Fixing Structure of Touchpad Module for Laptop

Abstract

The present invention discloses a fixing structure for a touchpad module of a laptop computer, which includes a main body upper shell, a touchpad module, a support structure and a locking accessory. The touchpad module includes a touchpad and a bracket. An installation opening is formed on the main body upper shell. An installation convex column is formed on the bottom wall of the main body upper shell adjacent to the installation opening, and a fixing hole penetrating downward is formed at the installation convex column. The touchpad module is installed at the installation opening and supported on the support structure. A locking ear extending outward is formed at the edge of the bracket, and an installation hole sleeved on the installation convex column is formed at the locking ear. The rod portion of the locking accessory is fixed in the fixing hole, and the cap portion of the locking accessory restricts the downward movement of the locking ear. The distance between the rod portion of the locking accessory and the bottom wall of the main body upper shell is greater than the thickness of the locking ear so that the locking ear is in clearance fit with the locking accessory and the main body upper shell. When sufficient downward pressure is applied to the area of the main body upper shell corresponding to the locking ear, the locking accessory is pushed downward, and the locking ear generates an upward displacement relative to the locking accessory.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of notebook computers, and in particular to a touch panel module fixing structure for notebook computers. Background Art

[0002] Currently, the existing method of fixing the touchpad can easily cause false triggers when pressing the area around the touchpad on the upper shell of the host. Specifically, during normal use, users often place their hands on the palm rest area around the touchpad. Pressing down slightly and applying pressure can easily cause the touchpad to trigger, affecting normal user use and causing trouble. The reason for the above false triggering is that one end of the touchpad module is directly fixed to the upper shell of the host using two screws. The touchpad module (touchpad PCB + touchpad bracket + surface material Mylar or glass) and the convex bulge of the upper shell of the host form a cantilever beam structure at one end. When the screw locking area around the touchpad module is pressed and pressure is applied by hand, the force is transmitted to the touchpad bracket through the upper shell of the host, causing the locking ear of the touchpad bracket to deform downward. The cantilever beam structure amplifies this deformation, which in turn causes the touchpad dome to click on the convex bulge of the upper shell of the host, resulting in false touches.

[0003] To address this issue, existing techniques have created holes between the bent locking tabs on the left and right sides of the touchpad bracket to narrow the bent edges and reduce the rigidity of the touchpad bracket, thereby reducing the pressure and deformation distance transmitted to the dome. However, this solution can only achieve a certain degree of optimization and cannot completely eliminate the problem. Furthermore, this solution weakens the bracket's bent locking tabs, making deformation more likely during production, transportation, and assembly, making it difficult to control.

[0004] In addition, when users use the left and right buttons on the touchpad, the force required for clicking and the travel required for pressing down to trigger are inconsistent, which will cause inconsistent left and right feel, poor stability, empty travel or pre-load (the dome and the convex bulge on the upper shell of the host are designed to be 0-matched, and the best feedback feel is achieved by pressing to overcome the dome's work. After actual assembly, the dome and the matching bulge are prone to gaps or pre-load interference), and the left and right corners of the touchpad are sunken or raised.

[0005] Specifically, the support force of the left and right support spring arms is affected by their height, width, and thickness, which can easily lead to differences in left and right click force. Differences in the height and angle of the left and right bent locking lugs can amplify the differences in click force and travel on the dome side of the cantilever structure, as well as the step difference between the left and right corners of the dome and the console upper case. Thirdly, the deformation of the touchpad module and the touchpad area of the console upper case directly affects the clearance between the dome and the console upper case convex bulge, as well as the step difference between the touchpad module and the console upper case. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a fixing structure for a touchpad module of a notebook computer, which can avoid the problem of dome mis-triggering caused by pressing the corresponding position on the upper shell of the main body.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fixing structure for a touchpad module of a notebook computer, which is characterized by comprising an upper shell of the main body, a touchpad module, a support structure and a locking accessory. The touchpad module includes a touchpad and a bracket for mounting and supporting the touchpad. An installation opening is formed on the upper shell of the main body. An installation stud is formed on the bottom wall of the upper shell of the main body adjacent to the installation opening. A fixing hole penetrating downward is formed at the installation stud. The touchpad module is installed at the installation opening and supported on the support structure. A locking ear protruding outward is formed at the edge of the bracket. An installation hole sleeved at the installation stud is formed at the locking ear. The rod portion of the locking accessory is fixed in the fixing hole, and the cap portion of the locking accessory restricts the downward movement of the locking ear. The distance between the rod portion of the locking accessory and the bottom wall of the upper shell of the main body is greater than the thickness of the locking ear, so that the locking ear is in clearance fit with the locking accessory and the upper shell of the main body. When the area of the upper shell of the main body corresponding to the locking ear is subjected to sufficient downward pressure, the locking accessory is pushed downward, and the locking ear generates an upward displacement relative to the locking accessory.

[0008] Preferably, the locking accessory is a screw, and the fixing hole is a threaded hole.

[0009] Preferably, the number of the locking ears is two, which are respectively formed at both ends of the inner side of the bracket, and the number of the locking accessories is two.

[0010] Preferably, the support structure is two elastic arms, and the sum of the resilience forces of the two elastic arms is equal to the weight of the touchpad module.

[0011] Preferably, the support structure is a foam.

[0012] Preferably, the fixing structure of the touchpad module further includes a flexible adhesive sheet, and the flexible adhesive sheet is attached to the bottom of the bracket and the bottom wall of the upper shell of the main body to limit the up-and-down shaking and horizontal shaking of the touchpad module.

[0013] Preferably, the flexible adhesive sheet is also attached to the cap portion of the locking accessory.

[0014] Preferably, a wire passes through the bottom of the bracket, and the flexible adhesive sheet is attached to at least part of the wire passing through the bottom of the bracket.

[0015] Preferably, the color of the flexible adhesive sheet is black, and the flexible adhesive sheet blocks at least part of the fitting gap between the touchpad module through which the wire passes and the main body upper shell.

[0016] Preferably, the flexible adhesive sheet is a foam-backed adhesive.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, in the present invention, since the distance between the rod portion of the locking attachment and the bottom wall of the main body upper shell is greater than the thickness of the locking ear, so that the locking ear is in clearance fit with the locking attachment and the main body upper shell. When the user uses the notebook computer, if the area of the main body upper shell corresponding to the locking ear is subjected to sufficient downward pressure, the locking attachment will be pushed downward, and the locking ear will generate an upward displacement relative to the locking attachment. That is to say, the downward pressure received by the main body upper shell is only transmitted to the locking attachment, and will not be transmitted to the locking ear, blocking the pressing force value at the source. Correspondingly, the locking ear and the entire touchpad module will not trigger the dome due to the downward displacement. Since the locking ear does not transmit the force value, there is no need to narrow the opening in the middle of the locking ear, which can effectively ensure the strength of the touchpad module and improve the yield of the production process. Moreover, the influence of the bending angle and height of the locking ear of the touchpad module fixing structure of the present invention on the touchpad feel is reduced, the height tolerance and bending angle of the locking ear can be relaxed, and thus the problem of inconsistent feel on both sides and the appearance step difference between the touchpad module and the main body upper shell caused by the asynchronous bending height and angle of the locking ear can be improved. In addition, the deformation tolerance of the touchpad module and the main body upper shell can also be relaxed, and thus the problem of the fitting gap between the dome and the convex hull of the main body upper shell and the step difference between the touchpad module and the main body upper shell can be improved. Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the main body end of the notebook computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the main body end of the embodiment of the present invention after hiding structures such as the main body lower shell.

[0020] Figure 3 is Figure 2 an enlarged view of part A in

[0021] Figure 4 is Figure 2 a disassembled structural schematic diagram of

[0022] Figure 5 is Figure 4 an enlarged view of part B in

[0023] Figure 6 is Figure 2 a sectional schematic diagram of

[0024] Figure 7 isFigure 6 Enlarged view of part C.

[0025] Figure 8 Schematic perspective view of the bracket and the elastic arm in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 9 Exploded structural view of the host end of the embodiment of the present invention with structures such as the host lower case hidden, where the wire is shown. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] In order to explain in detail the technical content and structural features of the present invention, the following further description is made in conjunction with the embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Please refer to Figures 1 to 9 , the present invention discloses a fixing structure for a touchpad module of a notebook computer, which includes a host upper case 1, a touchpad module 2, a support structure, and a locking accessory 4. The touchpad module 2 includes a touchpad 21 and a bracket 22 for installing and supporting the touchpad 21. An installation opening 11 is formed on the host upper case 1, and an installation stud 12 is formed on the bottom wall of the host upper case 1 adjacent to the installation opening 11. A fixing hole 13 penetrating downward is formed at the installation stud 12. The touchpad module 2 is installed at the installation opening 11 and supported on the support structure. Locking ears 221 extending outward are formed at the edge of the bracket 22, and an installation hole 222 sleeved on the installation stud 12 is formed at the locking ears 221. The rod portion 41 of the locking accessory 4 is fixed in the fixing hole 13, the cap portion 42 of the locking accessory 4 restricts the downward movement of the locking ears 221, and the distance between the rod portion 41 of the locking accessory 4 and the bottom wall of the host upper case 1 is greater than the thickness of the locking ears 221 so that the locking ears 221 are in clearance fit with the locking accessory 4 and the host upper case 1. When a sufficient downward pressure is applied to the area of the host upper case 1 corresponding to the locking ears 221, the locking accessory 4 is pushed downward, and the locking ears 221 generate an upward displacement relative to the locking accessory 4. Specifically, the touchpad 21 includes a touchpad PCB 211 and a touchpad surface material 212, and the touchpad surface material 212 is usually mylar or glass.

[0029] Because the distance between the rod portion 41 of the locking member 4 and the bottom wall of the host upper shell 1 is greater than the thickness of the locking ear 221, the locking ear 221 is loosely fitted between the locking member 4 and the host upper shell 1. When a user uses the laptop, if the area of the host upper shell 1 corresponding to the locking ear 221 is subjected to sufficient downward pressure, the locking member 4 will be pushed downward, and the locking ear 221 will be displaced upward relative to the locking member 4. In other words, the downward pressure on the host upper shell 1 is only transmitted to the locking member 4, not to the locking ear 221, thus fundamentally blocking the pressing force. Accordingly, the locking ear 221 and the entire touchpad module 2 will not trigger the dome 23 due to the downward displacement. Because the locking ear 221 does not transmit force, there is no need to narrow the central opening of the locking ear 221, effectively ensuring the strength of the touchpad module 2 and improving the production yield rate. Furthermore, the bending angle and height of the locking lug 221 in the touchpad module fixing structure of the present invention reduce the effect on the touchpad 21's feel, allowing for a wider tolerance on the height and bending angle of the locking lug 221. This can mitigate issues such as inconsistent feel on both sides and the difference in appearance between the touchpad module 2 and the host upper shell 1 caused by the different bending heights and angles of the locking lug 221. Furthermore, the deformation tolerance of the touchpad module 2 and the host upper shell 1 can also be relaxed, thereby mitigating issues such as the clearance between the dome 23 and the convex ridge 15 of the host upper shell 1, as well as the difference in appearance between the touchpad module 2 and the host upper shell 1. Furthermore, due to the clearance fit of the touchpad module 2 of the present invention, the present invention can achieve a click function across the entire touchpad area, meaning that all touchpad areas can be clicked to produce a touch effect.

[0030] In some embodiments, the locking member 4 is a screw and the fixing hole 13 is a threaded hole, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0031] In some embodiments, there are two locking ears 221, one at each end of the inner side of the bracket 22. Accordingly, there are two locking members 4. However, this is not a limitation. "Inner side" here refers to the side of the bracket 22 that faces away from the user during normal use of the laptop.

[0032] In some embodiments, the supporting structure is two elastic arms 3 , and the sum of the rebound forces of the two elastic arms 3 is equal to the weight of the touch panel module 2 .

[0033] Specifically, the sum of the rebound forces of the two spring arms 3 is equal to the combined weight of the bracket 22, the touchpad PCB 211, and the touchpad surface material 212. This design achieves zero-load, zero preload, and zero travel, thereby improving the user experience and addressing issues with corner sag or raised corners of the touchpad module 2.

[0034] Because the support force generated by the two elastic arms 3 is no longer affected by the unmeasured stress generated when the locking lugs 221 are bent, it can be directly measured and confirmed, making it simpler. Specifically, the required design dimensions of the elastic arms 3 can be determined directly using a force measurement device or a method that simulates a fixed downward stroke to determine the sum of the elastic forces of the two elastic arms 3. In other words, the design of the two elastic arms 3 is based on the weight of the touchpad module 2.

[0035] In the specific example, the elastic arm 3 is provided on the bracket 22 , but is not limited thereto. For example, it can also be provided on the host upper shell 1 or other corresponding parts as long as it can satisfy the function of supporting the touchpad module 2 .

[0036] In some embodiments, the supporting structure is foam. When this design is adopted, the decibel level of the sound generated when the touch panel 21 is triggered can be reduced, which is beneficial to improving the user experience.

[0037] In some embodiments, the touchpad module securing structure further includes a flexible adhesive sheet 5, which is attached to the bottom of the bracket 22 and the bottom wall of the host upper housing 1 to limit vertical and horizontal movement of the touchpad module 2. Specifically, similar to the prior art, the present invention employs a coarse positioning method using positioning posts and holes to accommodate manufacturing and assembly tolerances. The attachment of the flexible adhesive sheet 5 prevents side-to-side movement.

[0038] As a preferred embodiment, when the laptop is normally placed on a desktop, the distance between the locking ear 221 and the cap portion 42 of the locking attachment 4 is zero. A gap T exists between the locking ear 221 and the host upper shell 1. In a specific example, this gap T is 0.1 mm. When the laptop is flipped over, the flexible adhesive sheet 5 can prevent the touchpad module 2 from shaking upward. Of course, this is not a limitation. The present invention only requires that the area of the host upper shell 1 corresponding to the locking ear 221 is subjected to sufficient downward pressure and the locking attachment 4 is pushed downward, so that the locking ear 221 can move upward relative to the locking attachment 4.

[0039] In the specific example, the number of the flexible adhesive sheet 5 is one, but it is not limited thereto, as long as it can effectively prevent the touch panel module 2 from shaking.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the flexible adhesive sheet 5 is also attached to the cap 42 of the locking accessory 4. That is, the same flexible adhesive sheet 5 is attached to both the bottom wall of the main body upper housing 1 and the bottom of the bracket 22, as well as the cap 42 of the locking accessory 4. This design prevents the locking accessory 4 from making hard contact with other parts when it moves downward under downward pressure. However, this is not a limitation. For example, the locking accessory 4 may be attached with a separate flexible adhesive material, or it may not be attached with a flexible adhesive material (if the downward movement of the locking accessory 4 does not cause contact with other parts).

[0041] In a specific example, when sufficient downward pressure is applied to the lock attachment 4, it will transfer the pressure to the battery (not shown in the figure) through the flexible adhesive sheet 5 attached thereto, and finally transfer it to the foot pad (not shown in the figure) of the main body lower case 6 to achieve balance with the reaction force of the desktop. Of course, this is not limiting.

[0042] As a preferred implementation, the bottom of the bracket 22 passes through the wire 9, and the flexible adhesive sheet 5 is attached to at least a part of the wire 9 passing through the bottom of the bracket 22. Through this design, the flexible adhesive sheet 5 can protect the wire 9 passing through the bottom of the bracket 22 at the same time, preventing the wire 9 from being scratched or clamped by the edge of the bracket 22. Specifically, the wire 9 includes a keyboard FFC, a backlight FFC, a touchpad FFC, etc., but this is not limiting.

[0043] In a specific example, the color of the flexible adhesive sheet 5 is black, and the flexible adhesive sheet 5 blocks at least part of the fitting gap G between the touchpad module 2 and the main body upper case 1 through which the wire 9 passes. Through this design, it can effectively prevent the problem that various wires passing through the bracket 22 are likely to leak the color reflection of the material from the fitting gap between the touchpad module 2 and the main body upper case 1.

[0044] As a preferred implementation, the flexible adhesive sheet 5 is a foam double-sided adhesive. Of course, this is not limiting.

[0045] The above-disclosed are only the preferred examples of the present invention, and the scope of the rights of the present invention cannot be limited thereby. Therefore, equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present invention all fall within the scope covered by the present invention.

Claims

1. A fixing structure for a touchpad module of a laptop, characterized in that It includes a main body upper shell, a touchpad module, a support structure and a locking accessory. The touchpad module includes a touchpad and a bracket for mounting and supporting the touchpad. An installation opening is formed on the main body upper shell. An installation boss is formed on the bottom wall of the main body upper shell adjacent to the installation opening. A fixing hole penetrating downward is formed at the installation boss. The touchpad module is installed at the installation opening and supported on the support structure. A locking ear protruding outward is formed at the edge of the bracket. An installation hole sleeved on the installation boss is formed at the locking ear. The rod part of the locking accessory is fixed in the fixing hole. The cap part of the locking accessory restricts the downward movement of the locking ear. The distance between the rod part of the locking accessory and the bottom wall of the main body upper shell is greater than the thickness of the locking ear so that the locking ear is in clearance fit with the locking accessory and the main body upper shell. When the area of the main body upper shell corresponding to the locking ear is subjected to sufficient downward pressure, the locking accessory is pushed downward, and the locking ear generates an upward displacement relative to the locking accessory; The touchpad module fixing structure further includes a flexible adhesive sheet, which is attached to the bottom of the bracket and the bottom wall of the main body upper shell to limit the up-and-down and horizontal shaking of the touchpad module; When the laptop is placed normally on the desktop, the distance between the locking ear and the cap part of the locking accessory is 0, and there is a gap between the locking ear and the main body upper shell. When the laptop is flipped, the flexible adhesive sheet can limit the upward shaking of the touchpad module.

2. The fixing structure of the touchpad module according to claim 1, wherein, The locking accessory is a screw, and the fixing hole is a threaded hole.

3. The fixing structure of the touchpad module according to claim 1, wherein The number of the locking ears is two, which are respectively formed at both ends of the inner side of the bracket, and the number of the locking accessories is two.

4. The fixing structure of the touchpad module according to claim 1, wherein, The support structure is two elastic arms, and the sum of the resilience of the two elastic arms is equal to the weight of the touchpad module.

5. The fixing structure of the touchpad module according to claim 1, characterized in that The support structure is foam.

6. The fixing structure of the touchpad module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible adhesive sheet also adheres to the cap part of the locking accessory.

7. The fixing structure of the touchpad module according to claim 1, wherein, The bottom of the bracket passes through a wire, and the flexible adhesive sheet adheres to at least part of the wire passing through the bottom of the bracket.

8. The touchpad module fixing structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The color of the flexible adhesive sheet is black, and the flexible adhesive sheet covers at least part of the fitting gap between the touchpad module and the main body upper shell where the wire passes through.

9. The fixing structure of the touchpad module according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that The flexible adhesive sheet is a foam adhesive.

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