ROCKER INPUT MECHANISM

• US 20170069447A1
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Waylon Y., Wang, Paul X., Brooks, Ryan P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,002,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/002 fixed to operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/006 Force isolators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/012 Two keys simultaneous considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/064 Limitation of actuating pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/032 Operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/04 Cases; Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/28 with three operating positions

Abstract

A rocker input mechanism includes an actuator that is operable to pivot against the interior surface of a housing through which an actuation surface of the actuator projects. Pivots or up-stops on the edges of the actuator are biased against the interior surface by dome switches contacting a switching surface of the actuator that is opposite the actuation surface. Thus, the actuator is able to pivot with respect to the interior surface to activate the dome switches when force is exerted on the actuation surface without bending or flexing like typical rocker buttons. As a result, the rocker input mechanism may have a feel to a user similar to non-rocking input mechanisms like single mode buttons.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing, comprising;

an external surface; and

an internal surface opposite to the external surface;

wherein

the housing defines an aperture extending from the external surface to the internal surface; and

a rocker input mechanism, comprising;

a button positioned in the aperture, comprising;

an actuation surface defining first and second actuation regions;

a switching surface opposite the actuation surface;

a retention lip that has a dimension larger than the aperture and engages the internal surface; and

a pivot portion disposed on the retention lip between the first and the second actuation regions that pivots against the internal surface.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pivot portion is biased toward the housing.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the pivot portion is biased toward the housing by a dome switch.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuation surface is at least one of flush with the external surface or recessed into the exterior surface.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pivot portion has a sloped edge.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the switching surface includes first and second contact areas that respectively correspond to the first and second actuation regions.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the first and second contact areas respectively engage first and second switches.

8. An input mechanism assembly, comprising:

a pair of switches;

a plate defining an aperture; and

an actuator that;

is partially positioned in the aperture;

pivots against the plate; and

is biased toward the plate by the pair of switches.

9. The input mechanism assembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator includes a ring that is separated from the plate by a gap.

10. The input mechanism assembly of claim 9, wherein the actuator pivots against the plate by an up-stop positioned on the ring.

11. The input mechanism assembly of claim 9, wherein the ring is operable to constrain motion of the actuator with respect to the plate.

12. The input mechanism assembly of claim 9, wherein a first portion of the ring moves closer to the plate and a second portion of the ring moves farther from the plate when the actuator actuates one of the pair of switches.

13. The input mechanism assembly of claim 9, wherein the ring contacts the plate to prevent decoupling of the actuator from the plate.

14. The input mechanism assembly of claim 8, wherein the pair of switches produces signals indicating an amount of force exerted on the actuator.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a substrate;

a housing;

an activator positioned between the substrate and the housing and projecting through the housing; and

a rib coupled to the activator that prevents simultaneous activation by the activator of first and second dome switches coupled to the substrate;

wherein;

the activator is pivotally engaged with the housing; and

a portion of the activator moves transverse to the housing to activate the first and second dome switches.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising:

a shim coupled to the substrate, wherein;

the rib engages the shim to prevent simultaneous activation of the first and second dome switches by the activator.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the rib is separated from the shim absent force exerted on the activator.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the shim is positioned between the first and second dome switches.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the activator is in contact with the first dome switch when activating the second dome switch.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the activator contacts the first and second dome switches absent force exerted on the activator.