Handheld electronic apparatus and input device thereof

• US 8,098,238 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Tai, Chih Wei, Ou, Chung Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sadio, Insa
• Application Number:
  US12/051,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20090066661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 345168-169, 345/172, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/19.01, 178/20.01, 463/37, 463/38, 200/5, 200/512, 455/556, 455/556.2, 455/575.1, 361/679.3, 361/679.15
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A handheld electronic apparatus comprises a touch keypad, a circuit board, a base and a support mechanism. The touch keypad is configured to receive a user'"'"'s touch operation and comprises a plurality of icons. The circuit board is placed below the touch keypad and has a dome switch providing tactile feedback to the user when the user presses the touch keypad. The base is placed between the touch keypad and the circuit board and has a first opening through which the touch keypad can trigger the dome switch. The support mechanism is placed between the touch keypad and the base to support the touch keypad.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic apparatus, comprising:

a touch keypad having a plurality of icons configured to detect a user'"'"'s touch action, wherein the touch keypad includes;

a front cover comprising a plurality of icons;

a capacitor sensing element placed below the front cover and electrically connected to a circuit board, wherein the capacitor sensing element is configured to sense the touch action; and

a support frame placed below the capacitor sensing element and comprising a plunger on the bottom surface thereof, wherein the plunger presses a dome switch through a first opening when the user presses the front cover;

a circuit board comprising a dome switch and being placed below the touch keypad, wherein the touch keypad is suitable for moving to press the dome switch, wherein the circuit board further comprises a connector, a base has a second opening and the support frame has a third opening, the capacitor sensing element has a connection portion penetrating through the third opening and the second opening to be connected to the connector;

a base placed between the touch keypad and the circuit board and having a first opening, wherein the touch keypad can press the dome switch through the first opening; and

a support mechanism placed between the base and the touch keypad and configured to support the touch keypad.

2. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support mechanism comprises:

a fold frame comprising a first frame, a second frame and two pivots, the two pivots connecting the centers of the longitudinal sides of the first frame and the second frame; and

a first spring placed inside the fold frame and separating the base and the touch keypad, wherein the plunger penetrates the first spring.

3. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base further comprises a plurality of first sockets configured to secure ends of the first frame and the second frame, and the support frame comprises a plurality of second sockets configured to secure the other ends of the first frame and the second frame.

4. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a plurality of hooks on the bottom surface thereof, the base has a plurality of fourth openings, and the hooks are secured to the base through the fourth openings.

5. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises:

a second spring placed above the dome switch and separating the base and the touch keypad, wherein the plunger penetrates through the second spring; and

a plurality of third springs placed around the second spring and separating the base and the touch keypad.

6. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of screws, wherein the base has a plurality of fifth openings, the support frame is provided with a plurality of screw holes on the bottom surface thereof and the plurality of screws go through the fifth openings and the third springs to be secured to the screw holes.

7. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lighting devices placed on the circuit board, and the base has a plurality of sixth openings exposing the lighting devices.

8. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dome switch is a metal dome switch or a polymer dome switch.

9. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rear cover, wherein the circuit board is placed between the base and the rear cover.

10. An input device for a handheld electronic apparatus, wherein the handheld electronic apparatus has a base with a first opening, the input device comprising:

a touch keypad having a plurality of icons configured to detect a user'"'"'s touch action, wherein the touch keypad includes;

a front cover comprising a plurality of icons;

a capacitor sensing element placed below the front cover and electrically connected to a circuit board, wherein the capacitor sensing element is configured to sense the touch action; and

a support frame placed below the capacitor sensing element and comprising a plunger on the bottom surface thereof, wherein the plunger presses a dome switch through the first opening when the user presses the front cover;

a circuit board comprising a dome switch and being placed below the touch keypad, wherein the touch keypad is suitable for moving to press the dome switch, the base is placed between the touch keypad and the circuit board, and the touch keypad can press the dome switch through the first opening, wherein the circuit board further comprises a connector, the base has a second opening and the support frame has a third opening, the capacitor sensing element has a connection portion penetrating through the third opening and the second opening to be connected to the connector; and

a support mechanism placed between the base and the touch keypad and configured to support the touch keypad.

11. The input device of claim 10, wherein the support mechanism comprises:

a fold frame comprising a first frame, a second frame and two pivots, the two pivots connecting the centers of the longitudinal sides of the first frame and the second frame; and

a first spring placed inside the fold frame and separating the base and the touch keypad, wherein the plunger penetrates the first spring.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein the base further comprises a plurality of first sockets configured to secure ends of the first frame and the second frame, and the support frame comprises a plurality of second sockets configured to secure the other ends of the first frame and the second frame.

13. The input device of claim 10, wherein the support frame comprises a plurality of hooks on the bottom surface thereof, the base has a plurality of fourth openings, and the hooks are secured to the base through the fourth openings

14. The input device of claim 10, wherein the support frame comprises:

a second spring placed above the dome switch and separating the base and the touch keypad, wherein the plunger penetrates through the second spring; and

a plurality of third springs placed around the second spring and separating the base and the touch keypad.

15. The input device of claim 14, wherein the handheld electronic apparatus further comprising a plurality of screws, and the base has a plurality of fifth openings, the support frame is provided with a plurality of screw holes on the bottom surface thereof, and the plurality of screws go through the fifth openings and the third springs to be secured to the screw holes.

16. The input device of claim 10, wherein the handheld electronic apparatus further a plurality of lighting devices placed on the circuit board, and the base has a plurality of sixth openings exposing the lighting devices.