Electronic device and connection mechanism for touch buttons thereof

• US 8,411,449 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ouyang, Kuo-Hsiang, Tang, Hone-Wei, Wang, Chung-Ding
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmonds, Lisa Lea
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US12/954,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20120020031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 361/748
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An electronic device includes a housing, a capacitive touch button, a PCB and a connection mechanism. The capacitive touch button is secured in the housing and includes a number of button bodies. The PCB is secured in the housing. The connection mechanism includes a circuit board and a connection element. The circuit board is secured in the housing and includes a number of sensor electrodes and a number of electrical protrusions, which are all arranged corresponding to the number of button bodies of the capacitive touch button. The sensor electrodes are connected to the capacitive touch button and the electrical protrusions. The connection element includes a first end and a second end. The first end is fixed on the PCB. The second end resists against the electrical protrusions for electrically connecting the capacitive touch button and the controller of the PCB.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a capacitive touch button secured in the housing and comprising a plurality of button bodies;

a PCB secured in the housing; and

a connection mechanism comprising;

a circuit board secured in the housing and comprising a plurality of sensor electrodes and a plurality of electrical protrusions which are arranged corresponding to the plurality of button bodies of the capacitive touch button, the sensor electrodes being connected to the capacitive touch button and the electrical protrusions; and

a connecting element comprising a plurality of first connection terminals resisting against the electrical protrusions, and a plurality of second connection terminals fixed on the PCB and connected to the plurality of first connecting terminals, for electrically connecting the capacitive touch button and the PCB.

2. The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the connecting element further comprises

a base,

and the plurality first connecting terminals are elastically deformed when being pressed.

3. The electronic device as described in claim 2, wherein the first connecting terminals and the second connecting terminals are made of electrically conductive materials.

4. The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical protrusions are metallic solder pads.

5. A connection mechanism for connecting a capacitive touch button of an electronic device with a controller of a PCB of the electronic device, the electronic device comprising a housing, the connection mechanism comprising:

a circuit board secured in the housing and comprising a plurality of sensor electrodes and a plurality of electrical protrusions which are arranged corresponding to a plurality of button bodies of the capacitive touch button, the sensor electrodes being connected to the capacitive touch button and the electrical protrusions; and

a connecting element comprising a plurality of first connection terminals resisting against the electrical protrusions, and a plurality of second connection terminals fixed on the PCB and connected to the plurality of first connecting terminals, for electrically connecting the capacitive touch button and the PCB.

6. The connection mechanism as described in claim 5, wherein the connecting element further comprises

a base,

and the plurality of first connecting terminals are elastically deformed when being pressed.

7. The connection mechanism as described in claim 6, wherein the first connecting terminals and the second connecting terminals are made of electrically conductive materials.

8. The connection mechanism as described in claim 5, wherein the plurality of electrical protrusions are metallic solder pads.