Input device and switch assembly thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12061753-B2
Application number	US-202018254227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2020
Priority date	Dec 30, 2020
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

An input device including a switch connector having a plurality of electrical terminals fixedly mounted to a circuit board. The input device including a switch assembly magnetically coupled to the switch connector in a removable manner. The switch assembly including a switch adapter having a plurality of contact elements in engagement with the plurality of electrical terminals of the switch connector, and a switch fitted to the switch adapter with a plurality of leads of the switch electrically connected to the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter. The switch adapter being between the switch connector and the switch. The input device including a magnetic catch arrangement having a first catch unit at the circuit board and a second catch unit at the switch adapter which coact with each other to magnetically couple the switch assembly to the switch connector. A corresponding switch assembly thereof and a computer mouse.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An input device comprising:
a circuit board;
a switch connector fixedly mounted to the circuit board, the switch connector having a plurality of electrical terminals;
a switch assembly magnetically coupled to the switch connector in a removable manner, the switch assembly comprising:
a switch adapter to interface with the switch connector, the switch adapter having
a plurality of contact elements in engagement with the plurality of electrical terminals of the switch connector, and
an arrangement of electrical elements connected to the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter, and
a switch fitted to the switch adapter with a plurality of leads of the switch engaged to the arrangement of electrical elements so as to electrically connect the plurality of leads of the switch to the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter,
wherein the switch assembly is magnetically coupled to the switch connector with the switch adapter between the switch connector and the switch;
and
a magnetic catch arrangement to magnetically couple the switch assembly to the switch connector, the magnetic catch arrangement comprises a first catch unit coupled to the circuit board and a second catch unit coupled to the switch adapter, wherein the first catch unit and the second catch unit comprises a pair of coacting magnet elements or a coacting pair of a magnetic metal element and a magnet element such that the first catch unit and the second catch unit coact with each other to magnetically couple the switch assembly and the switch connector,
wherein the switch is a mechanical switch or an optical switch,
wherein, when the switch is the mechanical switch, the arrangement of electrical elements of the switch adapter comprises spaced apart conductive strips extending within the switch adapter in a perpendicular direction from the switch connector to the mechanical switch, wherein the switch adapter comprises an insulation shim plate with a plurality of holes, the insulation shim plate being on a side of the switch adapter opposite the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter,
wherein, when the switch is the optical switch, the arrangement of electrical elements of the switch adapter comprises an intervening circuitry disposed in the switch adapter, wherein the intervening circuitry comprises the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter and one or more connection points to connect to the optical switch, wherein the intervening circuitry comprises a printed circuit board assembly having a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board in a dual layer arrangement and interconnected to each other.

2. The input device as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein, when the switch is the mechanical switch, each of the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter is a first end portion of each of the conductive strips directed towards the switch connector, wherein each of the conductive strips is bent at a second end portion thereof so as to engage with a corresponding lead of the plurality of leads of the mechanical switch, and/or
wherein, when the switch is the mechanical switch, the mechanical switch is fitted to the switch adapter in a manner so as to be abutting the insulation shim plate and with the plurality of leads of the mechanical switch respectively inserted through the plurality of holes of the insulation shim plate to respectively engage with the conductive strips.

3. The input device as claimed in claim 1
wherein, when the switch is the optical switch, the first printed circuit board has the plurality of contact elements and the second printed circuit board has the one or more connection points, wherein the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are arranged in a manner such that the plurality of contact elements and the one or more connection points are directed away from each other,
wherein, when the switch is the optical switch, the switch adapter comprises one or more plastic pins to hold apart the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board,
wherein, when the switch is the optical switch, the switch assembly is magnetically coupled to the switch connector with the plurality of contact elements of the first printed circuit board of the switch adapter in contact with the plurality of electrical terminals of the switch connector, and the optical switch abutting the second printed circuit board of the switch adapter.

4. The input device as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the first catch unit comprises one or more catch elements and the second catch unit comprises one or more corresponding catch elements,
wherein the first catch unit comprises one elongated catch element coupled to the circuit board and the second catch unit comprise one corresponding elongated catch element coupled to the switch adapter, wherein the elongated catch element of the first catch unit of the circuit board is aligned to the corresponding elongated catch element of the second catch unit of the switch adapter in a manner so as to align the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter to the plurality of electrical terminals of the switch connector when the elongated catch element of the circuit board and the corresponding elongated catch element of the switch adapter coact to magnetically couples the switch adapter and the switch connector, or
wherein the first catch unit comprises two or more catch elements coupled to the circuit board and the second catch unit comprises two or more corresponding catch elements coupled to the switch adapter, wherein the two or more catch elements of the first catch unit of the circuit board are lined with respect to the plurality of electrical terminals of the switch connector and the two or more corresponding catch elements of the second catch unit of the switch adapter are aligned to the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter in a manner so as to align the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter to the plurality of electrical terminals of the switch connector when the two or more catch elements of the first catch unit of the circuit board and the two or more corresponding catch elements of the second catch unit of the switch adapter coact to magnetically couples the switch adapter and the switch connector.

5. The input device as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the circuit board has a planar surface,
wherein the plurality of electrical terminals of the switch connector is directed perpendicularly away from the planar surface of the circuit board,
wherein the switch assembly is magnetically coupled to the switch connector in a manner so as to be removably stacked onto the switch connector in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of the circuit board,
wherein the switch adapter of the switch assembly is between the switch connector and the switch of the switch assembly along the direction perpendicular to the planar surface of the circuit board.

6. A switch assembly for magnetically coupling to a switch connector fixedly mounted to a circuit board of an input device, the switch assembly comprising
a switch adapter to interface with the switch connector of the circuit board, the switch adapter having
a plurality of contact elements on a first side of the switch adapter for engaging with a plurality of electrical terminals of the switch connector of the circuit board, and
an arrangement of electrical elements connected to the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter;
a switch fitted to the switch adapter with a plurality of leads of the switch engaged to the arrangement of electrical elements so as to electrically connect the plurality of leads of the switch to the plurality of contact elements of the switch adapter

Assignees

• Razer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Gwee Chang Sern
• Chin Wooi Liang
• Lien Jian Yao
• Rizvi Farrukh Raza

Classifications

• H01H21/22

  Operating parts, e.g. handle · CPC title

• H01H9/08

  Arrangements to facilitate replacement of a switch, e.g. cartridge housing · CPC title

• H01H2221/052

  interlocked · CPC title

• H01H2221/022

  electromagnetic · CPC title

• G06F3/03543 Primary

  Mice or pucks (G06F3/03541 takes precedence) · CPC title