BUTTON STRUCTURES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20140001022A1
• Filed: 09/02/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Weber, Trent, Wittenberg, Michael B., Yu, Michelle, Myers, Scott A., Stiehl, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 10,290,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/513
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/04 Cases; Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/02 Reversed domes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/026 Guiding or lubricating nylon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/02 Bases, casings, or covers accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack

Abstract

An electronic device may have buttons, a display, and a vibrator unit. Buttons may be included in electronic devices such as glass buttons, metal buttons, buttons that are assembled on printed circuit boards, and buttons that are partly formed from antenna structures. Button coatings may be used to improve the sliding performance of metal-on-metal buttons. A layer of polymer may be interposed between a button plate and a housing structure. A glass button member may have an underside on which a layer of patterned ink is formed. Elastomeric members may be used to reduce button rattle. Portions of a button may be provided with conductive features that form portions of an antenna.

Claims

1. A button, comprising:

a glass button member having an exterior surface and a lower button member surface;

at least one patterned layer of material on the lower button member surface; and

at least a second layer of material deposited on the at least one patterned layer of material, at least a portion of the at least a second layer of material visible through the exterior surface.

2. The button defined in claim 1 wherein the glass button member is clear and wherein the patterned layer of material comprises ink.

3. The button defined in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one patterned layer of material comprises ink; and

the at least a second layer of material comprises a second ink that covers the first ink and a portion of the lower button member surface.

4. The button defined in claim 3 wherein the first patterned layer of ink and the second layer of ink have different colors.

5. The button defined in claim 3 wherein the first patterned layer of ink has a first color, wherein the second layer of ink has a second color, and wherein the first color is lighter than the second color.

6. The button defined in claim 5 wherein the first color is white and wherein the second color is black.

7. The button defined in claim 1, wherein:

the glass button member comprises a clear circular glass disk;

the at least one layer of patterned material comprises a patterned ink adjacent he lower button member surface; and

the at least a second layer of patterned material comprises a solid layer of ink covering substantially all of the patterned ink and at least a portion of the lower button member surface.

8. The button defined in claim 1 wherein the glass button member comprises a disk with a chamfered edge, the button further comprising a dome switch attached to the glass button member.

9. The button member defined in claim 1 further comprising a base member to which the button member is attached with a layer of adhesive.

10. The button member defined in claim 9 wherein the at least one layer of patterned material comprises first and second layers of ink of different colors interposed between the button member and the layer of adhesive.

11. A button, comprising:

a button member;

a button support member attached to the button member and defining at least one laser-activated portion; and

a conductive antenna trace formed directly on a surface of the button support member.

12. The button defined in claim 11 further comprising housing sidewalls that are electrically connected to the conductive antenna trace.

13. The button defined in claim 11 further comprising a spring that electrically connects the conductive antenna trace to the housing sidewalls.

14. The button defined in claim 11 further comprising a conductive antenna structure on the button support member that is formed from a sheet of metal.

15. The button defined in claim 11 further comprising a dome switch mounted on the button support member.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 15 further comprising a button member that bears against the dome switch.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 16 further comprising conductive housing structures that are electrically connected to the conductive antenna trace, wherein the conductive housing structures have an opening and wherein the button member reciprocates within the opening.