Switch device for use in electronic device

• US 8,207,461 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Yeh, Chih-Feng, Hsia, Wen-Nan, Lee, Cheng-Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US12/499,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 200/243, 361/781, 439/945, 439/946
• US Class Current: 200/243
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/5805 Connections to printed circuits for slide switches H01H15/005; for tumbler switches H01H23/006
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/10 Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09145 Edge details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0919 Exposing inner circuit layers or metal planes at the side edge of the PCB or at the walls of large holes shielding provided by an inner layer of PCB H05K2201/0723
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10053 Switch
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10446 Mounted on an edge soldering edge mounted components H05K3/3405; edge terminals H05K2201/1034
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/403 Edge contacts; Windows or holes in the substrate having plural connections on the walls thereof H05K3/4092 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.

Abstract

A switch structure on the sidewall of a circuit board for an electronic device and manufacturing methods of the circuit board are provided. The switch structure includes a circuit board, a plurality of conductive portions, and a movable unit. The conductive portions are formed on a sidewall of the circuit board and electrically insulated from each other. The movable unit is disposed corresponding to the conductive portions to electrically connect or disconnect the plurality of conductive portions to achieve the switch function. The switch structure utilizes the structural design of the circuit board to reduce the space on the circuit board preserved for a circuit board switch.

Claims

1. A switch device for use in an electronic device, comprising:

a circuit board including a sidewall;

a plurality of conductive portions formed on the sidewall; and

a movable unit including at least a conducting part and moving between a first position and a second position, wherein the conducting part includes a metal plate, when the movable unit is at the first position, the plurality of conductive portions are electrically insulated from each other and the metal plate is electrically connected to one of the plurality of conductive portions;

when the movable unit moves to the second position, at least two of the plurality of conductive portions are electrically connected via the conducting part and the metal plate is deformed to cause the at least two of the plurality of conductive portions to be electrically connected.

2. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the movable unit includes a body, the conducting part is a conductive surface on the body.

3. The switch device of claim 2, wherein the body is made of a non-conducting material.

4. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the circuit board is formed with a flange, the plurality of conductive portions are formed on the flange.

5. The switch device of claim 4, wherein the movable unit includes a body, the conducting part includes a metal plate, the metal plate is disposed on the sidewall of the circuit board corresponding to the flange.

6. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is composed of a plurality of circuit layers.

7. The switch device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of conductive portions are respectively formed on at least one of the sidewalls of the plurality of circuit layers, and the plurality of the conductive portions are electrically isolated from each other.

8. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the movable unit includes a body movably mounted on a housing, the conducting part is disposed in the housing corresponding to the plurality of conductive portions.

9. The switch device of claim 8, wherein the body is made of a material selected from the group of metal, electrically conductive rubber, and graphite.

10. The switch device of claim 1, wherein the movable unit includes a body, the conducting part is formed as a conductive element connected to the body.

11. The switch device of claim 10, wherein the conductive element is a conductive layer coated on the body.

12. The switch device of claim 10, wherein the conductive element is a metal plate attached to the body.

13. The switch device of claim 1, wherein a groove is formed on the sidewall of the circuit board, the plurality of conductive portions are formed in the groove.

14. The switch device of claim 13, wherein the movable unit includes a body, the conducting part includes a metal plate, the metal plate is disposed on the sidewall of the circuit board corresponding to the groove.

15. The switch device of claim 13, further comprising a protrusion in the groove, the movable unit including a body having a recessed portion, wherein the recessed portion is shaped corresponding to the shape of the protrusion, the conducting part is disposed on the recessed portion.