Key Structure and Electronic Device
20230266717 · 2023-08-24
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01H2221/058
ELECTRICITY
H01H13/06
ELECTRICITY
International classification
G04C3/00
PHYSICS
Abstract
A key structure includes a housing, a mounting seat, a key component, a clamping holder, a switch device, and a flexible printed circuit, where the mounting seat is mounted on the housing, the clamping holder and the key component are both mounted on the mounting seat; and the switch device is mounted on the clamping holder. The mounting seat and the clamping holder are between the switch device and the key component.
Claims
1. A key structure comprising: a mounting seat configured to axially penetrate through a mounting hole located on a housing of an electronic device; a key component mounted on the mounting seat and comprising a first end configured to penetrate into the housing from the mounting seat; a clamping holder coupled to the mounting seat; and a switch device mounted on the clamping holder, disposed opposite to the first end, and configured to couple to a main board of the electronic device, wherein the key component is configured to abut against the switch device to trigger the switch device when the key component is subjected to pressure toward the switch device.
2. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the mounting seat comprises a first outer peripheral wall configured to adapt to a side wall of the mounting hole, and wherein the clamping holder is configured to axially limit the mounting seat.
3. The key structure of claim 2, further comprising a first sealing element configured to abut between the first outer peripheral wall and the side wall.
4. The key structure of claim 2, further comprising: a first slot disposed on the first outer peripheral wall; and a first insertion block disposed on the clamping holder and inserted into the first slot to axially limit the mounting seat.
5. The key structure of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of oppositely disposed first slots disposed on the first outer peripheral wall; and a plurality of oppositely disposed first insertion blocks disposed on the clamping holder, wherein the oppositely disposed first slots are in a one-to-one correspondence with the oppositely disposed first insertion blocks, and wherein the oppositely disposed first insertion blocks are inserted into the oppositely disposed first slots in a straight line along one direction.
6. The key structure of claim 4, wherein the clamping holder comprises an abutting plate disposed on the clamping holder, and wherein the abutting plate is configured to abut against an inner side of the housing when the first insertion block is inserted into the first slot.
7. The key structure of claim 6, wherein the clamping holder further comprises: a U-shaped structure comprising two sides, wherein the switch device is located in the U-shaped structure; a plurality of first insertion blocks disposed on the two sides; and a plurality of abutting plates disposed on the two sides.
8. The key structure of claim 7, wherein the mounting seat comprises a second end configured to expose on the housing, and wherein the key component further comprises: a keycap sleeved on the second end for pressing; and a drive rod coupled to the keycap and configured to axially penetrate through the mounting seat.
9. The key structure of claim 8, wherein the mounting seat comprises: a sleeve body configured to axially penetrate through the mounting hole, wherein the drive rod is disposed to penetrate through the sleeve body; and a stopper portion coupled to the sleeve body, configured to perform stopping, and configured to accommodate in an accommodation groove that is coupled to the mounting hole and that is located on an outer side of the housing, wherein the keycap is sleeved on the stopper portion and is partially accommodated in the accommodation groove.
10. The key structure of claim 9, further comprising a second sealing element configured to abut between the drive rod and the sleeve body.
11. The key structure of claim 9, wherein the stopper portion comprises a second outer peripheral wall, and wherein the keycap is of a non-rotator structure and comprises: a third outer peripheral wall configured to adapt to a first inner peripheral wall of the accommodation groove; and a second inner peripheral wall configured to adapt to the second outer peripheral wall.
12. The key structure of claim 11, further comprising: at least one elastic component configured to abut between the keycap and a bottom portion of the accommodation groove; and an avoiding hole disposed at a location that is on the stopper portion and that corresponds to the at least one elastic component.
13. The key structure of claim 11, wherein the stopper portion comprises a step disposed on the stopper portion, wherein the keycap further comprises a clamping hook disposed on the keycap and configured to hook to the step after rotation to define a reset stroke of the keycap.
14. The key structure of claim 9, wherein each of the keycap and the stopper portion is of a rotator structure, wherein the clamping holder further comprises a second insertion block disposed on the clamping holder, wherein the drive rod comprises a second slot disposed on the drive rod, and wherein the second insertion block is inserted into the second slot and is configured to axially slide in the second slot.
15. The key structure of claim 14, further comprising: a connecting plate that extends on the U-shaped structure; a plurality of second insertion blocks disposed at intervals extending from the connecting plate to a middle of the U-shaped structure; and a plurality of second slots disposed on two opposite sides of the drive rod, wherein the second insertion blocks are in a one-to-one correspondence with the second slots, and wherein the second insertion blocks are configured to insert into the second slots.
16. (canceled)
17. An electronic device comprising: a housing comprising a mounting hole; a main board; and a key structure comprising: a mounting seat axially penetrating through the mounting hole; a key component mounted on the mounting seat and comprising a first end that penetrates into the housing from the mounting seat; a clamping holder coupled to the mounting seat; and a switch device mounted on the clamping holder, disposed opposite to the first end, and coupled to the main board, wherein the key component is configured to abut against the switch device to trigger the switch device when the key component is subjected to pressure toward the switch device.
18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the mounting hole comprises a side wall, wherein the mounting seat comprises a first outer peripheral wall configured to adapt to the side wall, and wherein the clamping holder is configured to axially limit the mounting seat.
19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the key structure further comprises a first sealing element configured to abut between the first outer peripheral wall and the side wall.
20. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the key structure comprises: a first slot disposed on the first outer peripheral wall; and a first insertion block disposed on the clamping holder and inserted into the first slot to axially limit the mounting seat.
21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the key structure comprises: a plurality of oppositely disposed first slots disposed on the first outer peripheral wall; and a plurality of oppositely disposed first insertion blocks disposed on the clamping holder, wherein the oppositely disposed first slots are in a one-to-one correspondence with the oppositely disposed first insertion blocks, and wherein the oppositely disposed first insertion blocks are inserted into the oppositely disposed first slots in a straight line along one direction.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028]
[0029]
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[0041]
[0042] 100. key structure; 10. housing; 11. mounting hole; 12. accommodation groove; 20. mounting seat; 21. stopper portion; 211. avoiding hole; 212. step; 213. central hole; 214, annular groove; 22. sleeve body; 221. first sealing groove; 222. first slot; 30. key component; 31. keycap; 311. clamping hook; 32. drive rod; 321. second sealing groove; 322. second slot; 40. clamping holder; 41. U-shaped structure; 411. bottom plate; 412. side plate; 413. U-shaped groove; 42. first insertion block; 43. abutting plate; 44. second insertion block; 45. connecting plate; 50. switch device; 60. flexible printed circuit; 70. first sealing element; 80. second sealing element; 90. front housing; 91. rear housing; 92. stiffening plate; 93. double-sided adhesive tape; 94. elastic component.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0043] To make the technical problems to be resolved, technical solutions, and beneficial effects in this application clearer, the following further describes this application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely used to explain this application, but are not intended to limit this application.
[0044] It should be noted that, when an element is referred to as being “fixed” or “set” to another element, the element may be directly or indirectly on the another element. When an element is referred to as being “connected to” another element, the element may be directly or indirectly connected to the another element.
[0045] It should be understood that a direction or a position relationship indicated by a term such as “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, or “outer” is a direction or a position relationship shown based on the accompanying drawings, is merely used to describe this application and simplify the descriptions, but is not intended to indicate or imply that an indicated apparatus or element needs to have a particular direction or needs to be constructed and operated in a particular direction, and therefore cannot be construed as a limitation on this application.
[0046] In addition, the terms “first” and “second” are merely intended for a purpose of description, and shall not be understood as an indication or implication of relative importance or implicit indication of a quantity of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature limited by “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the descriptions of this application, “a plurality of” means two or more, unless otherwise specifically limited.
[0047] The embodiments of this application relate to a key structure. The key structure may be applied to an electronic device, to control the electronic device, for example, power on/off, adjust volume, and select a channel. The electronic device may be any product having the foregoing key structure, such as a smartwatch, a wristband, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television, a neck-worn Bluetooth headphone, a headphone, or a true wireless stereo (True Wireless Stereo, TWS) headphone.
[0048] The following describes concepts used in the foregoing embodiments:
[0049] Flexible printed circuit: flexible printed circuit, FPC. The flexible printed circuit is a printed circuit with high reliability and excellent flexibility that is made by using polyimide or a polyester film as a base material.
[0050] A switch device is an electronic element that can open a circuit, interrupt a current, or cause a current to flow to another circuit.
[0051] As shown in
[0052] The key structure 100 includes a mounting seat 20, a key component 30, a clamping holder 40, and a switch device 50. The electronic device includes a housing 10, a mounting hole 11 is provided on the housing 10, the mounting seat 20 is mounted in the mounting hole 11 and axially penetrates through the mounting hole 11, the key component 30 is mounted on the mounting seat 20, and one end of the key component 30 axially penetrates into the housing 10 from the mounting seat 20. The clamping holder 40 is connected to the mounting seat 20, the switch device 50 is mounted on the clamping holder 40, the switch device 50 is disposed opposite to one end that extends into the housing 10 and that is of the key component 30, and the switch device 50 is connected to a main board by using a flexible printed circuit 60. When the key component 30 is subjected to pressure toward the switch device 50, the key component 30 is capable of abutting against the switch device 50 to trigger the switch device 50.
[0053] Specifically, the key component 30 is mounted on the mounting seat 20, one end of the key component 30 extends into the housing 10 to trigger the switch device 50, the other end of the key component 30 is located on an outer side of the housing 10 for pressing, and the clamping holder 40 is also mounted on the mounting seat 20. The switch device 50 is mounted on the clamping holder 40, that is, an assembly dimension chain between the switch device 50 and the key component 30 is the switch device 50, the mounting seat 20, the clamping holder 40, and the key component 30.
[0054] The electronic device in this embodiment of this application is a device that includes electronic parts and components such as a flexible printed circuit, a transistor, and an electron tube and that uses an electronic technology to play a role, including a mobile phone, an MP3, an MP4, a tablet computer, a wristband, a watch, and the like. Preferably, the key structure in this embodiment of this application may be applied to an electronic device on which a side key (for example, a side edge of the housing of the electronic device) may be mounted, such as a key structure on which a volume key may be mounted and that is on a side edge of a housing of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or the like, or a key structure of an on/off key. For example, the key structure 100 may be used as a key of a watch.
[0055] For example, the key component 30 may be a button.
[0056] In the key structure 100 provided in this embodiment of this application, the clamping holder 40 is mounted on the mounting seat 20, and the switch device 50 is mounted on the clamping holder 40, and is electrically connected to the main board by using the flexible printed circuit 60. In addition, the key component 30 is also mounted on the mounting seat 20. In other words, the key component 30 and the clamping holder 40 are both mounted on the mounting seat 20. The switch device 50 is mounted on the clamping holder 40. In this way, only the mounting seat 20 and the clamping holder 40 are added to an assembly dimension chain between the switch device 50 and the key component 30, so that an accumulated part error between the switch device 50 and the key component 30 can be reduced, a comfort level of a hand feeling of the key component 30 can be improved, management difficulty during production of the electronic device can be reduced, and costs can be reduced. In addition, the clamping holder 40 further provides a reliable fastening structure to the switch device 50.
[0057] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0058] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0059] Specifically, the first sealing element 70 is an O-shaped sealing ring, and an annular first sealing groove 221 is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the mounting seat 20. The O-shaped sealing ring is accommodated in the first sealing groove 221, and at least partially protrudes out of the first sealing groove 221 to abut against the side wall of the mounting hole 11, thereby forming a sealing connection between the mounting seat 20 and the housing 10. It may be understood that, in another embodiment of this application, the first sealing groove 221 may also be formed on the side wall of the mounting hole 11. In addition, there may be one or a plurality of first sealing elements 70.
[0060] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0061] Referring to
[0062] For example, the plurality of first insertion blocks 42 disposed on the clamping holder 40 include a first insertion block a and a first insertion block b. The first insertion block a and the first insertion block b are oppositely disposed, and the plurality of oppositely disposed first slots 222 provided on the outer peripheral wall of the mounting seat 20 include a first slot a and a first slot b. The first slot a and the first slot b are oppositely disposed. The first slot a can be inserted into the first slot a in a straight line along one direction, and the first slot b can be inserted into the first slot b in a straight line along one direction.
[0063] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0064] Specifically, two abutting plates 43 are disposed on the clamping holder 40, the two abutting plates 43 are oppositely disposed, and the two abutting plates 43 respectively abut at different locations on the inner side of the housing 10, so that the clamping holder 40 reliably abuts against the housing 10.
[0065] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0066] Specifically, the U-shaped structure 41, the two first insertion blocks 42, and the two abutting plates 43 are of an integrated structure. In this embodiment, in the clamping holder 40, metal sheets are bent to form the U-shaped structure 41, the two first insertion blocks 42, and the two abutting plates 43. The clamping holder 40 has a simple manufacturing process.
[0067] Referring to
[0068] In addition, referring to
[0069] In a specific embodiment, one end of the flexible printed circuit 60 is attached to the clamping holder 40, and the switch device 50 is soldered to one end of the flexible printed circuit 60. Specifically, a stiffening plate 92 is disposed at one end of the flexible printed circuit 60, the stiffening plate 92 is attached to the bottom plate 411 by using a double-sided adhesive tape 93, and then the switch device 50 is soldered to the one end of the flexible printed circuit 60. The structure is simple and an assembly process is simple.
[0070] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0071] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0072] Specifically, the sleeve body 22 and the stopper portion 21 are of an integral connection structure, that is, the mounting seat 20 may be made by using a same material and a same process. The manufacturing process of the mounting seat 20 is simple.
[0073] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0074] Specifically, two second sealing elements 80 abut between the drive rod 32 and the sleeve body 22, and the two second sealing elements 80 are disposed at an axial interval along the sleeve body 22. The two second sealing elements 80 are disposed, so that sealing property between the key component 30 and the mounting seat 20 is better. It may be understood that, in another embodiment of this application, a quantity of second sealing elements 80 may alternatively be one, three, or more than three. This is not uniquely limited herein.
[0075] Referring to
[0076] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0077] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0078] Specifically, the keycap 31 is of a runway type, two elastic components 94 abut between the keycap 31 and the bottom portion of the accommodation groove 12, the elastic component 94 is a spring, and the two springs respectively abut between two ends of the keycap 31 along a length direction and the bottom portion of the accommodation groove 12. The stopper portion 21 is also of a runway type, avoiding holes 211 are provided at locations that are of the stopper portion 21 and that correspond to the two springs, and the two springs respectively penetrate through the two avoiding holes 211, and respectively abut between the keycap 31 and the bottom portion of the accommodation groove 12.
[0079] In a specific embodiment, referring to
[0080] Specifically, each of edges of the two ends of the keycap 31 in the length direction extends to the housing 10 to form the hook 311, and two steps 212 are formed on the outer peripheral wall of the stopper portion 21. During mounting, the keycap 31 and the stopper portion 21 are circumferentially staggered by an angle, and then the keycap 31 is rotated back relative to the stopper portion 21, so that the two hooks 311 can be correspondingly screwed under the two steps 212. In this way, the two hooks 311 can be stopped under the two steps 212 under the action of the elastic component 94, to limit the rebounding stroke of the keycap 31.
[0081] In another embodiment of this application, referring to
[0082] In addition, a connecting plate 45 extends on the bottom plate 411, the connecting plate 45 extends to the middle of the U-shaped structure 41 to form a plurality of second insertion blocks 44 disposed at intervals, a plurality of second slots 322 are separately provided on two opposite sides of the drive rod 32, and the second insertion blocks 44 are in a one-to-one correspondence with the second slots 322. The second insertion blocks 44 are respectively disposed in the second slots 322, and the second insertion blocks 44 can axially slide in the second slots 322. That is, the second insertion blocks 44 have movable space in the second slots 322, and the movable space is exactly used to define movable space of the key component 30.
[0083] For example, the plurality of second insertion blocks 44 disposed on the connecting plate 45 include a second insertion block a and a second insertion block b. The second insertion block a and the second insertion block b are disposed at intervals, and the plurality of oppositely disposed second slots 322 provided on an outer peripheral wall of the drive rod 32 include a second slot a and a second slot b. The second slot a and the second slot b are oppositely disposed. The second slot a can be inserted into the second slot a in a straight line along one direction, and the second slot b can be inserted into the second slot b in a straight line along one direction.
[0084] In addition, because the movable space of the key component 30 is limited, it is unnecessary to dispose the clamping hook 311 on the keycap 31 and also the step 212 on the mounting seat 20.
[0085] In addition, because the keycap 31 is of a rotator shape, to make the keycap 31 be pressed stably, the elastic component 94 abuts between a central position of the keycap 31 and a central position of the stopper portion 21. Specifically, a central hole 213 is provided in the center of the stopper portion 21, the drive rod 32 penetrates through the central hole 213, and an annular groove 214 communicating with the central hole 213 is provided in the center of the stopper portion 21. The elastic component 94 is a cylindrical spring, the cylindrical spring is sleeved on the drive rod 32, one end of the cylindrical spring abuts against an inner side of a top portion of the keycap 31, and the other end of the cylindrical spring abuts against a bottom portion of the annular groove 214.
[0086] Based on a same concept, an embodiment of this application further provides an electronic device, including a housing 10 and the foregoing key structure 100. In addition to the foregoing key structure 100, the electronic device further includes a main board and another related structure. The main board and the another related structure are all disposed in the housing 10.
[0087] As described above, the key structure 100 in each embodiment is applied to an electronic device such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television, a neck-worn Bluetooth headphone, a headphone, and a true wireless stereo (True Wireless Stereo, TWS) headphone, so that the key component 30 of the electronic device has a comfortable hand feeling, and user experience is good.
[0088] The foregoing descriptions are merely example embodiments of this application, but are not intended to limit this application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made without departing from the spirit and principle of this application should fall within the protection scope of this application.