Button device and electronic device comprising same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12477668-B2
Application number	US-202318469018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2023
Priority date	Mar 24, 2021
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

An electronic device is provided that includes a housing including a key hole and a vent hole, a button member including a body part disposed to cover the key hole and the vent hole, and a button protrusion inserted into the key hole, a substrate member including a switch actuated based on the button protrusion, a base disposed between the housing and the substrate member to cover the substrate member, a waterproof member including a sealing part, formed to protrude from the base to surround a perimeter at least one of the key hole and the vent hole, which has at least a part in close contact with the outer wall, a conduit for connecting an internal space and outside of the electronic device through the vent hole, and a waterproof cover disposed on the conduit so as to block moisture flowing in through the vent hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a housing; a key hole and a vent hole formed through the housing; a button member comprising:
a body part disposed in a first direction with respect to an outer wall of the housing so as to cover the key hole and the vent hole, and
a button protrusion inserted into the key hole;
a substrate member, disposed to face the outer wall of the housing in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, which comprises a switch configured to generate an electrical signal in case that the switch is actuated by the button protrusion of the button member; a waterproof member comprising:
a base disposed between the housing and the substrate member to cover the substrate member, and
a sealing part, formed to protrude from the base in the second direction so as to surround a perimeter of at least one of the key hole and the vent hole, which has at least a part in close contact with the outer wall of the housing;
a conduit configured to connect an inner space of the electronic device to outside of the electronic device through the vent hole; and a waterproof cover disposed on the conduit so as to block moisture from being introduced through the vent hole.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vent space formed by being surrounded by the base and the sealing part of the waterproof member and the housing, wherein air in the vent space is moved by an external force applied to the button member.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat-generating component configured to generate heat according to an operation thereof, wherein the heat-generating component is disposed closer to a surface of the housing on which the button member is disposed than other surfaces of the housing.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the heat-generating component comprises at least one of a processor, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC), a camera module, or a communication module.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a space between the button member and the housing.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing part of the waterproof member is formed to surround the perimeter of at least one of the key hole or the vent hole.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the conduit comprises:
a first opening formed through the waterproof member at a position facing the vent hole; and a second opening, formed through the substrate member which is disposed so as to face the first opening.

8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
an adhesive member disposed between the substrate member and the waterproof member so as to bond the substrate member and the waterproof member, wherein the conduit comprises a third opening formed through the adhesive member so as to be connected to the first opening and the second opening.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a substrate bracket configured to support the substrate member, wherein the conduit comprises a fourth opening formed through the substrate bracket that is disposed so as to face the third opening.

10 . The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a button bracket configured to support the waterproof member, the substrate member, and the substrate bracket, wherein the conduit comprises a fifth opening formed through the button bracket that is disposed so as to face the fourth opening.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the waterproof cover is disposed between the fourth opening and the fifth opening of the conduit.

12 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the sealing part of the waterproof member is formed to surround the key hole.

13 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the conduit comprises a distant space provided between the housing and the waterproof member to be connected to the inner space of the electronic device.

14 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the waterproof cover is disposed to cover the vent hole of the housing in the second direction.

15 . A button device comprising:
a button member comprising:
a body part, and
a button protrusion formed on the body part;
a substrate member comprising:
a switch configured to generate an electrical signal in case that the switch is actuated by the button protrusion of the button member, and
a second opening;
a waterproof member comprising:
a base disposed between the button member and the substrate member to cover the substrate member,
a delivery part formed on the base to be disposed between the button protrusion of the button member and the switch of the substrate member,
a first opening formed through the base to be spaced apart from the delivery part and be connected to the second opening of the substrate member, and
a sealing part formed to protrude from the base in a direction of the button member so as to surround a perimeter of the first opening and the delivery part;
an adhesive member, disposed between the waterproof member and the substrate member to bond the waterproof member to the substrate member, which comprises a third opening connected to the first opening and the second opening; and a substrate bracket which is configured to support the substrate member and comprises a fourth opening connected to the second opening.

16 . The button device of claim 15 , further comprising:
a button bracket configured to support the substrate member and the substrate bracket, wherein the button bracket includes a fifth opening connected to the fourth opening.

17 . The button device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a waterproof cover disposed to close at least one of the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, the fourth opening, or the fifth opening.

18 . The button device of claim 17 , wherein the waterproof cover is disposed between the fourth opening and the fifth opening.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Sungjun
• Kim Donghee
• Lim Changok
• Kim Youngkyu

Classifications

• H05K5/061

  sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing · CPC title

• H01H23/065

  Casings hermetically closed by a diaphragm through which passes an actuating member (vacuum switches H01H33/66) · CPC title

• H01H13/063

  Casings hermetically closed by a diaphragm through which passes an actuating member (vacuum switches H01H33/66) · CPC title

• G06F1/1671

  Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04M1/0277

  for a printed circuit board assembly · CPC title