Waterproof switch
A sealed switch having a switch body with first and second switch body sections, a switch contact configured to be disposed in a slot in the first switch body section, a switch contact cover configured to cover the slot, and a seal configured to cover the circumference of the second switch body section.
1. A waterproof switch comprising:
a switch body comprising a first switch body section having a slot;
a switch contact disposed in the slot;
a switch contact cover covering the slot;
a second switch body section adjacent to the first switch body section;
a metal insert disposed within the second switch body section and configured for electrical coupling to an external conductor;
a flex circuit assembly comprising:
an L-shaped flexible flat cable electrically coupled to the metal insert; and
a flex stiffener affixed to the flexible flat cable in a configuration for positioning the flex stiffener adjacent to a support plate; and
a seal covering a circumference of the second switch body section.
2. The waterproof switch of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the first switch body section is larger than a cross-section of the second switch body section.
3. The waterproof switch of claim 1 , wherein the switch contact comprises a dome.
4. The waterproof switch of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a gasket.
5. The waterproof switch of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a circumferentially extending ridge.
6. The waterproof switch of claim 4 , wherein the seal comprises material injection molded onto the switch body.
7. The waterproof switch of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a single piece of machined material.
8. The waterproof switch of claim 1 , wherein the metal insert is electrically coupled to a flexible flat cable.
9. A button structure for an electronic device comprising:
a housing having an external surface and an internal surface;
a through-going opening between the external surface and the internal surface;
a push-button adjacent to the external surface;
a flexible circuit assembly adjacent to the internal surface;
a switch at least partially extending through the through-going opening between the push-button and the flexible circuit assembly, wherein the switch comprises:
a switch body having a first switch body section and a second switch body section, wherein the first switch body section comprises a slot, and wherein the second switch body section comprises a metal insert;
a switch contact disposed in the slot;
a switch contact cover covering the slot and the switch contact; and
a seal covering a circumference of the second switch body section;
an L-shaped flexible flat cable electrically coupled to the metal insert; and
a flex stiffener affixed to the flexible flat cable in a configuration for positioning the flex stiffener adjacent to a support plate.
10. The button structure of claim 9 , wherein the metal insert is electrically coupled to the flexible circuit assembly.
11. The button structure of claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a single piece of machined material.
12. The button structure of claim 9 , wherein the seal is configured to seal the through-going opening from ingress of fluid into the housing.
13. The button structure of claim 9 , wherein the switch is further configured for insertion into the through-going opening in a direction from an internal surface of the housing, and wherein the flexible circuit assembly is configured to abut the internal surface.
14. The button structure of claim 9 , wherein the switch contact comprises a dome.
15. The button structure of claim 9 , wherein the metal insert is electrically coupled to a flexible flat cable.
16. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having a first external surface, a second external surface, a third external surface, and an internal surface, wherein the second external surface extends perpendicular to the first external surface;
a through-going opening between the first external surface and the internal surface;
a first groove extending from the second external surface to the through-going opening; and
a button structure coupled to the housing and comprising:
a push-button adjacent to the through-going opening;
a button lock plate configured for interlocking with the push-button, wherein the push-button can be locked into or removed from the through-going opening by selectably positioning the button lock plate in the first groove;
a flexible circuit assembly adjacent to the through-going opening; and
a switch configured to at least partially extend through the through-going opening between the push-button and the flexible circuit assembly, wherein the switch comprises:
a switch body comprising a first switch body section having a slot;
a switch contact disposed in the slot;
a second switch body section adjacent to the first switch body section;
a metal insert disposed within the second switch body section and configured for electrical coupling to an external conductor;
a switch contact cover covering the slot and the switch contact; and
a seal covering a circumference of the second switch body section.
17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the third external surface of the housing extends parallel with the second external surface of the housing, and wherein the housing further comprises:
a second groove extending from the third external surface to the through-going opening; and
a support plate configured for interlocking with the housing, wherein the button structure can be locked into or removed from the through-going opening by selectably placing or removing the support plate in the second groove.
18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises a single piece of machined material.
19. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein a cross-section of the first switch body section is larger than a cross-section of the second switch body section.
20. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the switch contact comprises a dome.
21. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the metal insert is electrically coupled to a flexible flat cable.