Waterproof switch

Abstract

A sealed switch having a switch body with first and second switch body sections, a switch contact configured to be disposed in a slot in the first switch body section, a switch contact cover configured to cover the slot, and a seal configured to cover the circumference of the second switch body section.

Claims

1. A waterproof switch comprising: a switch body comprising a first switch body section having a slot; a switch contact disposed in the slot; a switch contact cover covering the slot; a second switch body section adjacent to the first switch body section; a metal insert disposed within the second switch body section and configured for electrical coupling to an external conductor; a flex circuit assembly comprising: an L-shaped flexible flat cable electrically coupled to the metal insert; and a flex stiffener affixed to the flexible flat cable in a configuration for positioning the flex stiffener adjacent to a support plate; and a seal covering a circumference of the second switch body section.

2. The waterproof switch of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the first switch body section is larger than a cross-section of the second switch body section.

3. The waterproof switch of claim 1, wherein the switch contact comprises a dome.

4. The waterproof switch of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a gasket.

5. The waterproof switch of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a circumferentially extending ridge.

6. The waterproof switch of claim 4, wherein the seal comprises material injection molded onto the switch body.

7. The waterproof switch of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a single piece of machined material.

8. The waterproof switch of claim 1, wherein the metal insert is electrically coupled to a flexible flat cable.

9. A button structure for an electronic device comprising: a housing having an external surface and an internal surface; a through-going opening between the external surface and the internal surface; a push-button adjacent to the external surface; a flexible circuit assembly adjacent to the internal surface; a switch at least partially extending through the through-going opening between the push-button and the flexible circuit assembly, wherein the switch comprises: a switch body having a first switch body section and a second switch body section, wherein the first switch body section comprises a slot, and wherein the second switch body section comprises a metal insert; a switch contact disposed in the slot; a switch contact cover covering the slot and the switch contact; and a seal covering a circumference of the second switch body section; an L-shaped flexible flat cable electrically coupled to the metal insert; and a flex stiffener affixed to the flexible flat cable in a configuration for positioning the flex stiffener adjacent to a support plate.

10. The button structure of claim 9, wherein the metal insert is electrically coupled to the flexible circuit assembly.

11. The button structure of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a single piece of machined material.

12. The button structure of claim 9, wherein the seal is configured to seal the through-going opening from ingress of fluid into the housing.

13. The button structure of claim 9, wherein the switch is further configured for insertion into the through-going opening in a direction from an internal surface of the housing, and wherein the flexible circuit assembly is configured to abut the internal surface.

14. The button structure of claim 9, wherein the switch contact comprises a dome.

15. The button structure of claim 9, wherein the metal insert is electrically coupled to a flexible flat cable.

16. An electronic device, comprising: a housing having a first external surface, a second external surface, a third external surface, and an internal surface, wherein the second external surface extends perpendicular to the first external surface; a through-going opening between the first external surface and the internal surface; a first groove extending from the second external surface to the through-going opening; and a button structure coupled to the housing and comprising: a push-button adjacent to the through-going opening; a button lock plate configured for interlocking with the push-button, wherein the push-button can be locked into or removed from the through-going opening by selectably positioning the button lock plate in the first groove; a flexible circuit assembly adjacent to the through-going opening; and a switch configured to at least partially extend through the through-going opening between the push-button and the flexible circuit assembly, wherein the switch comprises: a switch body comprising a first switch body section having a slot; a switch contact disposed in the slot; a second switch body section adjacent to the first switch body section; a metal insert disposed within the second switch body section and configured for electrical coupling to an external conductor; a switch contact cover covering the slot and the switch contact; and a seal covering a circumference of the second switch body section.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the third external surface of the housing extends parallel with the second external surface of the housing, and wherein the housing further comprises: a second groove extending from the third external surface to the through-going opening; and a support plate configured for interlocking with the housing, wherein the button structure can be locked into or removed from the through-going opening by selectably placing or removing the support plate in the second groove.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the housing comprises a single piece of machined material.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein a cross-section of the first switch body section is larger than a cross-section of the second switch body section.

20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the switch contact comprises a dome.

21. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the metal insert is electrically coupled to a flexible flat cable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, the aspects, embodiments and implementations will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an elevated view of a switch and a flex assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded and elevated view of the switch in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3a shows an elevated front view of a button structure and a partial housing in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 3b shows an elevated rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a, with switch and flex assembly separated from the housing;

(6) FIG. 3c shows an elevated rear view of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, with switch and flex assembly removably inserted into an opening in the housing;

(7) FIG. 3d shows an elevated rear view of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3a to 3c, with switch and flex assembly inserted and locked into an opening in the housing;

(8) FIG. 4a shows a cross-sectional view of the button structure and housing shown in FIG. 3b;

(9) FIG. 4b shows a cross-sectional view of the button structure and housing shown in FIG. 3d;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment comprising a switch 1 and a flex assembly 14. The switch 1 is electrically connected to the flex assembly 14, for example by means of reflow soldering. The flex assembly 14 comprises an L-shaped flex 14a and a flex stiffener 14b which not only stiffens the flex 14a but also guides a support plate 15 arranged behind the stiffener 14b when the switch 1 is mounted in an electronic device. The switch comprises a switch body 2, a switch contact 3, a switch contact cover 5, and sealing means 6.

(11) The switch body 2 comprises plastic material and is preferably manufactured by means of insert molding. Further, the switch body 2 is provided with stamped metal inserts used together with signal lines which are soldered onto the flex 14a. As shown in FIG. 2, the switch body comprises of two sections, a first switch body section 2a and a second switch body section 2b, arranged along the center axis of the switch body 2. The metal inserts are mainly located in the second switch body section 2b.

(12) In one embodiment, the first switch body section 2a has cross-section which is larger than that of the second switch body section 2b. The area of both sections is rectelliptical when seen in the direction of the switch center axis. By rectelliptical is meant a rectangular shape having rounded corners. The cross-section could also have any other suitable shape such as an elliptical, oval, or rectangular area. I.e., a side cross-sectional view of the switch reveals an essentially T-shaped switch body, while a frontal or rear cross-sectional view reveals one or two rectellipses, depending on if the cut has been made through the first switch body section 2a or the second switch body section 2b.

(13) The switch contact 3, in one embodiment comprising a dome, is configured to be arranged in a slot 4 arranged at the free end of the first switch body section 2a. A switch contact cover 5 is provided to cover the switch contact/dome 3 and the slot 4, e.g. by means of laser welding or adhering the switch contact cover 5 to the above mentioned free end.

(14) A sealing means 6, in one embodiment a gasket, covers the circumference of the second switch body section 2b. The sealing means/gasket 6 comprises a circumferentially extending ridge 7. The sealing means/gasket 6 can be a separate rubber component to be slid onto the switch body, or can be molded directly onto the switch body 2, preferably the second switch body section 2b, by means of liquid injection molding.

(15) FIGS. 3 and 4 show embodiments of a button structure 8 arranged in an electronic device such as a mobile phone. The electronic device comprises a housing 9 which has a first external surface 10a, facing the exterior, and an opposing internal surface 11, facing the interior of the electronic device. The housing further comprises a second external surface 10b and a third external surface 10c, extending in parallel with each other and perpendicular to the first external surface 10a and the internal surface 11. The first external surface 10a and the internal surface 11 are connected by a through-going opening 12, extending essentially perpendicular to both surfaces. The first external surface 10a may be a planar surface, but it may also be somewhat curved, i.e. at least partially convex, as seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The internal surface 11 comprises at least one planar surface, i.e. it may comprise several parallel planar surfaces such that the internal surface 11 is a stepped surface.

(16) The button structure 8 comprises the switch 1 and flex assembly 14 as described above, as well as a push-button 13 intended to protrude from the housing 9 of the electronic device. The switch 1 is configured to extend at least partially through the opening 12 between the push-button 13 and the flex assembly 14. As previously mentioned, the switch 1 is electrically connected to the flex assembly 14, e.g. by means of a soldering process such as reflow soldering.

(17) The switch 1 comprises sealing means 6 configured to seal the opening 12 from ingress of fluid into the electronic device in a direction from the external surface 10a to the internal surface 11.

(18) When providing an electronic device with a button structure 8, the push-button 13 is inserted into the opening 12 in a direction from the first external surface 10a towards the internal surface 11. The push-button 13 is inserted only partially such that it protrudes somewhat from the opening 12 and housing 9. The push-button 13 is thereafter attached to the housing 9 by means of a button lock plate 17.

(19) The button lock plate 17 is inserted into a first groove 16a, which extends between the second external surface 10b and the opening 12. This is shown schematically in FIG. 4a. The second external surface 10b extends perpendicular to the first external surface 10a. The push-button 13 is configured to interlock with the button lock plate 17 such that the push-button 13 cannot be removed from the opening 12 without first removing the button lock plate 17 from the first groove 16a.

(20) The switch 1 is inserted at least partially into the opening 12 in a direction from the internal surface 11 towards the first external surface 10a, and the flex assembly 14 is configured to eventually abut the internal surface 11, such that the flex assembly 14 stops the movement of the switch 1 through the opening 12. See FIGS. 3b and 3c. I.e., the switch 1 cannot extend past the external surface 10a due to the flex assembly 14 abutting the internal surface 11. The flex assembly 14 further comprises a support plate 15 configured to lock the flex assembly 14, and hence the switch 1, to the housing 9.

(21) The support plate 15 is inserted into a second groove 16b which extends between the third external surface 10c and the opening 12, as shown in FIG. 3d. The third external surface 10c extends perpendicular to the first external surface 10a and parallel with the second external surface 10b. The support plate 15 is configured to interlock with the housing 9 such that the button structure 8 cannot be removed from the opening 12 without first removing the support plate 15 from the second groove 16b.

(22) The various aspects and implementations has been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed subject-matter, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

(23) The reference signs used in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.