Button integration for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9780827-B2
Application number	US-201615263259-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2016
Priority date	Sep 8, 2014
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

This application relates to various button related embodiments for use with a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, a snap clip can be integrated with a button bracket to save space where two separate brackets would take up too much space in the portable electronic device. In other embodiments, a tactile switch can be waterproofed by welding a polymeric layer atop a tactile switch assembly. In this way water can be prevented from contacting moisture sensitive components of the tactile switch assembly. The weld joining the polymeric layer to the tactile switch can include at least one gap to trapped gas surrounding the tactile switch assembly to enter and exit during heat excursions caused by various operating and/or assembly operations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a first housing component, comprising sidewalls and a bottom wall that cooperate to form a cavity, a top portion of each of the sidewalls cooperating to define a front opening leading into the cavity;
a second housing component, comprising: a transparent substrate having a size and shape in accordance with the front opening, and a rail extending from an interior facing surface of the transparent substrate;
a button bracket, comprising:
a rigid substrate defining fastener openings, the rigid substrate being fastened to an interior surface of a first sidewall of the sidewalls in a location proximate a button opening that extends through the first sidewall,
a tactile switch retaining feature disposed on a first end of the rigid substrate, and
a snap clip coupled with a second end of the rigid substrate; and

a tactile switch engaged with the tactile switch retaining feature so that it is positioned behind the button opening defined by the first housing component,
wherein the snap clip retains the second housing component within the front opening of the first housing component by engaging an opening defined by the rail of the second housing component.

2. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rigid substrate defines an opening that accommodates the tactile switch on the button bracket.

3. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the button bracket further comprises a z-retention feature that prevents movement of an internal component within the electronic device.

4. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second end of the rigid substrate is forged to form a thickened portion that is in direct contact with the snap clip.

5. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 4 , wherein the thickened portion and the snap clip cooperate to enclose the rail of the second housing component.

6. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a retention mechanism coupled to a second sidewall of the sidewalls, the second sidewall being opposite the first sidewall.

7. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises two snap clips that engage another rail extending from the interior facing surface of the second housing component, and wherein the retention mechanism cooperates with the snap clip of the button bracket to retain the second housing component to the first housing component.

8. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a housing, comprising a housing wall defining an opening;
a button assembly, comprising:
a button cap positioned within the opening defined by the housing wall, the button cap being configured to receive a user input,
a switch body,
a dome switch coupled with a first surface of the switch body and configured to receive the user input by way of the button cap, and
a layer of film extending over and surrounding the dome switch, wherein the layer of film is welded to the switch body so that welds join the layer of film to the switch body, the welds cooperating to define an interface between the switch body and the layer of film that prevents liquids from entering or exiting an interior volume defined by the layer of film and the switch body.

9. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 8 , wherein an end of each of the welds is separated from a portion of an adjacent weld by no more than 5 mm.

10. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 9 , wherein at least two of the welds run parallel to define a channel configured to allow gases to circulate into and out of the interior volume.

11. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the switch body defines holes that extend through the first surface of the switch body and a second surface of the switch body opposite the first surface.

12. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the button assembly further comprises a protective layer coupled with the second surface of the switch body and covering the holes.

13. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the protective layer is a layer of heat activated film.

14. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the protective layer is a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.

15. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the protective layer is welded to the switch body.

16. An electronic device, comprising:
a button assembly, comprising:
a button cap configured to receive a user input,
a switch body,
a dome switch coupled with a first surface of the switch body and configured to receive the user input by way of the button cap, and
a layer of film extending over and surrounding the dome switch, wherein the layer of film is welded to the switch body by welds that join the layer of film and the switch body, the welds cooperating to define an interface between the switch body and the layer of film that prevents liquids from entering or exiting an interior volume defined by the layer of film and the switch body.

17. The electronic device as recited in claim 16 , wherein the switch body defines pin holes that allow gases to enter and exit the interior volume, wherein at least one of the pin holes is filled with epoxy to adjust a flow of air through the pin holes, and wherein the switch body includes contacts for electrically coupling the button assembly to another electrical component of the electronic device.

18. The electronic device as recited in claim 17 , further comprising a protective cover coupled with a second surface of the switch body after installation of the button assembly into the electronic device that overlays one end of each of the pin holes to prevent liquids from entering the interior volume through any one of the pin holes.

19. The electronic device as recited in claim 18 , wherein the second surface defines channels extending between the pin holes, and wherein the channels allow gases to enter and exit the interior volume of the interior volume without allowing liquids to enter and exit the interior volume.

20. The electronic device as recited in claim 18 , wherein the protective cover comprises a layer of heat activated film and is welded to a second surface, wherein the layer of film is joined to the switch body by other welds that close any gaps between the welds and wherein the protective cover is welded to the switch body in a manner that isolates each of the holes defined by the switch body.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Shukla Ashutosh Y
• Cater Tyler B
• Cohen Sawyer I
• Huo Edward S
• Pakula David A
• Bustle Benjamin Shane
• Shah Dhaval N
• Zhang Yaocheng
• Katiyar Vivek

Classifications

• H01H2207/032

  Surface mounted component · CPC title

• H01H13/06 Primary

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings · CPC title

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H01H2205/016

  Separate bridge contact · CPC title

• H04M1/026

  Details of the structure or mounting of specific components · CPC title