IP Library Granted Patent US 7,916,459
Granted Patent B2
US 7,916,459 · App. 12/126,932 · Granted Mar 29, 2011

Key structure and electronic device having the key structure

Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.; Lite-On Technology Corp.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,916,459
App. No.
12/126,932
Granted
Mar 29, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A key structure includes a key body, a key portion disposed on the key body and installed inside a slot formed on a case of an electronic device in a movable manner, and an actuating portion disposed on the key body and synchronally movable with the key portion. The actuating portion includes two actuators for respectively actuating a corresponding electronic switch of the electronic device.

Claims (26)

1. A key structure for an electronic device having an external case unit and an internal circuit board, wherein the case unit having a key slot and a key support component, and wherein the circuit board having two electrical switches, the key structure comprising:

a key body having a key portion and an actuating portion;

wherein the key portion is partially exposedly disposed in the key slot of the case unit in a slidable manner; and

wherein the actuating portion comprise an elastic component at one end thereof and is synchronously slidable with the key portion, the actuating portion comprising two actuating members for respectively actuating the corresponding electrical switches of the electronic device.

2. The key structure of claim 1 , wherein the two actuating members are slidable in a same direction.

3. The key structure of claim 1 , wherein the two actuating members are a tact actuator and a slide actuator respectively.

4. The key structure of claim 3 , wherein the tact actuator is a protrusion protruding inward the case unit of the electronic device, and the slide actuator is a sunken portion on the actuating portion.

5. The key structure of claim 1 , wherein the elastic component is an U-shaped elastic cantilever.

6. The key structure of claim 1 , wherein the elastic component is a spring.

7. The key structure of claim 5 , wherein the U-shaped elastic cantilever is pre-compressed for contacting against the support component of the electronic device.

8. The key structure of claim 7 , wherein the U-shaped elastic cantilever comprises an extending part for inserting in a recess on the support component.

9. The key structure of claim 1 , wherein the key portion is disposed on an outer side of the key body and the actuating portion is disposed on an inner side of the key body.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a case unit having a key slot;

a circuit board having two electrical switches disposed in the case unit, wherein each switch comprising a trigger; and

a key structure comprising:

a key body having a key portion and an actuating portion,

wherein the key portion is partially exposedly disposed in the key slot of the case unit in a slidable manner; and

wherein the actuating portion comprises an elastic component at one end thereof and is synchronously slidable with the key portion, the actuating portion comprising two actuating members for respectively actuating the corresponding electrical switches of the circuit board.

11. The key structure of claim 10 , wherein a frame is disposed on an inner side of the case unit, the slot is formed on the frame, and the key body is installed inside the frame in a slidable manner along the frame.

12. The key structure of claim 10 , wherein the electronic switches are a tact switch and a slide switch respectively, wherein the trigger of the tact switch is a tact head, the trigger of the slide switch is a slide head, and the triggering direction of the tact switch is substantially parallel to the sliding direction of the slide switch.

13. The key structure of claim 12 , wherein the two actuating members are a tact actuator and a slide actuator respectively, the tact actuator is a protrusion protruding inward the case for triggering the tact head of the tact switch, and the slide actuator is an sunken portion on the actuating portion for containing the slide head of the slide switch.

14. The key structure of claim 13 , wherein the key structure further comprises:

a support component disposed on an inner side of the case unit, the elastic component contacting against the support component.

15. The key structure of claim 14 , wherein the elastic component is an U-shaped elastic cantilever having an extending part for inserting in a recess on the support component, and the U-shaped elastic cantilever is pre-compressed for contacting against the support component.

16. The key structure of claim 12 , wherein the tact switch is for turning on or turning off a power supply selectively, and the slide switch is for engaging key-locking function or key-releasing function selectively.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 31, 2013
From: SILITEK ELECTRONIC (GUANGZHOU) CO., LTD.
To: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 031531/0072 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2008
From: LEE, CHANG-HSUN; LEE, HSIN-CHU
To: SILITEK ELECTRONIC(GUANGZHOU)CO.,LTD.; LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORP.
Reel/Frame 020998/0107 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 2008 1 0026715 · Mar 7, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090223795A1 · Sep 10, 2009