Button structures for electronic devices

• US 8,526,161 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Weber, Trent, Wittenberg, Michael B., Yu, Michelle A., Myers, Scott, Stiehl, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tuan T
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAWYER, STEVEN T
• Application Number:
  US12/794,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20110255260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 361/288, 361/291, 361/287, 361807-810, 361/814, 200/43.13, 200/5.E
• US Class Current: 361/288
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/04 Cases; Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/02 Reversed domes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/026 Guiding or lubricating nylon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/02 Bases, casings, or covers accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack

Abstract

An electronic device may have buttons, a display, and a vibrator unit. Buttons may be included in electronic devices such as glass buttons, metal buttons, buttons that are assembled on printed circuit boards, and buttons that are partly formed from antenna structures. Button coatings may be used to improve the sliding performance of metal-on-metal buttons. A layer of polymer may be interposed between a button plate and a housing structure. A glass button member may have an underside on which a layer of patterned ink is formed. Elastomeric members may be used to reduce button rattle. Portions of a button may be provided with conductive features that form portions of an antenna.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a button plate comprising;

at least one button member; and

at least one opening formed in the button plate located adjacent to the at least one button member;

a housing structure having at least one opening through which the button member protrudes for actuation by a user; and

at least one spring located adjacent to the at least one button member that attaches the button plate to the housing structure such that the at least one spring protrudes through the at least one opening of the button plate;

wherein the at least one spring comprises leaves that retain the button plate against the housing structure and the at least one spring comprises a threaded bore that forms a first screw boss.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising a dome switch assembly attached to the screw boss.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the button plate comprises two slots on opposing sides of each opening of the at least one opening of the button plate.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one spring comprises one of a plurality of springs;

the button plate comprises sides; and

the plurality of springs press against the sides of the button plate such that the button plate presses against an interior surface of the housing structure.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the housing structure comprises a metal housing structure.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises four sides, and wherein the housing structure comprises a metal band that surrounds the four sides.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising a dome switch assembly comprising at least one dome switch that is controlled by moving the at least one button member.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of the at least one button member is retained within the housing structure; and

the button plate is completely enclosed within the housing structure.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one button member comprises two button members, and the at least one spring spring resides between the two button members.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one button member comprises two button members, and the button plate further comprises two slots that reside between the two button members and are located on either side of the at least one opening of the button plate.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising a button bracket situated substantially parallel to the button plate and coupled to the housing structure.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one spring further comprises a second screw boss, the first and second screw bosses located adjacent to sides of the button plate.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 4, wherein the plurality of springs comprises at least four springs.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 8, wherein:

the at least one button member comprises two button members;

the dome switch assembly comprises two dome switches;

the housing structure comprises at least one screw boss; and

the dome switch assembly attaches to the screw boss so that each of the two button members controls a respective one of the two dome switches.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising a third screw boss aligned with the at least one spring.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a button bracket attached to the housing structure via the first and second screw bosses and attached to the button plate via the third screw boss.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the button bracket comprises at least one opening corresponding respectively to each of the first, second, and third screw bosses.