Mobile electronic device with side button module

• US 8,089,772 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Ming-Pin
• Primary Examiner(s): LEVI, DAMEON E
• Application Number:
  US12/489,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20100232122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 361/752, 361/730, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 174/520
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/028 perpendicular to base of keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/01 combined with other elements on the same substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces

Abstract

A mobile electronic device is provided. The mobile electronic device includes a case having a sidewall; a circuit board mounted in the case, and a side button module attached to the case sidewall. The circuit board includes a switch disposed thereon. The side button module includes a positioning member secured to the case sidewall and a button secured to the positioning member. The button includes a base and an actuating protrusion protruding from the base. The base abuts the positioning member. The actuating protrusion extends through the positioning member and is configured to trigger the switch on the circuit board when actuated. The positioning member is sandwiched between the base and the actuating protrusion.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a case comprising a sidewall;

a circuit board mounted in the case, a switch located on the circuit board; and

a side button module attached to the case sidewall, the side button module comprising;

a positioning member secured to the case sidewall; and

a button comprising a base abutting the positioning member and an actuating protrusion protruding from the base, the actuating protrusion extending through the positioning member and configured to trigger the switch when actuated;

wherein two supporting ribs protrude from the case sidewall outer surface, a securing protrusion extends from each supporting rib, and the two securing portions abut against the supporting ribs and engage with the two securing protrusions.

2. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the positioning member defines a mounting hole, and the actuating protrusion extends through the mounting hole and is blocked by a periphery of the mounting hole.

3. The mobile electronic device of claim 2, wherein the actuating protrusion has a size greater than a diameter of the mounting hole.

4. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the case sidewall defines a slot, the switch comprises a switch head corresponding to the slot, and the switch head is configured to be depressed by the actuating protrusion.

5. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein a bent tab extends from the positioning member, the bent tab abuts a top surface of the switch base so as to conduct static electricity to ground.

6. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuating protrusion is cross shape.

7. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the positioning member is made of metal material.

16. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the positioning member is located between the base and the actuating protrusion.

8. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a case comprising a sidewall;

a circuit board mounted in the case, two switches located on the circuit board;

a positioning member secured to the case sidewall; and

a button comprising two actuating protrusions corresponding to the two switches, the actuating protrusions capable of triggering the switches;

wherein two bent tabs extend from the positioning member, each bent tab abuts a top surface of the corresponding switch so as to conduct static electricity to ground.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 8, wherein the button further comprises a base abutting the positioning member, and the actuating protrusions extends from the base, and the positioning member is located between the base and the actuating protrusions.

10. The mobile electronic device of claim 9, wherein the positioning member defines two mounting holes that the actuating protrusions extend through and is blocked by a periphery of the mounting hole.

11. The mobile electronic device of claim 10, wherein each of the actuating protrusions has a size greater than a diameter of the corresponding mounting hole.

12. The mobile electronic device of claim 8, wherein the case sidewall defines two slots corresponding to the two switches, each switch comprises a switch head corresponding to a slot, the switch heads are configured to be depressed by the actuating protrusions from the slots.

13. The mobile electronic device of claim 8, wherein two supporting ribs protrude from the case sidewall outer surface, a securing protrusion extends from each supporting rib, two securing portions extend from the positioning member, the securing portions abut against the supporting ribs and engage with the supporting rib securing protrusions.

14. The mobile electronic device of claim 8, wherein each actuating protrusion is cross shape.

15. The mobile electronic device of claim 8, wherein the positioning member is made of metal material.

17. The mobile electronic device of claim 8, wherein the case further comprises a bottom wall substantially perpendicular to the sidewall, a supporting post protrudes from the bottom wall between the two switches, a pole is located between the two actuating protrusions, and the pole abuts against the supporting post to function as a fulcrum when one of the actuating protrusions is pressed.