1210  from one position to another, button  1210  may have a tendency to pivot, thereby potentially preventing button  1210  from exhibiting a fluid and parallel transition. 
       FIG. 12B  shows button  1220  having relatively high engagement member  1224  (e.g., engagement  240  or  840 ) and short arm coupling pins  1226 . Member  1224  and pins  1226  are positioned off center with respect to y-axis centerline  1201  of button  1220 . Although the height of engagement member  1224  is longer than engagement member  1214 , short arm coupling pins  1226  can lack sufficient coupling area to prevent button  1220  from potentially pivoting when switched from one position to another. 
       FIG. 12D  shows button  1240  having relatively high engagement member  1244  and long arm coupling pins  1246 . Member  1244  and pins  1246  are positioned off center with respect to y-axis centerline  1201  of button  1240 . Here, the interface coupling area between pins  1246  and member  1242  is greater than that provided in buttons  1210  and  1220 . The interface coupling area of button  1240  may accommodate at least forty, fifty, or sixty percent of the available interface area of a relatively high engagement member. This interface can be very effective in mitigating or eliminating the potential for any button rotation when button  1240  is switched from one location to another. 
       FIG. 12C  shows button  1230  having either a relatively short or high engagement member  1234  and decoupled pins  1236 . By substantially decoupling the movement of the button from engagement member  1234 , engagement member  1234  may no longer twist in response to movement of button  1230 . However, there may be insufficient engagement of button  1230  to the engagement member  1234 , which can cause button  1230  to move around loosely. If desired, a mechanism may be added to limit the movement of the button. For example, a guide rail (not shown) may be added in order to limit the movement of button  1230 . 
     It is be understood that various directional and orientational terms such as “up” and “down,” “front” and “back,” “left” and “right,” “top” and “bottom,” “above” and “under,” and the like are used herein only for convenience, and that no fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitations are intended by the use of these words. For example, the devices of the invention can have any desired orientation. If reoriented, different directional or orientational terms may need to be used in their description, but that will not alter their fundamental nature as within the scope and spirit of the invention. Moreover, it is also to be understood that various types of devices, other than electronic devices, may be provided with one or more switch assemblies of the invention. For example, any mechanical device, such as a board game, may be provided with switch assemblies of the invention. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20130402
Publication Date: 20131029
Grant Date: 20131029
Priority Date: 20110110
Inventors: SHUKLA ASHUTOSH Y.
MYERS SCOTT A.
HILL MATTHEW D.
WITTENBERG MICHAEL B.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01H15/10", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/014", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/058", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H15/10", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2225/028", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/058", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2225/028", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2221/014", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46454407