Two-stage switch assembly

• US 7,977,587 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Infanti, James, Rajagopal, Vijai, Kyowski, Timothy, Sulem, Firmansyah
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon; Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US12/393,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20100084252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1.B, 200/5.A
• US Class Current: 200/1.00B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/48 using buckling of disc springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/64 wherein the switch has more than two electrically distinguishable positions, e.g. multi-position push-button switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/01 Different switch sites under one actuator in same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches

Abstract

A switch assembly is provided to actuate a pair of switches using a single push key, e.g. for a camera that utilizes a first switch to activate an image focusing function and a second switch to activate a camera shutter. The switch assembly comprises a contact pad switch and a dome switch that are located laterally to one another. When the push key receives a first downward force, only the contact pad switch becomes activated and a first electric circuit is completed. When the push key receives a second downward force that is greater than the first force, the dome switch collapses and a second electric circuit is completed.

Claims

1. A switch assembly comprising:

a lower surface;

a push key supported above the lower surface and moveable with respect thereto, the push key comprising an elongate member having a first end portion and a second end portion;

a first switch comprising a first upper contact supported above a first lower contact, the lower contact being supported by the lower surface, both being aligned with the first end portion, and a resilient member surrounding the first upper contact and the first lower contact and acting to separate the first upper contact and the first lower contact, the resilient member aligned with the first end portion; and

a second switch comprising a collapsible dome supported by the lower surface and being aligned with the second end portion, the dome comprising a second upper contact and a second lower contact;

wherein upon movement of the push key, the resilient member deforms to close the first switch under a first force, while a second force greater than the first force is required to collapse the dome.

2. A switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the push key comprises a resilient material to permit movement of the second end portion with respect to the first end portion.

3. A switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first end portion comprises a first protrusion for supporting the first upper contact and the second end portion comprises a second protrusion for collapsing the dome.

4. The switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the push key further comprises a locking ring for securing the push key to a device.

5. The switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the push key further comprises a hole to receive a heat staking structure.

6. The switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the resilient member is formed as a portion of the push key.

7. The switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the top of the dome switch comprises a puck.

8. The switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the resilient member is any one of ring-shaped, triangle-shaped, square-shaped and octagon-shaped.

9. The switch assembly according to claim 3 wherein the resilient member is attached to the first protrusion.

10. The switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the resilient member provides a seal around the periphery of the first upper contact and the first lower contact.

11. The switch assembly according to claim 1 wherein a rigid key cap is attached to the top of the push key.

12. The switch assembly according to claim 11 wherein a hard-stop protrusion is spaced below the key cap and is positioned in the vicinity of the first end portion.

13. The switch assembly according to claim 11 wherein the push key further comprises a hole to receive a heat staking structure and the hole is located towards the push key'"'"'s periphery and to one side of the key cap.

14. A camera device comprising a lens, a camera shutter, and a switch assembly for focusing an image entering the lens and activating the camera shutter, the switch assembly comprising:

a lower surface;

a push key supported above the lower surface and moveable with respect thereto, the push key comprising an elongate member having a first end portion and a second end portion;

a first switch comprising a first upper contact supported above a first lower contact, the lower contact being supported by the lower surface, both being aligned with the first end portion, and a resilient member surrounding the first upper contact and the first lower contact and acting to separate the first upper contact and the first lower contact, the resilient member aligned with the first end portion; and

a second switch comprising a collapsible dome supported by the lower surface and being aligned with the second end portion, the dome comprising a second upper contact and a second lower contact;

wherein upon movement of the push key, the resilient member deforms to close the first switch under a first force thereby focusing the image entering the lens, while a second force greater than the first force is required to collapse the dome thereby activating the camera shutter to capture the image.

15. A mobile device comprising the camera device according to claim 14.