Nested Side Button Structure for Thin Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The sensitivity issues and failure prone nature of virtual side buttons in electronic devices, particularly in mobile phones, negatively impact user experience and hinder the reduction of device thickness due to increased middle frame size.
Innovation Solution
A button design featuring an inner button integrated into an outer button, with flush side edges and reduced width, ensuring reliable connection and minimizing overall width, thereby reducing the thickness of the electronic device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a virtual side button is used to reduce the middle frame size, then the device thickness is reduced, but the button sensitivity decreases and failure rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner button is nested within the outer button, with the inner button's end built into the outer button. This nested structure allows the button assembly to occupy minimal space while maintaining a complete button structure with both an outer casing and an inner functional element, thereby reducing the middle frame size without sacrificing button reliability and sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer button and inner button are merged into a single integrated assembly where the inner button is disposed on the back surface of the outer button and partially built into it. This merging creates a compact unit that functions as a complete button while minimizing the overall width and thickness, allowing reduction of the middle frame size while maintaining button functionality.
2Length of moving object
If the button width is reduced to minimize middle frame impact, then the device becomes thinner, but the button structure becomes more compact and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The button is segmented into two distinct parts: an outer button and an inner button. The outer button includes a pressing surface and back surface, while the inner button includes a function part. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured separately with standard processes, then assembled together, making the compact design easier to manufacture than a fully integrated small button.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner button is nested within the outer button structure, with at least a part of the inner button's end built into the outer button. This nesting arrangement maximizes space utilization, allowing the button assembly to achieve minimal width while maintaining proper structure and functionality, and the modular nested design facilitates manufacturing and assembly.
3Reliability
If the inner button is totally built into the outer button to ensure reliability, then the connection is more secure, but the manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
At least a part of the end of the inner button close to the outer button is built into the outer button, creating a nested connection that provides reliable mechanical coupling. This partial building-in approach ensures the inner button remains securely connected to the outer button while avoiding the complexity of complete integration, balancing reliability with manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner button is disposed on the back surface of the outer button, utilizing the thickness dimension rather than only the width dimension for connection. This dimensional approach allows the inner button to be securely connected to the outer button through the thickness direction, ensuring reliability while maintaining a compact width and simplifying the overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a button, at least a part of an end of an inner button close to an outer button is built into the outer button, the inner button is disposed on a back surface of the outer button, a size of the outer button in a width direction of the button is the same as a size of at least a part of a function part of the inner button in the width direction of the button, one outer side wall of the outer button in a length direction of the button is flush to one outer side wall of the function part in the length direction of the button, and the other outer side wall of the outer button in the length direction of the button is flush to the other outer side wall of the function part in the length direction of the button.