Tactile switch assembly in an electronic device

• US 9,972,459 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hill, Matthew D., Rao, Matthew P., Lee, Alex M., Pope, Benjamin J., Kole, Jared M., Myers, Scott A., Mag, Stefan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O
• Application Number:
  US14/480,276
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 200341, 200600
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/17 using hand-held instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/81 characterised by electrical connections to external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/004 Printed circuit tail
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/01 Increasing rigidity; Anti-creep
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/036 Minimise height
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/01 combined with other elements on the same substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/074 Actuation by finger touch

Abstract

A tactile switch assembly can include a tactile switch structure electrically connected to one end of a flexible circuit. The tactile switch assembly has a first length when the flexible circuit is in an unfolded state and a smaller second length when the flexible circuit is in a folded state. The flexible circuit folds over itself one or more times in the folded state. The tactile switch structure can include a stiffener positioned over a switch. The flexible circuit can extend over at least a portion of a top surface of the stiffener and wrap around the stiffener at a bend region and extend under at least a portion of a bottom surface of the stiffener. One or more component chambers can be created in openings in the stiffener that provide additional locations for one or more electrical components to be electrically connected to the flexible circuit.

Claims

1. A tactile switch assembly, comprising:

a support plate having opposing first and second sides;

a tactile switch structure comprising a switch configured to press against the first side of the support plate, wherein the tactile switch structure is electrically connected to a first end of a flexible circuit, the tactile switch assembly has a first length when the flexible circuit is in an unfolded state, the tactile switch assembly has a second length that is less than the first length when the flexible circuit is in a folded state, the flexible circuit folds over itself at least once in the folded state, and a second end of the flexible circuit is located adjacent to the second side of the support plate when the flexible circuit is in the folded state; and

an electrical component directly coupled and electrically connected to a surface of the flexible circuit, wherein the switch is interposed between the electrical component and the support plate.

2. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 1, wherein the tactile switch structure includes a stiffener positioned adjacent to the switch and the flexible circuit folds over the stiffener in the tactile switch structure.

3. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 2, further comprising at least one component chamber surrounded by the stiffener, the flexible circuit positioned over the stiffener, and the flexible circuit positioned under the stiffener.

4. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 2, wherein the electrical component electrically connected to an additional surface of the flexible circuit.

5. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a connector electrically connected to the second end of the flexible circuit.

6. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 5, further comprising an additional electrical component electrically connected to the flexible circuit between the tactile switch structure and the connector.

7. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 1, further comprising at least one stiffener attached to a folded portion of the flexible circuit.

8. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 1, the tactile switch structure further comprising a sensor attached to the flexible circuit.

9. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor.

10. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 2, wherein the switch comprises a dome switch.

11. A tactile switch assembly, comprising:

a flexible circuit, wherein the tactile switch assembly has a first length when the flexible circuit is in an unfolded state, the tactile switch assembly has a second length that is less than the first length when the flexible circuit is in a folded state, and the flexible circuit folds over itself at least once in the folded state;

a stiffener attached to the flexible circuit, wherein the stiffener has first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface directly contacts a first portion of the flexible circuit when the flexible circuit is in the folded state, and the second surface directly contacts a second portion of the flexible circuit when the flexible circuit is in the folded state;

a support plate; and

a tactile switch structure attached to the flexible circuit and interposed between the support plate and the second portion of the flexible circuit, wherein the tactile switch structure comprises;

a dome switch that is configured to press against and directly contact the support plate and is electrically connected to an end of the flexible circuit;

a cover glass that covers the dome switch and the second portion of the flexible circuit; and

a fingerprint sensor interposed between the cover glass and the second portion of the flexible circuit, wherein the fingerprint sensor is electrically connected to the second portion of the flexible circuit.

12. The tactile switch assembly as in claim 11, further comprising an additional stiffener, wherein a first surface of the additional stiffener is attached to the flexible circuit and a portion of a second surface of the additional stiffener is left uncovered by the flexible circuit.