Touch input device with button function

• US 8,810,539 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Chang, A-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US13/846,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 178 1803- 1807, 715/863, 715/864
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A touch input device with a button function is provided. The touch input device includes a touch module, a triggering switch, a coupling module, and plural movable pads. The plural movable pads are disposed on the coupling module. The coupling module is disposed on the touch module. In addition, the coupling module may be swung relative to the touch module. When the touch module is depressed, the coupling module is pushed by the plural movable pads. Consequently, the coupling module is swung to push the triggering switch that is disposed over the coupling module. Since the plural movable pads are directly disposed on the coupling module, the force to push the triggering switch is directly transmitted from the plural movable pads to the coupling module. Under this circumstance, the touch input device can provide an enhanced tactile feel to the user.

Claims

1. A touch input device with a button function, said touch input device comprising:

a base member comprising plural perforations, wherein said plural perforations are located at a bottom side of said base member;

a touch module disposed over said base member and covering said base member, wherein when said touch module is touched and a touched position is detected by said touch module, said touch module generates a touch signal;

a triggering switch disposed on said touch module, wherein when said touch module is depressed, said triggering switch is triggered to generate a button signal corresponding to said touched position;

a coupling module disposed on a lower part of said touch module, wherein when said touch module is depressed, said coupling module is swung relative to said touch module to trigger said triggering switch; and

plural movable pads disposed on the coupling module, and penetrated through said corresponding perforations of said base member to be exposed outside said base member, wherein when said touch module is depressed, said plural movable pads are moved relative to said corresponding perforations to push said coupling module, so that said coupling module is correspondingly swung.

2. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling module comprises:

a first coupling body comprising plural fixing slices, wherein said plural fixing slices are extended from a first side of said first coupling body and connected with said lower part of said touch module; and

a second coupling body stacked on said first coupling body, wherein said plural movable pads are disposed on a bottom surface of said second coupling body for protecting said first coupling body, thereby preventing deformation of said first coupling body, wherein said second coupling body is thicker than said first coupling body.

3. The touch input device according to claim 2, wherein said coupling module further comprises a triggering part, wherein said triggering part is disposed on said first coupling body and disposed under said triggering switch, wherein when said coupling module is swung relative to said touch module, said triggering switch is pushed by said triggering part.

4. The touch input device according to claim 2, wherein said coupling module further comprises a triggering part, wherein said triggering part is disposed on said first coupling body and said second coupling body, wherein said first coupling body has a first opening under said triggering switch, and said second coupling body has a second opening aligned with said first opening, wherein said triggering part is penetrated through said first opening and said second opening and fixed on said first coupling body and said second coupling body.

5. The touch input device according to claim 2, wherein said first coupling body and said second coupling body are all made of metallic material, and said plural fixing slices are integrally formed with said first coupling body, wherein said first coupling body and said second coupling body are combined together through rivets, wherein said plural movable pads are made of rubbery materials.

6. The touch input device according to claim 2, further comprising plural fixed pads, wherein said plural fixed pads are disposed on said touch module and respectively penetrated through said corresponding perforations of said base member to be exposed outside said base member, wherein when said base member is placed on a working surface, said plural fixed pads are contacted with said working surface.

7. The touch input device according to claim 6, wherein when said touch module is depressed, said plural movable pads are pushed by said working surface to be moved relative to said corresponding perforations, and said coupling module is pushed by said plural movable pads, so that said second coupling body and a second side of said first coupling body are swung relative to said touch module to push said triggering switch, wherein as said triggering switch is pushed to be triggered, said button signal corresponding to said touched position is generated by said triggering switch.

8. The touch input device according to claim 6, wherein said touch module comprises:

a sensing circuit plate for detecting the touched position, thereby generating said touch signal, wherein said triggering switch is disposed on a bottom surface of said sensing circuit plate; and

a protective cover for covering said sensing circuit plate, thereby protecting said sensing circuit plate, wherein said bottom surface of said sensing circuit plate is exposed outside said protective cover.

9. The touch input device according to claim 8, wherein when said touch module is depressed and said touched position is detected by said sensing circuit plate, said button signal corresponding to said touched position is generated by said triggering switch, wherein if said touched position is located near a left side of said touch module, said button signal is a left button signal, wherein if said touched position is located near a right side of said touch module, said button signal is a right button signal.

10. The touch input device according to claim 8, wherein said protective cover further comprises plural protrusion posts, wherein said plural protrusion posts are disposed on a lower part of said protective cover and protruded externally from said lower part of said protective cover, wherein said plural fixed pads are disposed on said plural protrusion posts, respectively.