Fixing structure for input keys

• US 6,882,865 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventec Electronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Inventec Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Yuan, Jie, Lai, Chengshing
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSTER, ROLAND G
• Application Number:
  US09/952,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/346, 455/351, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 379/110.01, 379/428.01, 379/428.03, 379/429, 379/433.01, 379/433.06, 379/433.07, 379/433.11, 379/433.13, 379/440, 715/700, 715/864
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2213/01 with internal pressure of other switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/04 Attachments; Connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/026 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/034 Positioning of layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

The present invention offers a fixing structure for input keys, applied in personal digital assistant provided with function of a mobile telephone. On the backside of the case of a framework are provided a plurality of positioning elements and a plurality of thermomeltable elements respectively. On said positioning elements and thermomeltable elements are sheathed consecutively with elastic sheet, plate, circuit board and fixing plate. Each end of said thermomeltable elements is accommodated in corresponding recessed hole provided in said fixing plate to avoid interference with other parts. Pressing keys set up on elastic sheet can be just protruded from the case respectively, and by means of a bottom plate kept flat against the whole bottom, the fixing structure is completed. In this way, not only is the aim to decrease thickness of PDA achieved, but also it is convenient for users to carry.

Claims

1. A fixing structure for input keys, applied in PDA with function of a mobile telephone, wherein comprising:

a case, in which are provided opening and a plurality of through holes respectively, and on the backside of said case are provided a plurality of positioning elements and plurality of thermomeltable elements, said positioning elements are used to partition circuit board positioning region;

an elastic sheet, set up in said circuit board positioning region, on said elastic sheet a plurality of keys are mounted and protruded, said keys are just exposed out respectively from a plurality of through holes of the case, and the backs of said keys are each provided with electric conductive layer;

a plate, set on the back of said elastic sheet, and in said plate a plurality of venting passages are arranged around each key respectively;

a circuit board, mounted on back of said plate, and a plurality of positioning holes are provided in said circuit board;

a fixing plate, mounted on back of said circuit board, said fixing plate can be kept flat against the whole back of the case, a plurality of holes is provided on fixing plate, so that thermomeltable elements of the case are sheathed consecutively with elastic sheet, plate and circuit board, and one end of each said thermomeltable element is received in plurality of holes of the fixing plate respectively;

a displaying screen, just fit in opening of said case;

a bottom plate, kept flat against the whole backside of said fixing plate, and the components in said case are fixed by the arrangement of said bottom plate, which is also used to secure elastic sheet and circuit board.

2. A fixing structure for input keys as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit board positioning region is arranged adjacent to the underside of the opening, said magnet positioning region is arranged adjacent to the underside of the circuit board positioning region, and said poisoning elements are ribs, said thermo-meltable elements are thermomeltable cruciform pillars.

3. A fixing structure for input keys as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of holes are provided in said plate, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes set in said circuit board can be just accommodated in said plurality of holes.

4. A fixing structure for input keys as defined in claim 1, wherein said positioning elements separate out magnet positioning region, which can just accommodate a magnet, by means of said magnet, the turnover lid is caught on said case through magnetic force, and the swinging shaft of said turnover lid is mounted on corresponding location of magnet positioning region of the case.

5. A fixing structure for input keys as defined in claim 4, wherein a gap is provided in backside of said case, and said gap provides the space for connection of said turnover lid to the external circuit.