Keypad assembly and portable electronic device with same

• US 7,394,038 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chang, Ming-Shiung
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US11/682,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20080018499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A, 200/512, 200/517, 200/341, 200/344, 200/345, 341/22, 345/168, 345/169, 400/472, 400/490, 400/491.2, 400/495, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.06, 379/433.07, 379/433.1
• US Class Current: 200/341
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/034 Bezel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/056 Mounting of key housings on same frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/036 Minimise height
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2233/04 captured between assembled parts of support

Abstract

A keypad assembly (200) applied to a portable electronic device (300) includes at least one key (24), a base (30) and an elastic member (40). The base includes at least one fixing portion (34). The at least one fixing portion is divided into two positioning blocks (344) by means of a latching slot (342). The at least one key is fixed on the at least one fixing portion. The elastic member includes at least one latching portion. Each latching portion includes two latching apertures and a rib. Each positioning block is engaged in a corresponding latching aperture. Each rib is received in a corresponding latching slot.

Claims

1. A keypad assembly applied to a portable electronic device comprising:

at least one key;

a base including at least one fixing portion, the at least one fixing portion being divided into two positioning blocks by a latching slot, each key being fixed on a corresponding fixing portion; and

an elastic member including at least one latching portion, each latching portion including two latching apertures and a rib, each positioning block being engaged in a corresponding latching aperture, each rib engaged in a corresponding latching slot.

2. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one key comprises a column extending from a lower surface thereof, and a through hole is defined in one positioning block of the at least one fixing portion and is configured for receiving the column.

3. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a projection extends from a lower surface of the base, corresponding to the at least one key.

4. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one key comprises two function parts, and two projections extend from a lower surface of the base corresponding to the two function parts.

5. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keypad assembly comprises a control key and an operation key, the control key has two function parts, the base comprises a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion, the control key is fixed on the first fixing portion, the operation key is fixed on the second fixing portion, and three projections extend from a lower surface of the base corresponding to the two function parts of the control key and the operation key.

6. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keypad assembly comprises a control key and a function key, the control key includes two function parts, the function key has a column extending from the bottom center thereof, the base comprises a first fixing portion and a third fixing portion, the control key is fixed on the first fixing portion, the function key is fixed on the third fixing portion, and two projections respectively extend from a lower surface of the base corresponding to the two function parts of the control key.

7. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keypad assembly comprises an operation key and a function key, the function key has a column extending from the bottom center thereof, the base comprises a second fixing portion and a third fixing portion, a through hole is defined in one positioning block of the third fixing portion for receiving the column of the function key, the operation key is fixed on the second fixing portion, the function key is fixed on the third fixing portion, and a projections extend from a lower surface of the base corresponding to the operation key.

8. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keypad assembly comprise a control key, an operation key, and a function key, the control key includes two function parts, the function key has a column extending from the bottom center thereof, the base comprises a first fixing portion, a second fixing portion and a third fixing portion, a through hole is defined in one positioning block of the third fixing portion for receiving the column of the function key, the control key is fixed on the first fixing portion, the operation key is fixed on the second fixing portion, the function key is fixed on the third fixing portion, and three projections extend from a lower surface of the base corresponding to the two function parts of the control key and the operation key.

9. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic member includes two hooks, and the hooks are fixed in the portable electronic device.

10. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic member is made of an elastomeric material.

11. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one key comprises a protrusion on the edge thereof, and one of the two positioning blocks has a step configured for engaging with the protrusion.

12. A portable electronic device comprising:

a shell;

a printed circuit board fixed in the shell, the printed circuit board including at least one fixed contact point; and

a keypad assembly fixed on the shell, including;

at least one key;

a base including at least one fixing portion, the at least one fixing portion divided into two positioning blocks by a latching slot, and each key fixed on a corresponding fixing portion; and

an elastic member including at least one latching portion, each latching portion made of two latching apertures and a rib, each positioning block engaged in a corresponding latching aperture, each rib engaged in a corresponding latching slot;

wherein when a given key is pressed down, a corresponding fixed contact point is contacted so as to generate an electronic signal.

13. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein a dome switch is disposed on the printed circuit board and above the at least one fixed contact point.

14. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one projection extends from a lower surface of the base, and each projection corresponds to a dome switch.

15. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one key comprises a respective column extending from a lower surface thereof, a through hole is defined in the at least one fixing portion and is configured for receiving the respective column, and the respective column corresponds to the at least one dome switch.

16. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one key comprises two function parts, and two projections extends from a lower surface of the base corresponding to the two function parts.

17. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the elastic member includes two hooks, and the hooks are fixed on the shell.