Protective shell and touch connector thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a protective shell and a touch connector thereof, the touch connector comprises a shell, a conduction module, a panel and a silica gel piece, the shell is provided with a circle of side wall and an accommodating cavity defined by the side wall, the silica gel piece is annularly arranged outside the conduction module and accommodates the conduction module in the accommodating cavity, and the panel is located on the top surface of the conduction module and is exposed out of the shell. When the panel is pressed, the conduction module is driven to float downwards together, and meanwhile the silica gel piece is driven to deform. The panel of the touch connector of the protective shell can float, a clear pressing hand feeling can be provided, and the operation stability of the touch connector is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a protective shell for a mobile intelligent device and a tactile connector thereof. Background Art

[0002] Current mobile smart devices, such as mobile phones and tablets, are usually provided with touch keys on their sides. By touching the touch keys, some controls of the mobile smart devices can be realized, such as waking up, adjusting the volume, etc. The protective shell of the existing mobile smart devices generally has a reserved opening for exposing the touch keys, so as to expose the touch keys for the convenience of user touch operation. However, this opening will affect the waterproofness of the protective shell. If the mobile phone protective shell is not provided with an opening to completely cover the touch keys, it will affect the user's touch operation. Therefore, the applicant is developing a tactile connector that can conduct touch operations. It is equipped on the protective shell to cover the touch keys and operate the touch keys normally. The tactile connector is provided with a shell, a conduction module located in the shell, and a panel covering the conduction module. The wall thickness of the panel is relatively thin. When the user touches the panel, static electricity can be transferred to the touch keys through the conduction module to form a control behavior. However, the panel of the existing tactile connector is fixed and cannot provide a clear feel for the user.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to improve the existing protective case and its tactile connector. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention provides a protective shell providing an operational feel and a tactile connector thereof.

[0005] Specifically, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions: a tactile connector, comprising a shell, a conductive module, a panel and a silicone member, the shell being provided with a circle of side walls and a receiving cavity formed by the side walls, the silicone member being arranged outside the conductive module and placing the conductive module in the receiving cavity, the panel being located on the top surface of the conductive module and exposed from the shell; when the panel is pressurized, it drives the conductive module to float downward together, and at the same time drives the silicone member to deform.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the silicone member is injection molded in a gap between the conduction module and the side wall.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the silicone member is provided with an inner wall, an outer wall and a connecting portion, the inner wall is combined with the conduction module, the outer wall is combined with the side wall, the inner wall and the outer wall are spaced apart and a gap is formed therebetween, the connecting portion is located in the gap and connects the inner wall and the outer wall, the inner wall moves downward with the conduction module and drives the connecting portion to deform.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the inner side wall is a vertical wall and is coupled to the outer side surface of the conductive module, and the outer side wall is L-shaped and is coupled to the inner side surface and the bottom surface of the side wall.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the top surface and the bottom surface of the inner wall are flush with the outer wall respectively.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the receiving cavity is provided with an upper opening, and the panel is located in the upper opening; a step surface is provided in the upper opening, and the panel is located directly above the step surface and a gap is provided between the panel and the step surface.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the top surface of the silicone member is flush with the step surface.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the top surface of the side wall forms a trumpet mouth that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom and surrounds the panel.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the top surface of the conductive module is provided with a plurality of upper conductive sheets, the bottom surface of the conductive module is provided with a plurality of lower conductive sheets respectively conductive to the upper conductive sheets, the top surface of the conductive module protrudes upward from the top surface of the silicone member, and the bottom surface of the conductive module protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the silicone member.

[0014] The present invention can also be implemented through the following technical solution: a protective shell, used to cover the outside of a mobile device, comprises a shell and the aforementioned tactile connector, wherein the tactile connector is installed on the side of the shell.

[0015] The panel of the touch-sensing connector of the protective case of the present invention can float, thereby providing a clear pressing feeling and ensuring the operational stability of the touch-sensing connector.

[0016] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a protective shell in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 a perspective view of the tactile connector of the protective case shown; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A perspective view of the tactile connector from another angle; Figure 4 for Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of the tactile connector shown; Figure 5 for Figure 2 A perspective exploded view of the tactile connector from another angle; Figure 6 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the tactile connector shown.

[0018] Description of reference numerals: Protective shell 100, shell 1, side 11, touch connector 2, side wall 211, accommodating cavity 212, upper opening 213, lower opening 214, step surface 215, interval 216, bell mouth 217, card slot 218, shell 21, conduction module 22, substrate 221, upper conductive sheet 222, lower conductive sheet 223, via 224, silicone member 23, inner wall 231, outer wall 232, connecting portion 233, gap 234, top surface 235, bottom surface 236, panel 24, double-sided tape 25. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present invention. Instead, they are merely examples of devices, systems, equipment, and methods consistent with some aspects of the present invention.

[0020] refer to Figure 1 As shown, the protective case 100 of the present invention is used to protect a smart mobile device, and can be a mobile phone protective case or a pad protective case. The mobile phone protective case 100 is taken as an example for description below. The protective case 100 is wrapped around a mobile phone (not shown), and the protective case 100 includes a shell 1 and a touch connector 2 arranged on a side 11 of the shell 1. The position of the touch connector 2 corresponds to the touch key (not shown) on the side of the mobile phone (not shown), and is used to cover the touch key (not shown) and transmit the user's touch operation to the touch key (not shown).

[0021] refer to Figures 2 to 6 As shown, the touch connector 2 is generally in the shape of a strip block, and includes a shell 21, a conduction module 22, a silicone member 23, a panel 24 and a double-sided adhesive tape 25. The shell 21 is provided with a circle of side walls 211 and a receiving cavity 212 surrounded by the side walls 211. The receiving cavity 212 is through-through and forms an upper opening 213 and a lower opening 214 on the upper and lower sides of the shell 21, respectively. The conduction module 22 is in the shape of a strip block, and the silicone member 23 is arranged around the conduction module 22 and places the conduction module 22 in the receiving cavity 212. The panel 24 is made of glass, and the double-sided adhesive tape 25 sticks the panel 24 to the top surface of the conduction module 22. The panel 24 covers the conduction module 22 and exposes the shell 21 from the upper opening 213. The size of the panel 24 is consistent with the upper opening 213, and the upper opening 213 can be sealed.

[0022] The conduction module 22 is a PCB board, including a substrate 221, a plurality of upper conductive sheets 222 arranged on the top surface of the substrate 221, a plurality of lower conductive sheets 223 arranged on the bottom surface of the substrate 221, and a plurality of vias 224. The upper conductive sheets 222 and the lower conductive sheets 223 are arranged one by one in the upper and lower directions, and the vias 224 penetrate the substrate 221 to electrically conduct the upper conductive sheets 222 and the lower conductive sheets 223 arranged in the upper and lower directions. During manufacturing, gold is plated on the upper surface, the lower surface and the inner wall of the via 224 of the PCB board by electroplating to form a gold-plated layer, namely, the upper conductive sheets 222 and the lower conductive sheets 223 that are conductive to each other. The upper conductive sheets 222, the lower conductive sheets 223 and the vias 224 aligned in the upper and lower directions are collectively referred to as a conductor, and the plurality of conductors are distributed along the longitudinal direction of the touch connector 2, and the specific form of the conductor is not limited.

[0023] Combination Figure 1 As shown, although the panel 24 and the double-sided adhesive tape 25 cover the conductive module 22, the panel 24 and the double-sided adhesive tape 25 are very thin and do not affect the conduction of static electricity. When the user's finger slides on the panel 24, the static electricity can be transferred to the multiple upper conductive sheets 222, and further transferred to the multiple lower conductive sheets 223, so that the multiple lower conductive sheets 223 are alternately conducted, and the lower conductive sheets 223 are electrically conducted with the touch key (not shown) of the mobile phone (not shown), so that the tactile effect of sliding contact is generated on the surface of the touch key (not shown). According to the functional definition of the touch key (not shown) itself, the effect of zooming in or out of the screen, or the effect of flipping up or down the screen page and other control effects can be generated.

[0024] Key References Figure 6 As shown, the silicone member 23 is directly injection molded in the receiving cavity 212 of the housing 21 to place the conduction module 22 in the receiving cavity 212. Specifically, the conduction module 22 is placed in the receiving cavity 212 of the housing 21 using a jig, and liquid silicone is injected into the gap between the conduction module 22 and the side wall 211. The molded silicone member 23 is combined with the surfaces of the conduction module 22 and the side wall 211 at the same time, so that the conduction module 22 can be reliably installed in the receiving cavity 212. The double-sided tape 25 is first attached to the bottom surface of the panel 24, and then attached to the top surface of the conduction module 22 after the silicone member 23 is molded.

[0025] The silicone member 23 includes an inner wall 231, an outer wall 232, and a connecting portion 233 connecting the inner wall 231 and the outer wall 232. The inner wall 231 is a vertical wall and is connected to the outer side of the conductive module 22. The cross section of the outer wall 232 is generally L-shaped and is connected to the inner side and bottom of the side wall 211. The inner wall 231 and the outer wall 232 are spaced apart to form a gap 234. The connecting portion 233 is arranged in the gap 234 and connects the inner wall 231 and the outer wall 232. The thickness of the connecting portion 233 is relatively small. The top surfaces of the inner wall 231 and the outer wall 232 are flush with each other to form a top surface 235 of the silicone member 23. The bottom surfaces of the inner wall 231 and the outer wall 232 are flush with each other to form a bottom surface 236 of the silicone member 23. The top surface of the conductive module 22 protrudes upward from the top surface 235 of the silicone member 23, and the bottom surface of the conductive module 22 protrudes downward from the bottom surface 236 of the silicone member 23, ensuring that the upper conductive sheet 222 of the conductive module 22 can fit with the panel 24, and ensuring that the lower conductive sheet 223 can contact the touch key (not shown) on the mobile phone.

[0026] Since the silicone member 23 is made of elastic silicone material and the thickness of the connecting portion 233 is relatively small, the elasticity of the connecting portion 233 is better, and the inner wall 231 can be allowed to float up and down relative to the outer wall 232. In this embodiment, when the user touches and presses the panel 24, the pressing force drives the panel 24, the conductive module 22 and the inner wall 231 to move downward together, and the connecting portion 233 is driven downward by the inner wall 231 to deform, and the outer wall 232 and the housing 21 can remain stationary, that is, the elastic connecting portion 233 allows the inner wall 231, together with the conductive module 22 and the panel 24 to float downward together; after the external force applied by the user is removed, the connecting portion 233 returns to its original state with its own elasticity, and drives the inner wall 231, together with the conductive module 22 and the panel 24 to reset together. The user can feel the movement of the panel 24 during the process of touching and pressing the touch connector 2, which can increase the user's hand feeling and ensure the stability of the operation of the touch connector 2.

[0027] A step surface 215 is provided in the upper opening 213 of the housing 21. The top surface 235 of the silicone member 23 is flush with the step surface 215. The panel 24 is located directly above the step surface 215. A gap 216 is provided between the panel 24 and the step surface 215. The gap 216 allows the panel 24 to move downward, and the step surface 215 can prevent the panel 24 from moving downward in transition. The stroke allowed for the panel 24 to move can be controlled at about 0.3 mm. If the stroke is too small, the hand feel is not obvious, and if the stroke is too large, the connection part 233 is easily damaged. The top surface of the side wall 211 forms a trumpet mouth 217 that surrounds the panel 24 and is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, which can guide the panel 24. A card slot 218 is also provided on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 211, which is used to snap-connect with the side edge 11 of the housing 1 to fix the touch connector 2 to the side edge 11.

[0028] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tactile connector, characterized in that: It includes an outer shell, a conduction module, a panel and a silicone member, the outer shell is provided with a circle of side walls and a receiving cavity surrounded by the side walls, the silicone member is arranged outside the conduction module and places the conduction module in the receiving cavity, the panel is located on the top surface of the conduction module and exposed from the outer shell; the silicone member is injection-molded in the gap between the conduction module and the side walls, the silicone member is provided with an inner wall, an outer wall and a connecting portion, the inner wall is combined with the conduction module, the outer wall is combined with the side wall, the inner wall and the outer wall are spaced apart and a gap is formed therebetween, the connecting portion is located in the gap and connects the inner wall and the outer wall, when the panel is pressurized, the conduction module is driven to float downward together, the inner wall moves downward with the conduction module and drives the connecting portion to deform.

2. The tactile connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner side wall is a vertical wall and is combined with the outer side surface of the conductive module, and the outer side wall is L-shaped and is combined with the inner side surface and the bottom surface of the side wall.

3. The tactile connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The top surface and the bottom surface of the inner wall are flush with the outer wall respectively.

4. The tactile connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The receiving cavity is provided with an upper opening, and the panel is located in the upper opening; a step surface is provided in the upper opening, and the panel is located directly above the step surface and a gap is provided between the panel and the step surface.

5. The tactile connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The top surface of the silicone member is flush with the step surface.

6. The tactile connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The top surface of the side wall forms a trumpet mouth that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom and surrounds the panel.

7. The tactile connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top surface of the conduction module is provided with a plurality of upper conductive sheets, and the bottom surface of the conduction module is provided with a plurality of lower conductive sheets respectively conducting with the upper conductive sheets. The top surface of the conduction module protrudes upward from the top surface of the silicone member, and the bottom surface of the conduction module protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the silicone member.

8. A protective case for covering a mobile device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a housing and the tactile connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tactile connector is mounted on a side of the housing.

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