Track pad acoustic features related to a portable computer

• US 9,030,839 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Leggett, William F., Rockford, David M., Reid, Gavin J., Casebolt, Matthew P., Jang, Changsoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US13/855,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.1, 361/679.18, 361/679.55, 361/748, 361/749, 361/752, 361/760, 361/761, 361/781, 345/173
• US Class Current: 361/781
• 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 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88
• 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: H05K 3/32 electrically connecting electric components or wires to printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49149 by metal fusion bonding

Abstract

The present application describes various embodiments of systems and methods for providing internal and external components for portable computing devices having a thin profile. More particularly, the present application describes internal components configured to fit within a relatively thin outer enclosure, wherein the internal components comprise at least one external interface, such as, for example, a track pad interface.

Claims

1. A track pad, comprising:

a cover having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the cover configured to be pivotally coupled to a case of a portable computing device;

a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled with an interior facing surface of the cover and proximate the second end of the cover;

a touch sensor in communication with the PCB and disposed between the PCB and the cover; and

a switch directly coupled to the touch sensor and extending into an opening defined by the PCB, wherein the switch is configured to be actuated by a support member of the portable computing device that extends into the opening in the PCB when the cover pivots about the first end.

2. The track pad of claim 1, wherein the PCB defines a protrusion that extends past the second end of the cover and is configured to engage the case.

3. The track pad of claim 2, wherein the touch sensor extends past the protrusion and is configured to conceal a gap between the cover and the case.

4. The track pad of claim 1, wherein a vertical position of the support member is adjustable so that a distance the cover pivots before the switch is actuated by the support member changes with adjustment of the vertical position of the support member.

5. The track pad of claim 1, further comprising at least one acoustic transmission member configured to guide acoustic energy within the track pad, wherein the acoustic energy is imparted to the cover by actuating and de-actuating the switch.

6. A method for assembling a track pad in a portable computing device, the method comprising:

pivotally coupling a first end of a cover to a case of the portable computing device;

coupling a printed circuit board (PCB) with an interior facing surface of a second end of the cover, the second end opposite the first end

positioning a touch sensor between the PCB and the cover;

mechanically coupling a switch to the touch sensor proximate an opening defined by the PCB; and

positioning a support member proximate the opening so that when the cover pivots the support member activates the switch through the opening in the PCB.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

forming a protrusion on the PCB that extends past the second end of the cover and is configured to engage the top case.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

extending the touch sensor past the protrusion; and

concealing a gap between the cover and the case.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

adjusting a vertical engagement position of the support member so that a distance the second end of the cover travels before actuating the switch changes.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein adjusting a vertical engagement position comprises:

fitting a gauge fixture having controlled dimensions within a threaded hole in the support member; and

constraining the support member with a collar included in the gauge fixture configured to constrain a set screw.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising contacting a portion of the switch with the gauge fixture through the threaded hole.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising measuring a distance between the switch and the support member with an optical measuring device and the gauge fixture having controlled dimensions.

13. A track pad, comprising:

a cover having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the cover configured to pivotally couple to a case of a portable computing device;

a printed circuit board (PCB) mechanically coupled to an interior facing surface of the second end of the cover;

a touch sensor disposed between the PCB and the cover;

a switch mechanically coupled to the touch sensor and configured to actuate upon pivoting the cover about the first end; and

at least one acoustic transmission member coupled to the cover in a position proximate to the first end of the cover and configured to guide acoustic energy within the track pad, wherein the acoustic energy is imparted to the cover by actuating and de-actuating the switch.

14. The track pad of claim 13 further comprising:

a support member that actuates the switch through an opening in the PCB when the cover pivots about the first end.

15. The track pad of claim 14, wherein a vertical position of the support member is adjustable so that a distance the cover pivots before the switch is actuated by the support member changes with adjustment of the vertical position of the support member.

16. The track pad of claim 15 , wherein the at least one acoustic transmission member is further coupled to the case of the portable computing device.

17. The track pad of claim 13, wherein the at least one acoustic transmission member is configured to guide at least a portion of the acoustic energy from the cover to the case.

18. The track pad of claim 13, wherein the at least one acoustic transmission member is further configured to dampen at least a portion of the acoustic energy.

19. A portable computing device, comprising:

a lid portion configured to include a display;

a base portion including a top case and bottom case, pivotally coupled to the lid portion, the top case comprising;

a track pad zone configured to support a track pad, wherein the track pad comprises a cover having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the cover configured to be pivotally coupled to the top case, a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to an interior facing surface of the cover, a touch sensor in communication with the PCB and coupled to the second end of the cover, wherein the touch sensor is in communication with the PCB and disposed between the PCB and the cover, and at least one acoustic transmission member is coupled to the cover proximate the first end of the cover and configured to guide acoustic energy within the track pad.

20. The portable computing device of claim 19, wherein the at least one acoustic transmission member is configured with a first side coupled to the cover proximate to the first end of the cover and a second side in contact with the top case.

21. The portable computing device of claim 19 further comprising:

a switch directly coupled to the touch sensor and extending into an opening defined by the PCB, wherein the switch is configured to be actuated by a support member of the portable computing device that extends into the opening in the PCB when the cover pivots about the first end.

22. The portable computing device of claim 21, wherein the support member comprises a vertically adjustable set screw configured to set a distance the cover travels when the cover pivots about the first end when the switch is actuated by the support member.

23. The portable computing device of claim 19, wherein the at least one acoustic transmission member is further coupled to the top case of the portable computing device.

24. The portable computing device of claim 19, wherein the at least one acoustic transmission member is configured to guide an acoustic energy from the cover to the top case.

25. The portable computing device of claim 21 , wherein the at least one acoustic transmission member is further configured to dampen at least a portion of an acoustic energy generated upon actuation of the switch.

26. A method for assembling a track pad, the method comprising:

providing a cover having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the cover configured to be pivotally coupled to a case of a portable computing device;

coupling a printed circuit board (PCB) to an interior facing surface of the cover and proximate the second end of the cover;

coupling a touch sensor between the PCB and the cover; and

,

mechanically and electrically coupling a switch to an interior facing surface of the touch sensor, wherein the switch is configured to be actuated by a support member of the portable computing device that extends into an opening in the PCB overlapping the switch when the cover pivots about the first end.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the support member comprises an adjusting screw, wherein the adjusting screw is configured to locate a position at which the switch is activated when the cover pivots about the first end.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein coupling the switch to the touch sensor comprises placing a support member through the opening to allow an inflection of the switch upon actuating the support member.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein providing a cover comprises:

pivotally coupling the first end of the cover to a case of the portable computing device; and

decoupling the second end of the cover from the case of the portable computing device.