KEYPAD ASSEMBLY AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20080297994A1
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Sutech Trading Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: SHI, ZHENG
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/01 also rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/044 Elastic part on actuator or casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement

Abstract

A keypad assembly (15) applied to a portable electronic device and mounted in a shell of the portable electronic device is provided. The keypad assembly comprises a keypad cover (151) and a printed circuit board (152). The keypad cover is provided with at least one contact portion (1516) thereon. The printed circuit board provided with a plurality of signal-sensing portions (1522) thereon. The shell is provided with at least one guide hole (116) corresponding to the plurality of signal-sensing portions. The shell is configured between the keypad cover and the printed circuit board, and the keypad cover is rotatably mounted in the shell. The signal-sensing portion is pressed by the contact portion through the guide hole. A portable electronic device using the keypad assembly is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A keypad assembly applied to a portable electronic device and mounted in a shell of the portable electronic device, the keypad assembly comprising:

a keypad cover provided with at least one contact portion thereon; and

a printed circuit board provided with a plurality of signal-sensing portions;

wherein the shell is provided with at least one guide hole corresponding to the plurality of signal-sensing portions, the shell is configured between the keypad cover and the printed circuit board, the keypad cover is rotatably mounted in the shell, and the signal-sensing portion is pressed by the contact portion through the guide hole.

2. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal-sensing portions are together arranged in an annular shape.

3. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotating axis is formed on the keypad cover, a central hole is defined in the shell corresponding to the rotating axis, the rotating axis is rotatably received in/through the central hole.

4. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein a groove is defined in the shell around the central hole, and the groove is provided for receiving the keypad cover.

5. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a stopper member which is provided for fixing the keypad cover with the shell.

6. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stopper member is provided with a latching cavity defined therein, the rotating axis is received in the latching cavity, and the rotating axis is fixed with the stopper member through the central hole.

7. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotating axis is provided on the shell, a hole is defined in the keypad cover corresponding to the rotating axis, and the rotating axis is rotatably received in the hole.

8. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a retaining portion is protruded around the rotating axis, and the retaining portion contacts with the shell.

9. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of key symbols is shown on the shell corresponding to the signal-sensing portions provided on the printed circuit board.

10. A portable electronic device comprising:

a shell; and

a keypad assembly mounted in the shell, including;

a keypad cover provided with at least one contact portion thereon; and

a printed circuit board provided with a plurality of signal-sensing portions;

wherein the shell is provided with at least one guide hole corresponding to the plurality of signal-sensing portions, the shell is configured between the keypad cover and the printed circuit board, the keypad cover is rotatably mounted in the shell, and the signal-sensing portion is pressed by the contact portion through the guide hole.

11. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the signal-sensing portions are together arranged in an annular shape.

12. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a rotating axis is formed on the keypad cover, a central hole is defined in the shell corresponding to the rotating axis, the rotating axis is rotatably received in/through the central hole.

13. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein a groove is defined in the shell around the central hole, the groove is provided for receiving the keypad cover.

14. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a stopper member provided for fixing the keypad cover with the shell.

15. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the stopper member is provided with a latching cavity defined therein, the rotating axis is received in the latching cavity, and the rotating axis is fixed with the stopper member through the central hole.

16. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a rotating axis is provided on the shell, a hole is defined in the keypad cover corresponding to the rotating axis, and the rotating axis is rotatably received in the hole.

17. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a retaining portion is protruded around the rotating axis, and the retaining portion contacts with the shell.

18. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a plurality of key symbols is shown on the shell corresponding to the signal-sensing portions provided on the printed circuit board.