Two-stage switch assembly

• US 8,378,240 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Rajagopal, Vijai, Infanti, James, Sulem, Firmansyah, Kyowski, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US13/529,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20120257098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/807, 361/825, 361/837, 200/345, 200/1.B, 200/5.A, 200/341
• US Class Current: 200/1.B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/48 using buckling of disc springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/64 wherein the switch has more than two electrically distinguishable positions, e.g. multi-position push-button switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/01 Different switch sites under one actuator in same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches

Abstract

A switch assembly is provided to actuate a pair of switches using a single push key, e.g. for a camera that utilizes a first switch to activate an image focusing function and a second switch to activate a camera shutter. The switch assembly comprises a contact pad switch and a dome switch that are located laterally to one another. When the push key receives a first downward force, only the contact pad switch becomes activated and a first electric circuit is completed. When the push key receives a second downward force that is greater than the first force, the dome switch collapses and a second electric circuit is completed.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising a switch assembly, the switch comprising:

a dome switch;

a conductive pad switch arranged laterally in an array relative to the dome switch, the conductive pad switch comprising an upper contact and a lower contact, and a resilient member surrounding the upper and the lower contacts and acting to separate the upper and the lower contacts; and

a push key positioned above the array and comprising a hole to receive a heat staking structure,

wherein upon movement of the push key, the resilient member deforms to close the conductive pad switch under a first force, while a second force greater than the first force closes the dome switch.

2. A camera device comprising a lens, a camera shutter, and a switch assembly for focusing an image entering the lens and activating the camera shutter, the switch assembly comprising:

a dome switch;

a conductive pad switch arranged laterally in an array relative to the dome switch, the conductive pad switch comprising an upper contact and a lower contact, and a resilient member surrounding the upper and the lower contacts and acting to separate the upper and the lower contacts; and

a push key positioned above the array and comprising a hole to receive a heat staking structure,

wherein upon movement of the push key, the resilient member deforms to close the conductive pad switch under a first force thereby focusing the image entering the lens, while a second force greater than the first force closes the dome switch thereby activating the camera shutter to capture the image.

3. A mobile device comprising the camera device according to claim 2.

4. A switch assembly comprising:

a dome switch;

a conductive pad switch arranged laterally in an array relative to the dome switch, the conductive pad switch comprising an upper contact and a lower contact, and a resilient member surrounding the upper and the lower contacts and acting to separate the upper and the lower contacts; and

a push key positioned above the array and comprising a hole to receive a heat staking structure,

wherein upon movement of the push key, the resilient member deforms to close the conductive pad switch under a first force, while a second force greater than the first force closes the dome switch.

5. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein the hole to receive the heat staking structure is for securing the push key to a device.

6. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein the hole to receive the heat staking structure is located towards the push key'"'"'s periphery.

7. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein the resilient member is formed as a portion of the push key.

8. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein the resilient member provides a seal around the periphery of the upper contact and the lower contact.

9. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein the top of the dome switch comprises a puck.

10. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein the resilient member is any one of ring-shaped, triangle-shaped, square-shaped and octagon-shaped.

11. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein the push key comprises a first end portion positioned above the conductive pad switch and a second end portion positioned above the dome switch.

12. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein the hole to receive the heat staking structure is for securing the push key to the mobile device.

13. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein a rigid key cap is attached to the top of the push key.

14. The switch assembly according to claim 13 wherein a hard-stop protrusion is spaced below the key cap and is positioned in the vicinity of the conductive pad switch in the array.

15. The switch assembly according to claim 13 wherein the push key further comprises a hole to receive a heat staking structure and the hole is located towards the push key'"'"'s periphery and to one side of the key cap.

16. The switch assembly according to claim 4 wherein the push key comprises a first end portion positioned above the conductive pad switch and a second end portion positioned above the dome switch.

17. The switch assembly according to claim 16 wherein the push key further comprises a resilient material to permit movement of the second end portion with respect to the first end portion.

18. The switch assembly according to claim 16 wherein the push key further comprises a resilient material to permit movement of the second end portion with respect to the first end portion.

19. The switch assembly according to claim 16 wherein the first end portion comprises a first protrusion for supporting the upper contact and the second end portion comprises a second protrusion for closing the dome switch.

20. The switch assembly according to claim 16 wherein the first end portion comprises a first protrusion for supporting the upper contact and the second end portion comprises a second protrusion for closing the dome switch.

21. The switch assembly according to claim 20 wherein the resilient member is attached to the first protrusion.