Input panel and portable electronic device using the same

• US 7,915,556 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Ou, Tsung-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa; Felix O
• Application Number:
  US12/129,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20090107824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 200/600, 200/513, 200/517, 345/168, 345/173, 345/174, 341/33, 400/479.1
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/014 located in recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/024 Screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/032 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• 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 input panel for a portable electronic device including a switch sheet, a touch-sensing sheet and an interposing sheet is provided. The switch sheet includes a circuit board and at least one dome switch. The circuit board has at least one contact pad, and the dome switch is disposed on the contact pad. The touch-sensing sheet is disposed on the switch sheet for sensing a touch action. The interposing sheet is disposed between the switch sheet and the touch-sensing sheet. The touch-sensing sheet contacts the dome switch when the touch-sensing sheet is pressed, so that the dome switch is deformed elastically to switch on the contact pad.

Claims

1. An input panel, applicable for a portable electronic device, the input panel comprising:

a switch sheet, comprising;

a circuit board, having at least one contact pad; and

at least one dome switch, disposed on the contact pad;

a touch-sensing sheet, disposed on the switch sheet for sensing a touch action, wherein the touch-sensing sheet comprises;

a keypad lens;

a sensing circuit board, for sensing the touch action; and

a supporting sheet, wherein the sensing circuit board is disposed between the keypad lens and the supporting sheet;

an interposing sheet, disposed between the switch sheet and the touch-sensing sheet, wherein the touch-sensing sheet contacts the dome switch when the touch-sensing sheet is pressed, so that the dome switch is deformed elastically to switch on the contact pad; and

an enter key cap having a pressing portion, wherein the keypad lens has a first opening, the pressing portion has a shape substantially consistent with that of the first opening, so as to be disposed into the first opening, the supporting sheet has a second opening corresponding to the first opening, and at least a part of the second opening is covered by the interposing sheet.

2. The input panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensing sheet further comprises:

a first adhesion layer, disposed between the keypad lens and the sensing circuit board; and

a second adhesion layer, disposed between the supporting sheet and the sensing circuit board.

3. The input panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit board is electrically connected to the circuit board.

4. The input panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit board is a capacitor sensing circuit board or a thermal sensing circuit board.

5. The input panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch sheet further comprises a plastic sheet, and the dome switch and the plastic sheet are formed integrally.

6. The input panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch sheet further comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed on the circuit board, the touch-sensing sheet further comprises at least one transparent pattern area having a position corresponding to that of the LED, and the portion of the interposing sheet corresponding to the transparent pattern area allows the light to pass there through.

7. The input panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interposing sheet has at least one protrusion corresponding to the dome switch, and the touch-sensing sheet contacts the dome switch via the protrusion when the touch-sensing sheet is pressed.

8. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a casing;

a display unit, assembled to the casing, and having a display area, wherein the display area is exposed out of the casing;

an input panel, assembled to the casing, and electrically connected to the display unit, wherein the input panel comprises;

a switch sheet, comprising;

a circuit board, having at least one contact pad;

at least one dome switch, disposed on the contact pad;

a touch-sensing sheet, disposed on the switch sheet for sensing a touch action, wherein the touch-sensing sheet comprises;

a keypad lens;

a sensing circuit board, for sensing the touch action; and

a supporting sheet, wherein the sensing circuit board is disposed between the keypad lens and the supporting sheet;

an interposing sheet, disposed between the switch sheet and the touch-sensing sheet, wherein the touch-sensing sheet contacts the dome switch when the touch-sensing sheet is pressed, so that the dome switch is deformed elastically to switch on the contact pad; and

an enter key cap having a pressing portion, wherein the keypad lens has a first opening, the pressing portion has a shape substantially consistent with that of the first opening, so as to be disposed into the first opening, the supporting sheet has a second opening corresponding to the first opening, and at least a part of the second opening is covered by the interposing sheet.

9. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the touch-sensing sheet further comprises:

a first adhesion layer, disposed between the keypad lens and the sensing circuit board; and

a second adhesion layer, disposed between the supporting sheet and the sensing circuit board.

10. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sensing circuit board is electrically connected to the circuit board.

11. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sensing circuit board is a capacitor sensing circuit board or a thermal sensing circuit board.

12. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the switch sheet further comprises a plastic sheet, and the dome switch and the plastic sheet are formed integrally.

13. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the switch sheet further comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed on the circuit board, the touch-sensing sheet further comprises at least one transparent pattern area having a position corresponding to that of the LED, and the portion of the interposing sheet corresponding to the transparent pattern area allows the light to pass there through.

14. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interposing sheet has at least one protrusion corresponding to the dome switch, and the touch-sensing sheet contacts the dome switch via the protrusion when the touch-sensing sheet is pressed.