Securing a touch sensor assembly within a device
An arrangement for securing a touch sensor assembly within a mobile communication or other device with at least one touch button defined within a touch button area. The touch sensor assembly includes a touch sensor (such as a sense inductor coil), and multiple back-side spring clips attached at the back-side of the sensor assembly. A touch sensor pocket integral with the device case is disposed at an interior-side of the touch button area, the sensor pocket to position the sensor assembly relative to the associated touch button. The touch sensor assembly can be secured within the touch sensor pocket by the back-side spring clips, spring-urged toward the front-side of the sensor pocket, and spaced from the device case by spacer elements (which can be attached to the sensor assembly, or integrated into the device case). The touch sensor pocket can include back-side alignment elements for aligning the spring clips.
1. An apparatus for use in a device having a case and having at least one touch button defined on a touch button area of the device, the apparatus comprising:
a spacer having a first spacer surface and a second spacer surface, the first spacer surface adapted to be directly coupled to a first case surface, and the second spacer surface is opposite the first spacer surface;
a touch sensor having a first sensor surface and a second sensor surface, the first sensor surface directly coupled to the second spacer surface, and the second sensor surface is opposite the first sensor surface, wherein the spacer maintains a gap between the first sensor surface and the first case surface;
a stiffener having a first stiffener surface and a second stiffener surface, the first stiffener surface directly coupled to the second sensor surface, and the second stiffener surface is opposite the first stiffener surface;
a spring clip having a first clip surface and a second clip surface, the first clip surface directly coupled to the second stiffener surface, the second clip surface adapted to be coupled to a second case surface, the second case surface being opposite the first case surface;
wherein the spring clip exerts a force on the stiffener, and the stiffener exerts a force on the touch sensor, pressing the touch sensor against the spacer; and
wherein, the gap decreases in response to a deflection of the device case.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is from the group consisting of:
spacer elements attached at respective edges of the front-side of the touch sensor assembly; and
spacer shoulders integral with the device case, at respective edges of the touch sensor pocket.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device includes a dual touch button area having first and second touch buttons, and first and second touch sensors aligned with the respective first and second touch buttons.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor includes a sense inductor coil.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device is a mobile communication device, and the at least one touch button is defined on a side-wall of the device.
6. An apparatus for use in a device with at least one touch button defined on a touch button area of the device, the apparatus comprising:
a device case having a first case surface and a second case surface;
a touch sensor pocket integral with the device case at an interior side of the touch button area;
a spacer having a first spacer surface and a second spacer surface, the first spacer surface adapted to be directly coupled to the first case surface, and the second spacer surface is opposite the first spacer surface;
a touch sensor having a first sensor surface and a second sensor surface, the first sensor surface directly coupled to the second spacer surface, and the second sensor surface opposite the first sensor surface, wherein the spacer provides a gap between the first sensor surface and the first case surface;
a stiffener having a first stiffener surface and a second stiffener surface, the first stiffener surface directly coupled to the second sensor surface, and the second stiffener surface is opposite the first stiffener surface;
a spring clip having a first clip surface and a second clip surface, the first clip surface directly coupled to the second stiffener surface, and the second clip surface adapted to be coupled to the second case surface with an alignment element, and the second clip surface positioned at an alignment point;
wherein the spring clip exerts a force on the stiffener, and the stiffener exerts a force on the touch sensor, pressing the touch sensor against the spacer; and
wherein, the gap decreases in response to a deflection of the device case.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the spacer is from the group consisting of:
spacer elements attached at respective edges of the front-side of the touch sensor assembly; and
spacer shoulders integral with the device case, at respective edges of the touch sensor pocket.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the device includes a dual touch button area having first and second touch buttons, and wherein the touch sensor pocket is a dual touch sensor pocket, and first and second touch sensors are aligned with the respective first and second touch buttons.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the touch sensor includes a sense inductor coil.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the device is a mobile communication device, and the at least one touch button is defined on a side-wall of the device.