Touch pad assembly

Abstract

The invention provides a touch panel assembly. The touch panel comprises a touch panel module, a touch panel base and an abutting structural member. The touchpad module is arranged on the touchpad base and comprises a lever piece and a circuit board. The lever member is adhered to the circuit board. The circuit board comprises a trigger assembly. When the touchpad module is pressed, the lever piece is in contact with the trigger assembly. The abutting structural member is arranged in the touchpad base and abuts against the lever member. The abutment structures are separably and selectively mounted at a plurality of different locations in the touchpad base. Corresponding to the different positions, located in the touch pad base, of the abutting structural part, the abutting structural part abuts against different parts of the lever part, so that different pressing hand feelings are generated when the lever part makes contact with the trigger assembly.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a touchpad assembly, in particular, a touchpad assembly applied to a notebook computer. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the field of touchpad, the common design currently usually has a protrusion structure on the housing of the notebook computer to contact and trigger the switch assembly corresponding to the touch sensing. However, the position of the protrusion structure on the housing is fixed and cannot be adjusted, so the existing touchpad provides a fixed pressing feeling. Therefore, how to improve the existing touchpad to obtain a product with adjustable pressing feeling is the direction that practitioners in the field are committed to developing. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application aims to provide a novel touchpad assembly to achieve an adjustable pressing feeling from the aspect of changing the size of the support torque of the touchpad module.

[0004] According to an aspect of the present application, a touchpad assembly is provided, which includes a touchpad module, a touchpad base, and an abutting structure. The touchpad module is disposed on the touchpad base and includes a lever and a circuit board. The lever is adhered to the circuit board. The circuit board includes a trigger assembly. When the touchpad module is pressed, the lever contacts the trigger assembly. The abutting structure is disposed in the touchpad base and abuts the lever. The abutting structure is detachable and selectively installable in different positions in the touchpad base. Corresponding to the different positions of the abutting structure in the touchpad base, the abutting structure abuts different parts of the lever, so that the lever and the trigger assembly produce different pressing feelings when they contact.

[0005] In order to have a better understanding of the above and other aspects of the present application, the following embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1A is a perspective view of the bottom side of the touchpad module of the touchpad assembly of an embodiment;

[0007] Figure 1B is a perspective view of the opposite top side of the touchpad module of the touchpad assembly of an embodiment; Figure 2A is a perspective view of the touchpad base and the abutting structure of the touchpad assembly of an embodiment;

[0008] Figure 2B is Figure 2A is a partial enlarged view of the touchpad base and the abutting structure in

[0009] Figure 2C is Figure 2Aa partial enlarged view of the touchpad module in the touchpad assembly in

[0010] Figure 2D a perspective view of the abutting structure of the touchpad assembly in an embodiment;

[0011] Figure 3A is Figure 1B a partial side view of the touchpad module of the touchpad assembly in

[0012] Figure 3B is Figure 1A a partial side view of the touchpad module of the touchpad assembly in

[0013] Reference Signs:

[0014] 110: touchpad module

[0015] 111: lever member

[0016] 111P: flat portion

[0017] 111I: inclined portion

[0018] 112: circuit board

[0019] 112TE: trigger assembly

[0020] 112EE: electronic assembly

[0021] 113: support bar member

[0022] 113P: protruding structure

[0023] 113PS: surface

[0024] 114U: upper support member

[0025] 114L: lower support member

[0026] 115: flexible sheet member

[0027] 120: touchpad base

[0028] 120H: mounting hole

[0029] 120H1, 120H2, 120H3: housing portion

[0030] 120R: base fixing hole

[0031] 130: abutting structure

[0032] 130H: through hole

[0033] 130T: top section portion

[0034] 130M: middle section portion

[0035] 130B: bottom section portion

[0036] 130BU: upper bottom section portion

[0037] 130BL: lower bottom section portion

[0038] A1, A2, B1, B2: local areas

[0039] Z: hollowed-out area DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The present application can be widely practiced in other embodiments in addition to the embodiments described below, and any easy substitution, modification, equivalent change of the embodiments described below is included in the scope of the present application, and is subject to the previous claims. In addition, well-known steps or components are not described in detail to avoid unnecessary limitations of the present application. Also, unless otherwise specified, the same components in different drawings are considered as corresponding components.

[0041] Reference will now be made to Figures 1A-1B , Figures 1A-1B Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a touchpad module 110 of a touchpad assembly according to an embodiment of the present application, wherein Figure 1A Fig. 1A is a bottom view illustrating the touchpad module 110 of Fig. 1, and Figure 1B Fig. 1B is a top view illustrating the touchpad module 110 of Fig. 1.

[0042] The touchpad assembly according to an embodiment of the present application can be applied to a notebook computer having a tactile sensing function for a user's operation such as cursor control or pressing. The touchpad assembly can include the touchpad module 110. The touchpad module 110 can include a lever member 111, a circuit board 112, a support bar member 113, supports (which can be divided into an upper support member 114U and a lower support member 114L), and a flexible sheet member 115. The lever member 111, the support bar member 113, the upper support member 114U, and the lower support member 114L are adhered to the circuit board 112, particularly through the flexible sheet member 115. The flexible sheet member 115 can be designed to have adhesion only at portions where the lever member 111, the support bar member 113, the upper support member 114U, and the lower support member 114L are connected to the circuit board 112, and can have no adhesion at other portions. The contact surface between the flexible sheet member 115 and the circuit board 112 can have adhesion at all portions except for regions of opposite faces of the lever member 111 and the support bar member 113, i.e., the lever member 111 and the support bar member 113 can be swung on the circuit board 112. For example, the flexible sheet member 115 can be a Mylar double-sided tape.

[0043] The circuit board 112 is, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB), and includes a trigger element 112TE and an electronic component 112EE. The trigger element 112TE is, for example, a metal dome that functions as a push switch. The lever 111 is, for example, a metal component. When the touchpad module 110 is pressed, the lever 111 contacts the trigger element 112TE, triggering the corresponding touch function. The upper support member 114U is positioned above the electronic component 112EE, or rather, the electronic component 112EE is contained within the area defined by the inner edge of the upper support member 114U. The lower support member 114L is positioned above the lever member 111, or rather, the lever member 111 is contained within the area defined by the inner edge of the lower support member 114L. The upper support member 114U and the lower support member 114L can be made of, for example, a metal material, which provides structural rigidity to the touchpad module 110 and protects the electronic component 112EE and the lever member 111 within the structure.

[0044] Please also refer to Figures 2A to 2D. Figure 2A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a touchpad base 120 and abutting structure 130 of a touchpad assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2B An enlarged view of the touch panel base 120 and the local areas B1 and B2 of the abutting structure 130 is shown. Figure 2C An enlarged view of the mounting hole 120H of the touchpad base 120 is shown. Figure 2D A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the abutting structure 130 is shown.

[0045] The touch panel assembly may further include a touch panel base 120 and abutting structure 130. The touch panel module 110 may be disposed on the touch panel base 120. Specifically, the touch panel module 110 may be disposed on the touch panel base 120. Figure 1BIn the shown state, the protruding portions formed on both sides of the lower support member 114L are first placed into the corresponding grooves of the touchpad base 120, so as to prevent the touchpad module 110 from protruding above the upper surface of the touchpad base 120, and thereby cover the touchpad base 120 in a manner that the bottom side of the touchpad module 110 faces the touchpad base 120. In detail, the protruding portions formed on both sides of the lower support member 114L can be elastic bodies, so as to prevent the touchpad module 110 from being lifted upward after being placed into the touchpad base 120. The touchpad base 120 can be made of, for example, a plastic material or a metal alloy, and is suitable for being mounted on the parts of a notebook computer that are commonly referred to as C-piece and D-piece. The touchpad base 120 can be designed to have a hollowed-out region Z, and when the touchpad module 110 is arranged on the touchpad base 120, the electronic components 112EE of the circuit board 112 can be arranged in the hollowed-out region Z, so as to reduce the overall thickness of the touchpad assembly, and thereby achieve product thinning. In addition, the touchpad base 120 can have base fixing holes 120R. In the present embodiment, the number of base fixing holes 120R is designed to be three, and the base fixing holes 120R are arranged on the upper side of the touchpad base 120.

[0046] The abutting structure 130 can be arranged in the touchpad base 120. The abutting structure 130 is made of, for example, a rubber material. When the touchpad module 110 is arranged on the touchpad base 120, the abutting structure 130 abuts against the lever member 111. In the present embodiment, the number of abutting structures 130 is designed to be two, and the abutting structures 130 can be arranged on both sides of the touchpad base 120, so as to provide abutting support for the two protruding end portions 111P of the lever member 111. The touchpad base 120 has mounting holes 120H corresponding to the abutting structures 130, and the abutting structures 130 can be held in the mounting holes 120H. The mounting holes 120H can have a plurality of receiving portions, such as the receiving portion 120H1, the receiving portion 120H2, and the receiving portion 120H3. The receiving portion 120H1, the receiving portion 120H2, and the receiving portion 120H3 can be arranged along the extension direction of the protruding end portions 111P. The abutting structures 130 can be separated and selectively mounted in the receiving portion 120H1, the receiving portion 120H2, or the receiving portion 120H3, so as to change the abutting position of the protruding end portions 111P of the lever member 111.

[0047] That is, the abutting structures 130 can be separated and selectively mounted in a plurality of different positions in the touchpad base 120 (such as being held in the receiving portion 120H1, the receiving portion 120H2, or the receiving portion 120H3 as needed), and corresponding to the different positions of the abutting structures 130 in the touchpad base 120, the abutting structures 130 and the lever member 111 have different abutting positions, thereby generating different force arm lengths and different torque sizes, so that the lever member 111 and the trigger assembly 112TE can generate different pressing feelings when they are in contact.

[0048] The abutting member 130 has a top section 130T, a middle section 130M, and a bottom section 130B, with the middle section 130M being connected between the top section 130T and the bottom section 130B. The bottom section 130B can include an upper bottom section 130BU and a lower bottom section 130BL, with the lower bottom section 130BL being smaller in size than the upper bottom section 130BU to facilitate insertion of the abutting member 130 into the mounting hole 120H from the bottom. The top section 130T is adapted to abut against the lever member 111, i.e., as an abutting surface of the abutting member 130 to contact the protruding end portion 111P of the lever member 111. With regard to the manner in which the abutting member 130 is disposed in the touchpad base 120, the abutting member 130 can be inserted into the mounting hole 120H parallel to the extension direction of the mounting hole 120H, and then rotated substantially 90 degrees after the bottom section 130B is passed through the mounting hole 120H, at which time the middle section 130M of the abutting member 130 is adapted to be secured in one of the receiving portions 120H1-120H3, and the top section 130T is exposed above the mounting hole 120H.

[0049] By having the middle section 130M smaller in size than the top section 130T and the bottom section 130B, the abutting member 130 can be stably positioned in the mounting hole 120H. In detail, in a lateral orientation (e.g., perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the receiving portions 120H1-120H3), the width of the top section 130T is greater than the width of the bottom section 130B, and the width of the bottom section 130B is greater than the width of the middle section 130M. In addition, the abutting member 130 can be designed to have a through hole 130H between the middle section 130M and the upper bottom section 130BU of the bottom section 130B, which can provide a deformation flexibility for the middle section 130M when being rotated to be secured in one of the receiving portions 120H1-120H3, to make the installation of the abutting member 130 more smooth.

[0050] Please also refer to FIGS. 3A-3B, Figure 3A depicting Figure 1B a side view of the partial region A2 of the touchpad module 110 in FIGS. 3A-3B, and Figure 3B depicting Figure 1A a side view of the partial region A1 of the touchpad module 110 in FIGS. 3A-3B.

[0051] In side view, the lever member 111 can have a flat portion 111P and an inclined portion 1111 connected, wherein the flat portion 111P and the inclined portion 1111 are not parallel and have an included angle, i.e. the lever member 111 is a broken line member. The inclined portion 1111 is adhered to the circuit board 112 by the flexible sheet member 115. The flat portion 111P is spaced from the flexible sheet member 115 and the circuit board 112. When the touchpad module 110 is not pressed, there is a gap between the flat portion 111P and the trigger component 112TE of the circuit board 112, and when the touchpad module 110 is pressed, the flat portion 111P is in contact with the trigger component 112TE to trigger the corresponding touch control function.

[0052] When the touchpad module 110 is arranged on the touchpad base 120, the abutting structure 130 in the touchpad base 120 can abut against the flat portion 111P of the lever member 111. In the embodiment, the abutting structure 130 can abut against the flat portion 111P formed at both ends of the lever member 111 as shown in the figure. In detail, corresponding to different positions of the abutting structure 130 in the touchpad base 120 (such as being held in the accommodation portion 120H1, the accommodation portion 120H2 or the accommodation portion 120H3), the abutting structure 130 and the flat portion 111P correspondingly have different abutting positions to form different moment sizes, so that the lever member 111 can produce different pressing feelings when it is in contact with the trigger component 112TE. Figure 1A

[0053] Specifically, the abutting structure 130 and the flat portion 111P can have an abutting section CA, when the abutting position between the abutting structure 130 and the flat portion 111P within the abutting section CA is closer to the inclined portion 1111 (for example, the abutting structure 130 is located in the accommodation portion 120H1), the moment formed by the inclined portion 1111 adhered to the circuit board 112 as a fulcrum is smaller, so the touchpad assembly provides a heavier pressing feeling. Conversely, when the abutting position between the abutting structure 130 and the flat portion 111P within the abutting section CA is farther away from the inclined portion 1111 (for example, the abutting structure 130 is located in the accommodation portion 120H3), the moment formed by the inclined portion 1111 adhered to the circuit board 112 as a fulcrum is larger, so the touchpad assembly provides a lighter pressing feeling. In addition, when the abutting position between the abutting structure 130 and the flat portion 111P within the abutting section CA is between the middle of the flat portion 111P (for example, the abutting structure 130 is located in the accommodation portion 120H2), the moment formed by the inclined portion 1111 adhered to the circuit board 112 as a fulcrum is moderate, so the touchpad assembly provides a moderate pressing feeling.

[0054] In addition, corresponding to the abutting structure 130 being located in the accommodation portion 120H1, the accommodation portion 120H2 or the accommodation portion 120H3, the touchpad base 120 can have a corresponding accommodation portion 120H1, an accommodation portion 120H2 or an accommodation portion 120H3 to accommodate the abutting structure 130. Figure 2A ​The base fixing holes 120R of the touchpad base 120 shown can have a plurality of protruding structures 113P, each of which corresponds to a base fixing hole 120R. When the touchpad module 110 is arranged on the touchpad base 120, the protruding structures 113P can be inserted into the base fixing holes 120R to fix the touchpad module 110 to the touchpad base 120. For example, the protruding structures 113P can be engaged with the base fixing holes 120R; or, the protruding structures 113P can be screwed to the base fixing holes 120R, for example, a screw hole can be designed on the surface 113PS of the protruding structure 113P, which can be screwed to the base fixing hole 120R according to the actual fixing requirement.

[0055] According to the above, the touchpad module of the touchpad assembly of the embodiments of the present application can provide support feedback when the touchpad module is pressed by using the abutting structure arranged in the touchpad base. Further, the abutting structure can be detachably and selectively arranged in different positions of the touchpad base. According to the different positions of the abutting structure in the touchpad base, the abutting structure and the lever of the touchpad module have different abutting positions, so that the lever can produce different pressing feelings when the lever contacts the trigger assembly, thereby adjusting the pressing feedback of the touchpad module to achieve more balanced operation of the touchpad assembly.

[0056] Although the present application has been disclosed with the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A touchpad assembly, comprising: a touchpad module, including a lever member and a circuit board, the lever member adhering to the circuit board, the circuit board including a trigger assembly, the lever member contacting the trigger assembly when the touchpad module is pressed; a touchpad base, the touchpad module being disposed on the touchpad base; and an abutting structure, disposed in the touchpad base and abutting the lever member, the abutting structure being detachable and selectively mountable in different positions in the touchpad base; wherein, corresponding to the abutting structure being in the different positions in the touchpad base, the abutting structure and the lever member have different abutting positions therebetween, so that the lever member and the trigger assembly have different pressing feelings when the lever member contacts the trigger assembly.

2. The touchpad assembly of claim 1, wherein, wherein the touchpad base has a mounting hole corresponding to the abutting structure, the mounting hole having a plurality of receiving portions, the abutting structure being adapted to be held in each of the receiving portions.

3. The touchpad assembly of claim 2, wherein, wherein the abutting structure has a top section, a middle section and a bottom section, the middle section being connected between the top section and the bottom section, the top section being adapted to abut the lever member, the bottom section being adapted to be rotated after being passed through the mounting hole, the middle section being adapted to be clamped in one of the receiving portions, and the top section being exposed on the mounting hole.

4. The touch panel assembly according to claim 3, wherein: wherein, in a transverse orientation, the width of the top section is greater than the width of the bottom section, and the width of the bottom section is greater than the width of the middle section.

5. The touchpad assembly of claim 1, wherein, wherein the touchpad module includes a support strip adhering to the circuit board, the touchpad base has a base fixing hole, the support strip has a protruding structure corresponding to the base fixing hole, and the protruding structure is passed through the base fixing hole when the touchpad module is disposed on the touchpad base.

6. The touchpad assembly of claim 5, wherein, wherein the protruding structure is clamped and fixed in the base fixing hole.

7. The touchpad assembly of claim 5, wherein, wherein the protruding structure is screwed to the base fixing hole.

8. The touchpad assembly of claim 1, wherein, wherein the circuit board includes an electronic assembly, the touchpad base has a hollow area, and the electronic assembly is passed through the hollow area when the touchpad module is disposed on the touchpad base.

9. The touchpad assembly of claim 1, wherein, in a side view, the lever member has a flat section and an inclined section connected thereto, the inclined section adhering to the circuit board, the abutting structure abutting the flat section, and corresponding to the abutting structure being in the different positions in the touchpad base, the abutting structure and the flat section have different abutting positions therebetween.

10. The touch panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein: wherein the abutting structure is made of rubber material.

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