PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8704119-B2
Application Number: US-201213444542-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Thin profile cam switch assemblies

Abstract:
Rotational switch assemblies having a thin operational profile are provided for use in electronic devices. Rotational switch assemblies in accordance with embodiments of the invention can include a button, an engagement member, and switch housing. The switch housing includes a radial spring, a post, and at least two contact spring arms. The engagement member includes at least two contact pads and at least two position notches and is mounted to and operable to rotate about the post to one of at least two positions. When the button is moved from one position to another, this movement is translated to the engagement member, which rotates from one position to another, and as the engagement member rotates, the radial spring engages the position notch corresponding to the position of the engagement member, and one of the contact pads engages a corresponding one of the contact spring members for that position.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cam switch assembly, comprising:
 a switch housing comprising a radial spring, a post, and at least two contact spring arms; and 
 an engagement member mounted to and operable to rotate about the post to one of at least two positions, the engagement member comprising:
 at least two contact pads; 
 at least two position notches; and 
 a protrusion portion configured to engage with a linearly slidable button and operably connected to the at least two position notches; 
 
 wherein:
 the radial spring engages a one of the at least two position notches corresponding to the position of the engagement member, and wherein one of the contact pads engages a corresponding one of the spring members for that position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining member mounted to the post for securing the engagement member within the switch housing. 
     
     
       3. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the radial spring has a spring constant sufficient to ensure wiggle-free lockup between the radial spring and any of the position notches. 
     
     
       4. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member comprises:
 a post engagement portion that includes the contact switches and the position notches; and 
 an extension portion that extends from away from the post engagement portion. 
 
     
     
       5. The switch assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the extension portion comprises two arms. 
     
     
       6. The switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the switch housing comprises a three-walled structure having an open face through which a portion of the engagement member extends therethrough, the three-walled structure including a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, wherein the first and third walls flank the open face and the second wall is opposite of the open face. 
     
     
       7. The switch assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a first spring arm extends from the first wall and a second spring arm extends from the third wall. 
     
     
       8. The switch assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the radial spring is mounted such that it spans along the second wall. 
     
     
       9. A cam switch assembly, comprising:
 a button operative to move to one of at least two positions along a linear track axis; 
 a switch housing comprising a radial spring, a post, and at least two contact spring arms; and 
 an engagement member coupled to the button and to the switch housing, the engagement member comprising least two contact pads and at least two position notches, and is operative to rotate about a center axis of the post in response to movement of the button to one of the positions, wherein the radial spring engages the position notch corresponding to the position of the button, and wherein one of the contact pads engages a corresponding one of the contact spring arms for that button position. 
 
     
     
       10. The switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the button comprises a round protruding member, and the engagement member comprises two arm members that engage the round protruding member. 
     
     
       11. The switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the engagement member comprises:
 a protruding arm; and 
 a free spinning member coupled to and extending from the protruding arm and which engages the button. 
 
     
     
       12. The switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the radial spring comprises a spring constant that prevents the engagement member from exhibiting any slop. 
     
     
       13. The switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the radial spring prevents the engagement member from moving unless at least a minimum quantity of force is applied. 
     
     
       14. The switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the post is an integrally formed part of the switch housing. 
     
     
       15. The switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the engagement member comprises a through-hole that is dimensioned to encompass the post. 
     
     
       16. The switch assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the post is an independent component that is pressfit through the through-hole. 
     
     
       17. An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing having a sidewall, which has an exposed periphery and a sidewall plane; and 
 a cam switch assembly mounted within the housing adjacent to the side wall, the switch assembly comprising:
 a button having a first portion that extends beyond the exposed periphery and a second portion that extends into the housing; 
 a switch housing comprising a radial spring, a post, and at least two contact spring arms; and 
 an engagement member coupled to the button and to the post, the engagement member comprising least two contact pads and at least two position notches, wherein the radial spring engages the position notch corresponding to the position of the button, and the engagement member is operative to rotate about a center axis of the post and in a plane co-planer to the sidewall plane in response to linear movement of the button. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the radial spring engages the position notch corresponding to the position of the button, and wherein one of the contact pads engages a corresponding one of the contact spring arms for that button position. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the switch housing is a five-sided enclosure with an open face. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the switch housing is a four-sided enclosure with an open face.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/474,622, filed Apr. 12, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its 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. 
     Given the trend to incorporate more features into devices, while simultaneously maintaining or shrinking the physical dimensions of the device, other components such as switch assemblies within the device may need to shrink. Accordingly, switch assemblies constructed with a thin operational profile are needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Rotational switch assemblies having a thin operational profile are provided for use in electronic devices. Rotational switch assemblies in accordance with embodiments of the invention can include a button, an engagement member, and switch housing. The switch housing includes a radial spring, a post, and at least two contact spring arms. The engagement member includes at least two contact pads and at least two position notches and is mounted to and operable to rotate about the post to one of at least two positions. When the button is moved from one position to another, this movement is translated to the engagement member, which rotates from one position to another, and as the engagement member rotates, the radial spring engages the position notch corresponding to the position of the engagement member, and one of the contact pads engages a corresponding one of the contact spring members for that position. 
    
    
     
       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; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are simplified illustrative cross-sectional views 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 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. 5  is a simplified top view of a switch housing and engagement member in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrated perspective view of a switch housing and engagement member in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIGS. 7A-7E  show additional views of the switch assembly of  FIGS. 5 and 6  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 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-6 , for example, switch assembly  200  may also include a switch housing  230  coupled to button  214  by button/switch engagement member  240 . Switch housing  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 housing  230  may include post  232 , contact spring arms  234 , and radial spring  236 . 
     Engagement member  240  may be coupled to button  214  (e.g., via pin  250 ) and to post  232 , and engagement member  240  may rotate about an axis (e.g., center axis) of post  232  between different switch positions when button  214  correspondingly moves between different button positions along track  212 . Engagement member  240  can include position notches  242  and switch contact pads  234 . When button  214  moves between different positions, radial spring  236  engages one of position notches  242  and one of contact pads  244  is electrically connected to one of contact spring arms  234 .  FIG. 3A  shows switch assembly  200  in a first switch position (in which engagement member  240  is pointed up and spring  236  engages the “top” position notch  242 ), and  FIG. 3   b  shows switch assembly  200  in a second switch position (in which engagement member  240  is pointed down and spring  236  engages the “bottom” position notch  242 ). 
     Contact spring arms  234  may be electrically coupled to an electronic component (e.g., a processor (not shown)) of device  10 , for example, via a circuit board (not shown) of device  10 . When button  214  is at a functional button position along track  212 , engagement member  240  is positioned so that one of its contact pads  244  is in contact with a respective contact spring arm  234  associated with that functional button position, and switch housing  230  may thereby change the function or logic of an electronic component of device  10  in response to engagement member  240  being in that position. 
     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  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  4 , illustrative views of switch assembly  200  incorporated in an electronic device  300  are shown. As shown, switch housing  230  and engagement member  240  are mounted adjacent to a sidewall of device  300 . In particular, housing  230  is mounted such that engagement member  240  rotates in a plane that is co-planer to a plane of the sidewall. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an illustrative top view of box housing  230  and engagement member  240  is shown. In addition,  FIG. 6  shows an illustrative perspective view of housing  230  and engagement member  240 . In the embodiment shown, housing  230  is a four-sided structure with an open face though which a portion of engagement member  240  extends therethrough. That is housing  230  may include a base layer, from which walls  501 ,  502 , and  503  extend, and from which post  232  extends. In this embodiment, there is no cover member that covers any portion of engagement member  240 , spring  236 , or post  232 . A contact spring arm  234  may be coupled to the inside surface of the wall  501  and another contact spring arm  234  may be coupled to the inside surface of wall  503 . Radial spring  236  is mounted to housing  230  such that it extends along wall  502 . 
     Housing  230  can be constructed from any suitable material such as plastic, metal, or a combination thereof. For example, the structure of housing  230  can be an injected molded part, and contact spring arms  234  and radial spring  236  can be constructed from metal. In addition, spring arms  234  and radial spring  236  are incorporated into the molded part. Post  232  may be constructed to have tight tolerances so that there is virtually no slop in the coupling with engagement member  240 . Engagement member  240  may be secured to post  232  with retaining structure  510  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
     Engagement member  240  may be constructed from any suitable material or combination of materials. For example, the general structure of member  240  can be constructed from a plastic and contact pads  244  can be constructed from a metal. Engagement member  240  can be an integrally formed structure having a protrusion portion and a free spinning portion. The protrusion portion extends beyond the periphery of the sides and engages button  214 . In one embodiment, the periphery portion can have two arms (as shown) for interfacing with a pin (not shown) that is part of button  214 . In another embodiment, the periphery portion can be a single arm having an extension member that interfaces with the button. 
     The free spinning portion can include a tightly dimensioned through-hole for coupling to post  232 , position notches  242 , and contact pads  244 . Any suitable number of position notches  242  and contact pads  244  may be present on engagement member  240 . The location of position notches  242  may depend on the radius of the free spinning portion. Thus, the greater the radius, the greater the spacing between position notches  242 . Position notches  242  may be shaped to promote snug lockup for each switch position. 
     Although  FIGS. 5 and 6  disclosed a 4 sided-structure, it is understood that different structures can be used for box housing  230 . For example, box housing  230  can be a five sided structure having an open face through which the protrusion portion of engagement member  240  extends. In this example, top and bottom walls each have a through-hole, which co-aligns with the through-hole of engagement member  240 . A post is press fit through the through-holes to secure engagement member within the housing. 
     Radial spring  236  and its interaction with engagement member  240 , and in particular to position notches  242 , 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  rotating from one position to another position. When member  240  rotates from one position to another, radial spring  502  engages one of position notches  242 . 
     Radial spring  236  can be constructed to have a pre-load force for engaging position notches  242  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 position switch  242 . An advantage of using radial spring  236  in box housing  230  according to this invention is that additional design flexibility is provided as compared to springs used in conventional linear switches. 
       FIGS. 7A-7F  shows additional views of a switch assembly of  FIGS. 5 and 6  according to an embodiment of the invention. In particular,  FIG. 7A  shows a top view,  FIGS. 7B and 7C  show side views,  FIG. 7D  shows a bottom view, and  FIG. 7E  shows a perspective view. 
     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: 20120411
Publication Date: 20140422
Grant Date: 20140422
Priority Date: 20110412
Inventors: PLETENETSKYY ANDRIY
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01H19/02", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H15/102", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H15/102", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H19/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H19/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 47005587