Key button mechanism and an electronic device using the same

• US 7,576,291 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2007
• 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: Chan, Kai-Po, Cheng, Chao-Yuan, Tseng, Chao-Kun
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US12/164,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20090159416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 200/406, 200/516, 200/517, 200/341, 200/344, 200/345, 200292-296, 341/20, 341/22, 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/184
• US Class Current: 200/296
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/5805 Connections to printed circuits for slide switches H01H15/005; for tumbler switches H01H23/006
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/012 Snap mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/014 located in recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/028 perpendicular to base of keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/008 Static electricity considerations

Abstract

A key button mechanism (100) including an operating body (10), a flexible circuit board (20), a fixing device (40), and a mounting assembly (50) is provided. The flexible circuit board engages with the operating body. The fixing device includes a hanging body (42) and a fixing base (44), and the hanging body is hung on the fixing base. The flexible circuit board is attached to the hanging body. The mounting assembly includes a cover (52) and a mounting portion (54) configured for mounting the fixing base thereon. The hanging body of the fixing device is configured for resisting the mounting portion. An electronic apparatus incorporating the key button mechanism is also provided.

Claims

1. A key button mechanism, comprising:

an operating body;

a flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board engaging with the operating body;

a fixing device comprising a hanging body and a fixing base, the hanging body hung from the fixing base, and the flexible circuit board being attached to the hanging body; and

a mounting assembly comprising a cover and a mounting portion, the mounting portion being configured for mounting the fixing base thereon, and the hanging body of the fixing device being configured for resisting the mounting portion.

2. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating body further comprises an operating cover and a pressing body, the operating cover defines an engaging slot, the pressing body includes a body portion, the body portion is received in the engaging slot such that the pressing body is joined to the operating cover.

3. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pressing body includes a plurality of resisting protrusions disposed one side thereof, and an elastic portion disposed one end of an opposite side thereof, the flexible board includes a plurality of contact switches arranged thereon, the resisting protrusions engaging with the contact switches.

4. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit board further comprises a bent edge perpendicular to a surface of the flexible circuit board and is configured for connecting the flexible circuit board to a circuit board.

5. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key button mechanism further comprises an adhesive layer for attaching the flexible circuit board to the fixing device.

6. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hanging body includes a main board and two clasping portions extending from two opposite sides of an upper end of the main board and are perpendicular to the main board, and two circular hanging apertures are defined in the clasping portions.

7. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing base includes two recessed sections defined on a top surface, a protruding post is arranged in each of the recessed section for engaging with circular hanging apertures of the hanging body, and a flange is defined in the slot for engaging with the mounting portion.

8. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the fixing base includes a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion, and a protrusion is arranged on a horizontal surface of the first stepped portion for engaging with a through hole defined on the cover of the mounting assembly.

9. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting portion further comprises a vertical section and a horizontal section, the vertical section, the horizontal section and the cover cooperatively define a receiving groove for accommodating the fixing base.

10. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 9, the vertical section further comprises a notch and two elastic strips arranged below the notch, the notch is for engaging with the fixing base, and the elastic strips is for resisting the hanging body.

11. The key button mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the cover equals the height of the first stepped portion.

12. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing for covering a circuit board within the electronic apparatus, the housing includes a key slot arranged thereon;

a key button mechanism including an operating pressing body, a flexible circuit board, a fixing device, a mounting assembly, the flexible circuit board for engaging with the operating body includes a plurality of contact switches arranged thereon and is configured for engaging with the pressing body, the fixing device further comprises a fixing base and a hanging body hung on the fixing base, and the flexible circuit board is attached to the hanging body, the mounting assembly further comprises a cover and a mounting portion, the mounting portion is configured for mounting the fixing base thereon, and the hanging body is configured for resisting the mounting portion; and

wherein the pressing body being engaged with and being clasped within the key slot, the fixing device is arranged in accordance with a location of the key slot, and the mounting assembly is arranged on the circuit board.

13. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the operating body further comprises an operating cover and a pressing body, the operating cover defines an engaging slot, the pressing body includes a body portion, the body portion is received in the engaging slot such that the pressing body is joined to the operating cover.

14. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pressing body includes a plurality of resisting protrusions disposed one side thereof, and an elastic portion disposed one end of an opposite side thereof, the flexible board includes a plurality of contact switches arranged thereon, the resisting protrusions engaging with the contact switches.

15. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the flexible circuit board further comprises a bent edge perpendicular to a surface of the flexible circuit board and is configured for connecting the flexible circuit board to a circuit board.

16. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the hanging body includes a main board and two clasping portions extending from two opposite sides of an upper end of the main board and are perpendicular to the main board, and two circular hanging apertures are defined in the clasping portions.

17. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fixing base includes two recessed sections defined on a top surface and a slot defined on a lateral surface, a protruding post is arranged in each of the recessed section for engaging with circular hanging apertures of the hanging body, and a flange is defined in the slot for engaging with the mounting portion.

18. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein a bottom surface of the fixing base includes a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion, and a protrusion is arranged on a horizontal surface of the first stepped portion for engaging with a through hole defined on the cover of the mounting assembly.