Backlight touch key

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of man-machine interaction of electronic equipment, and particularly discloses a backlight touch key. The backlight touch key comprises a shell and a plurality of key assemblies, each key assembly comprises a key unit and a touch conduction unit, and each key unit is provided with a first end and a second end which are opposite to each other; the first end is embedded in the shell, the key unit penetrates through the touch conduction unit, the outer surface of the touch conduction unit is provided with a capacitive sensing surface, the capacitive sensing surface is attached to the shell, and the relative position of the shell and the touch conduction unit is fixed. According to the backlight touch key, the specific structure is improved, so that high integration of the structure and simplification of the manufacturing process are realized while the backlight uniformity and the induction sensitivity are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of human-computer interaction technology for electronic devices, and in particular to backlit touch buttons. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of human-computer interaction interfaces for electronic devices, touch buttons have become widely used in smart home control panels, automotive central control systems, and industrial automation control equipment due to their advantages such as convenient operation, simple interface, and ease of waterproofing and dustproofing. In practical applications, especially in low-light or nighttime environments, backlighting has become an important factor in enhancing the user experience. Therefore, backlit touch buttons have become a key technology in current human-computer interaction design.

[0003] Currently, common backlit touch button structures in existing technologies typically employ spray painting and laser engraving processes to treat the button surface. Backlighting is achieved by setting specific backlit symbol areas on the button unit. Simultaneously, to achieve light guiding, a light guide layer made of PET film is usually placed inside or on the back of the button, with light guide dots printed on the light guide layer to achieve uniform light distribution. Furthermore, touch sensing functions often use PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) or FPCs (Flexible Printed Circuits) as the substrate, achieving touch detection through capacitive sensing.

[0004] However, this traditional structure has several technical bottlenecks. First, the spray painting and laser engraving processes are complex and have a low yield rate, resulting in high manufacturing costs. Second, the way the PET film light guide layer is combined with the printed dots is prone to problems such as light decay and uneven brightness during long-term use, affecting the consistency and aesthetics of the backlight effect. Furthermore, the capacitive touch layer is usually independently set in the button structure, and its assembly relationship with the shell and light guide structure is relatively loose. This makes it prone to unstable sensing signals due to structural misalignment or vibration, leading to unpleasant user experiences such as accidental touches or slow response. In addition, the traditional structure has numerous components and complex assembly processes, which is not conducive to achieving automated production and cost control.

[0005] More importantly, in existing technologies, backlighting and touch sensing functions are often designed and integrated as two independent modules, lacking organic integration at the structural level. This not only increases the complexity of the overall structure but also limits the development trend of product miniaturization and high integration. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a backlit touch button that, while ensuring backlight uniformity and sensitivity, achieves a high degree of structural integration and simplifies the manufacturing process.

[0007] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] A backlit touch button includes a housing and several button components. Each button component includes a button unit and a touch conduction unit. The button unit has a first end and a second end facing each other. The first end is embedded in the housing. The button unit passes through the touch conduction unit. The outer surface of the touch conduction unit has a capacitive sensing surface. The capacitive sensing surface is attached to the housing, and the relative position of the housing and the touch conduction unit is fixed.

[0009] As an optional technical solution for the backlit touch button, the backlit touch button also includes a PCB board and a light guide plate. The housing, the PCB board and the light guide plate are stacked in sequence. The touch conduction unit is disposed on the PCB board and the second end is fixed to the light guide plate.

[0010] As an optional technical solution for backlit touch buttons, the button unit and the light guide plate are integrally injection molded.

[0011] As an optional technical solution for backlit touch buttons, the touch conduction unit includes a touch conduction ring and an LED connected to the touch conduction ring. The capacitive sensing surface is disposed on the touch conduction ring, the touch conduction ring is disposed on the side of the PCB board near the outer casing, and the LED is disposed on the side of the PCB board near the light guide plate.

[0012] As an optional technical solution for backlit touch buttons, the touch conduction ring is embedded on the surface of the PCB board, and the surface of the PCB board near the outer casing is flush with the capacitive sensing surface.

[0013] As an optional technical solution for backlit touch buttons, the touch conduction ring is printed on the surface of the PCB board.

[0014] As an optional technical solution for backlit touch buttons, the lamp bead is an LED lamp.

[0015] As an optional technical solution for the backlit touch button, the backlit touch button also includes several locking components, which are used to lock and fix the housing, the PCB board and the light guide plate.

[0016] As an optional technical solution for backlit touch buttons, the locking component includes a bolt, the bolt's shank passing through the light guide plate and the PCB board, and screwed onto the housing.

[0017] As an optional technical solution for backlit touch buttons, the plate surface of the housing away from the second end is flush with the end surface of the first end.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0019] This backlit touch button embeds the first end of the button unit within the housing, ensuring stable fixation. By forming an interlocking structure with the touch conduction unit and fixing their relative positions to the housing, the accuracy of the sensing area and the consistency of the backlight direction are ensured, resulting in a compact structural layout. The outer surface of the touch conduction unit has a capacitive sensing surface that adheres to the housing surface. Fixing the relative position of the capacitive sensing surface to the housing ensures stable touch signal acquisition, sensitive touch response, and prevents false triggering due to structural looseness, thus achieving stable and reliable capacitive sensing functionality. The overall structure of the backlit touch button avoids the wear and tear problems caused by physical pressing of traditional mechanical buttons, improving product lifespan and providing a more modern user interaction method for electronic devices. Furthermore, these structural improvements not only enhance the response sensitivity and reliability of the backlit touch button but also achieve a high degree of integration between backlighting and touch functions, significantly reducing the number of components and assembly steps, simplifying the assembly process, lowering overall manufacturing costs, and enhancing sensing sensitivity and the stability of the backlight guide path. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the backlit touch button provided in an embodiment of the present invention from a first-view perspective;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the backlit touch button provided in an embodiment of the present invention from a second-view perspective;

[0022] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the backlit touch button provided in this embodiment of the present invention from a first-view perspective;

[0023] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the backlit touch button provided in this embodiment of the present invention from a second perspective.

[0024] In the picture:

[0025] 100. Outer casing; 101. Receiving through hole;

[0026] 200, PCB board; 201, clearance through-hole; 202, touch conduction ring; 210, LED chip; 220, connector;

[0027] 310. Light guide plate; 320. Button unit. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solution of this utility model will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0029] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this utility model and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. The terms "first position" and "second position" refer to two different positions. Moreover, "above," "on top of," and "over" the first feature in relation to the second feature includes the first feature directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "under," and "below" the first feature in relation to the second feature includes the first feature directly below and diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0032] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, this embodiment provides a backlit touch button, including a housing 100 and several button components. The button components include a button unit 320 and a touch conduction unit. The button unit 320 has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end is embedded in the housing 100. The button unit 320 passes through the touch conduction unit. The outer surface of the touch conduction unit has a capacitive sensing surface. The capacitive sensing surface is attached to the housing 100, and the relative position of the housing 100 and the touch conduction unit is fixed.

[0033] This backlit touch button embeds the first end of the button unit 320 within the housing 100, ensuring its stable fixation. By forming an interlocking structure with the touch conduction unit and fixing their relative positions to the housing 100, the accuracy of the sensing area and the consistency of the backlight direction are ensured, resulting in a compact structural layout. The outer surface of the touch conduction unit has a capacitive sensing surface that adheres to the surface of the housing 100. Fixing the relative position of the capacitive sensing surface to the housing 100 ensures stable touch signal acquisition, sensitive touch response, and prevents false triggering due to structural looseness, thus achieving stable and reliable capacitive sensing functionality. The overall structure of the backlit touch button avoids the wear and tear problems caused by physical pressing of traditional mechanical buttons, improving product lifespan and providing a more modern user interaction method for electronic devices. Moreover, the aforementioned structural improvements not only enhance the responsiveness and reliability of the backlit touch buttons, but also achieve a high degree of integration between backlight and touch functions, significantly reducing the number of components and assembly steps, simplifying the assembly process, lowering the overall manufacturing cost, and enhancing the sensitivity and stability of the backlight guide path.

[0034] In this embodiment, the capacitive sensing surface works by detecting changes in capacitance between electrodes to achieve non-contact detection. When a human body (such as a finger) approaches the capacitive sensing surface composed of two sets of electrodes through the outer shell 100, the human body, as a conductor, alters the original electric field distribution, causing a change in the coupling capacitance between the electrodes. This change is converted into an electrical signal by the detection circuit, which is then processed by the microcontroller to identify the approach or contact state of the target object. In industrial applications, this technology has been maturely applied in touchscreens, button detection, and material defect detection, achieving multi-dimensional detection through multi-electrode collaborative scanning and dynamic excitation mode switching. Therefore, the capacitive sensing surface is a conventional structure in the field, and its working principle and operation are common knowledge in the field. Furthermore, the capacitive sensing surface is not the focus of this embodiment and will not be elaborated upon further.

[0035] For example, each button unit 320 has a different shape, and the button unit 320 conveys information to the user through its shape. The specific shape of the button unit 320 and the information it indicates are common knowledge in the art and are well known to those skilled in the art. Moreover, the specific structure of the button unit 320 is not the focus of this embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0036] In this embodiment, the outer shell 100 has a through hole 101. The number of through holes 101 is the same as the number of button units 320 and they correspond one-to-one. The first end of each button unit 320 can be matched and installed in a through hole 101.

[0037] In this embodiment, the backlit touch button also includes a PCB board 200 and a light guide plate 310. The housing 100, the PCB board 200 and the light guide plate 310 are stacked in sequence. The touch conduction unit is disposed on the PCB board 200 and its second end is fixed to the light guide plate 310.

[0038] The outer casing 100, PCB board 200, and light guide plate 310 are stacked sequentially to form a well-defined structural system with clear functional zones. The touch conduction unit is located on the PCB board 200, ensuring the integration and standardization of the capacitive sensing module. The second end of the button unit 320 is fixed to the light guide plate 310, making the backlight path of the button assembly more direct, the light transmission efficiency higher, reducing light loss, and ensuring the uniformity and consistency of backlight brightness. This achieves the linkage between the light guide plate 310 and the button assembly, further improving backlight efficiency and structural stability.

[0039] The aforementioned structural design significantly reduces issues such as light leakage and dark areas caused by gaps or assembly errors in traditional multi-layer button structures. It also makes the overall structure more robust, improving the product's optical performance and structural reliability. Furthermore, the layered structure reduces the need for additional supports and fixing devices found in traditional structures, enhancing the overall compactness and stability, facilitating later maintenance and replacement, increasing the product's flexibility and maintainability in practical applications, and reducing overall manufacturing costs and assembly complexity.

[0040] Specifically, PCB board 200 is a capacitor-type PCB board. Capacitor-type PCB boards are a conventional structure in this field, and their working principle and specific structure are common knowledge in this field, so they will not be elaborated here.

[0041] The PCB board 200 has through holes 201. The number of through holes 201 is the same as the number of touch conductive rings 202 and they correspond one-to-one. Each through hole 201 is coaxially set with a touch conductive ring 202, and each button unit 320 passes through a through hole 201.

[0042] The PCB board 200 is electrically connected to a connector 220, through which external components supply power to the PCB board 200. The specific structure and working principle of the connector 220 are well known to those skilled in the art, and the specific structure of the connector 220 is not the focus of this embodiment, so it will not be described in detail here.

[0043] Furthermore, the button unit 320 and the light guide plate 310 are integrally injection molded.

[0044] Employing a one-piece injection molding process, the button unit 320 and light guide plate 310 are structurally integrated, completely eliminating the existing method of separately manufacturing and assembling button symbols and light guide components. This simplifies the production process, reduces assembly difficulty and cost, and significantly improves production efficiency. Furthermore, the one-piece structure avoids defects such as gaps, misalignments, and light leakage that may occur in traditional spliced ​​structures, thus significantly improving the uniformity of backlighting and the overall appearance quality. In addition, the one-piece structure enhances the integrity and uniformity of the light guide path, improving the visual experience of the backlighting effect. It also increases the structural strength of the backlit touch buttons, ensuring that the button unit 320 is not easily deformed during long-term use, reducing production costs and assembly difficulty, and improving product consistency and lifespan. Simultaneously, since no additional light guide structure design is required, the overall mold design is simplified, making it suitable for mass production.

[0045] In this embodiment, the touch conduction unit includes a touch conduction ring 202 and an LED bead 210 that is communicatively connected to the touch conduction ring 202. The capacitive sensing surface is disposed on the touch conduction ring 202. The touch conduction ring 202 is disposed on the side of the PCB board 200 near the outer shell 100, and the LED bead 210 is disposed on the side of the PCB board 200 near the light guide plate 310, forming a three-in-one structural system of "sensing, emitting light and guiding light".

[0046] By placing the touch conduction ring 202 and the LED bead 210 on opposite sides of the PCB board 200, capacitive sensing and backlighting functions can be integrated onto the PCB board 200. This efficient use of space layout achieves effective separation of sensing and backlighting, avoids interference, and completes a highly integrated design. The surface of the touch conduction ring 202 forms a capacitive sensing surface, enabling rapid response and accurate recognition of user touch actions. The LED bead 210 provides a light source for the light guide structure, transmitting light to the light guide plate 310, and then evenly conducting it to the button unit 320, resulting in a more uniform and softer backlighting effect. The PCB board 200, as the core supporting structure, integrates the capacitive sensing surface and the light source, significantly reducing overall complexity. The rational layout of the touch conduction ring 202 also effectively avoids electromagnetic interference, improves the stability and anti-interference capability of electronic signals, and enhances the overall structural compactness and functionality.

[0047] Furthermore, the touch conduction ring 202 is embedded on the surface of the PCB board 200, and the surface of the PCB board 200 near the outer casing 100 is flush with the capacitive sensing surface.

[0048] The design of embedding the touch conduction ring 202 on the surface of the PCB board 200 and flush with the capacitive sensing surface makes the PCB board 200 structure flatter, ensuring a seamless fit between the touch sensing area and the contact surface of the housing 100. This avoids inconsistent feel or accidental touches caused by raised structures, improves the consistency and sensitivity of the operator's finger and the capacitive sensing surface, ensures the stability and accuracy of touch control, and enhances sensing precision and user experience. The above design effectively avoids accidental touches or sensing delays caused by excessive gaps, while also enhancing the overall aesthetics of the structure.

[0049] Furthermore, the touch conduction ring 202 is printed on the surface of the PCB board 200.

[0050] By using a printing process to form a touch contact ring 202 on the surface of the PCB board 200, manufacturing efficiency is improved, material costs and process complexity are reduced, the bonding strength between the ring and the PCB board 200 is enhanced, the feasibility and consistency of mass production are improved, and contact problems caused by soldering or insertion are prevented. The printed touch contact ring 202 enables high-precision positioning and consistent production, making it suitable for large-scale mass production. This method replaces the use of traditional metal contacts or independent sensing modules, further simplifying the PCB manufacturing process and improving the overall system stability.

[0051] In addition, the printed conductive rings can be flexibly adjusted in shape and size according to design requirements, which enhances the freedom of product design and is conducive to achieving differentiated product design.

[0052] In this embodiment, the lamp bead 210 is an LED lamp.

[0053] Using LEDs as the backlight fully leverages their advantages such as low power consumption, high brightness, long lifespan, and fast response. The use of LEDs not only improves the energy efficiency ratio of the backlight system but also, due to their small size and ease of integration, makes the overall structure more compact, facilitating miniaturization of the device. Furthermore, the rich colors and high adjustability of LED light sources provide the product with richer visual expression, enhancing the user's interactive experience. Combined with the integrated structure of the light guide plate 310, the light from the LED source can be efficiently guided to the button unit 320, achieving an efficient and uniform backlight effect. The choice of LEDs not only improves the overall reliability of the product but also facilitates compatibility with existing electronic control systems, enhancing the product's market adaptability and scalability.

[0054] For example, the backlit touch button also includes several locking components for locking and fixing the housing 100, PCB board 200 and light guide plate 310.

[0055] By incorporating locking components, the housing 100, PCB board 200, and light guide plate 310 of the entire backlit touch button are locked and secured, ensuring the stability and sealing of the connections between each structural layer. This design effectively prevents structural loosening or failure caused by vibration, temperature changes, or external forces during use, thereby improving the overall mechanical strength and service life of the product and making it suitable for various complex working environments.

[0056] Furthermore, the locking component includes a bolt, the shank of which passes through the light guide plate 310 and the PCB board 200 and is screwed to the housing 100.

[0057] Bolts are used as locking components, with their screws passing sequentially through the light guide plate 310 and the PCB board 200 before being screwed onto the housing 100, forming a locking structure. This method ensures structural stability while facilitating disassembly and maintenance, improving the convenience of after-sales service and upgrades, and extending the product's lifespan. Simultaneously, this connection method avoids the impact of externally visible screws on the product's appearance, enhancing the structure's aesthetics and neatness. Furthermore, the tightening effect of the bolts further enhances the fit between the light guide plate 310 and the PCB board 200, further improving light transmission efficiency and reducing light loss.

[0058] In this embodiment, the plate surface of the outer casing 100 away from the second end is flush with the end surface of the first end.

[0059] By making the surface of the outer casing 100 furthest from the second end flush with the end face of the button unit 320 at the first end, the exposed portion of the button unit 320 is flush with the surface of the outer casing 100, creating a clean and unified appearance. This design not only improves aesthetics and tactile comfort but also avoids the risk of foreign objects getting stuck or accidental presses, enhancing operational comfort and safety, and improving the product's industrial design aesthetics and user experience. Furthermore, the flush design avoids the problems of dust accumulation and accidental presses caused by traditional buttons protruding from the surface of the outer casing 100, improving dustproof and waterproof performance, and facilitating cleaning and maintenance.

[0060] The aforementioned backlit touch buttons are not only suitable for backlit button designs in consumer electronics products (such as smartphones, laptops, and smart home appliances), but can also be extended to automotive electronics, industrial control panels, medical devices, and other fields. They have broad application potential, especially in scenarios that require high reliability, low cost, and a good human-computer interaction experience.

[0061] Furthermore, this technology can be combined with flexible circuit boards, multi-layer sensing structures, optical sensors, and other technologies to further expand its application space in cutting-edge fields such as intelligent surface interaction, mechanical buttonless design, and flexible backlight panels.

[0062] Obviously, the above embodiments of this utility model are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present utility model, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present utility model. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A backlit touch button, characterized in that, The device includes a housing (100) and several button assemblies. The button assemblies include button units (320) and touch conduction units. The button units (320) have opposing first and second ends. The first end is embedded in the housing (100). The button units (320) pass through the touch conduction units. The outer surface of the touch conduction units has a capacitive sensing surface. The capacitive sensing surface is attached to the housing (100), and the relative position of the housing (100) and the touch conduction units is fixed.

2. The backlit touch button according to claim 1, characterized in that, The backlit touch button also includes a PCB board (200) and a light guide plate (310). The housing (100), the PCB board (200) and the light guide plate (310) are stacked in sequence. The touch conduction unit is disposed on the PCB board (200) and the second end is fixed to the light guide plate (310).

3. The backlit touch button according to claim 2, characterized in that, The button unit (320) and the light guide plate (310) are integrally injection molded.

4. The backlit touch button according to claim 2, characterized in that, The touch conduction unit includes a touch conduction ring (202) and an LED (210) connected to the touch conduction ring (202). The capacitive sensing surface is disposed on the touch conduction ring (202). The touch conduction ring (202) is disposed on the side of the PCB board (200) near the outer shell (100). The LED (210) is disposed on the side of the PCB board (200) near the light guide plate (310).

5. The backlit touch button according to claim 4, characterized in that, The touch conduction ring (202) is embedded on the surface of the PCB board (200), and the surface of the PCB board (200) near the outer shell (100) is flush with the capacitive sensing surface.

6. The backlit touch button according to claim 5, characterized in that, The touch conduction ring (202) is printed on the surface of the PCB board (200).

7. The backlit touch button according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lamp bead (210) is an LED lamp.

8. The backlit touch button according to claim 2, characterized in that, The backlit touch button also includes several locking components, which are used to lock and fix the housing (100), the PCB board (200) and the light guide plate (310).

9. The backlit touch button according to claim 8, characterized in that, The locking component includes a bolt, the shank of which passes through the light guide plate (310) and the PCB board (200) and is screwed to the housing (100).

10. The backlit touch button according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The outer shell (100) has a plate surface away from the second end that is flush with the end surface of the first end.

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