Window button assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9727094-B1
Application number	US-201414494153-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2014
Priority date	Sep 29, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A window button assembly is connected to an enclosure of an electronic device. The window button assembly can include a button plank and a switch component positioned underneath the button plank such that sufficient deflection of the button plank activates the switch component. A component may be included in the window button assembly. The component can be in communication with the switch component, and activation of the switch component can initiate an action by the component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure;
a processor; and
a window button assembly in communication with the processor and connected to the enclosure, the window button assembly comprising:
a switch component disposed in a cavity in the enclosure;
a communication antenna disposed in the cavity and in communication with the switch component;
a feedback component disposed in the cavity and in communication with the switch component; and
a button plank disposed over the cavity;
wherein
a first portion of the button plank covers the communication antenna and an end of the first portion is attached to the enclosure; and
a second portion of the button plank is cantilevered over the switch component and deflection of the second portion of the button plank activates the switch component and activation of the switch component activates the communication antenna and the feedback component.

2. The electronic device as in claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the display is in communication with the processor and is connected to the enclosure.

3. The electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein the feedback component is a status indicator light.

4. The electronic device as in claim 3 , wherein the status light indicator indicates a status of a device pairing operation using the communication antenna.

5. The electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein the button plank is formed integrally with the enclosure.

6. The electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein the button plank is made of glass.

7. The electronic device as in claim 1 , further comprising a seal fixed to a sidewall of the cavity substantially under an end of the second portion of the button plank.

8. The electronic device as in claim 1 , further comprising one or more mechanical stops disposed in the cavity to prevent over-deflection of the second portion of the button plank.

9. The electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein an end of the second portion of the button plank includes a button lip that interacts with a corresponding overhanging enclosure prong.

10. The electronic device as in claim 1 , wherein the switch component, the communication antenna, and the feedback component are coupled to a circuit.

11. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure; and
a window button assembly connected to the enclosure, the window button assembly comprising:
a switch component disposed in a cavity in the enclosure;
a second component disposed in the cavity and in communication with the switch component;
a feedback component disposed in the cavity and in communication with the switch component; and
a button plank disposed over the cavity;
wherein
a first portion of the button plank covers the second component and an end of the first portion is attached to the enclosure; and
a second portion of the button plank is cantilevered over the switch component and deflection of the second portion activates the switch component and activation of the switch component activates the second component and initiates an action by the feedback component.

12. The electronic device as in claim 11 , wherein the cavity comprises a switch cavity and a second cavity and:
the feedback component and the switch component are positioned in the switch cavity formed below the second portion of the button plank, the switch cavity being defined by a cantilever post, an enclosure sidewall and a bottom wall; and
the second component is positioned in the second cavity formed below the first portion of the button plank, the second cavity being defined by the cantilever post, the bottom wall, and another enclosure sidewall.

13. The electronic device as in claim 11 , wherein the feedback component comprises a status indicator light.

14. The electronic device as in claim 11 , wherein the second component comprises an antenna.

15. The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising a seal fixed to a sidewall of the cavity substantially under an end of the second portion of the button plank.

16. The electronic device as in claim 11 , further comprising one or more mechanical stops disposed in the cavity to prevent over-deflection of the second end of the button plank.

17. The electronic device as in claim 11 , wherein an end of the second portion of the button plank includes a button lip that interacts with a corresponding overhanging enclosure prong.

18. The electronic device as in claim 11 , wherein the switch component, the second component, and the feedback component are coupled to a circuit.

19. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure; and
a window button assembly connected to the enclosure, the window button assembly comprising:
a switch component disposed in a cavity in the enclosure;
a second component disposed in the cavity and in communication with the switch component;
a feedback component disposed in the cavity and in communication with the switch component; and
a button plank disposed over the cavity and having a first end attached to the enclosure and a second end attached to the enclosure and deflection of the button plank activates the switch component disposed below the button plank and activation of the switch component initiates a first action by the second component and initiates a second action by the feedback component.

20. The electronic device as in claim 19 , wherein the feedback component comprises a status indicator light.

21. The electronic device as in claim 19 , wherein the second component in communication with the switch component comprises an antenna.

22. The electronic device as in claim 19 , wherein the switch component, the second component, and the feedback component are coupled to a circuit.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Abraham Euan S

Classifications

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/169 Primary

  the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033) · CPC title

• G06F1/1656 Primary

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title