US 11,837,416 B2
Electronic device including key button
Heecheul Moon, Suwon-si (KR); Kwonho Son, Suwon-si (KR); Sangyoup Seok, Suwon-si (KR); and Byounguk Yoon, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Jan. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/152,161.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0012792 (KR), filed on Feb. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0241984 A1, Aug. 5, 2021
Int. Cl. H01H 13/14 (2006.01); H01H 13/86 (2006.01); H01H 13/06 (2006.01); H05K 5/00 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); H05K 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 13/14 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1626 (2013.01); H01H 13/06 (2013.01); H01H 13/86 (2013.01); H05K 5/0017 (2013.01); H05K 5/061 (2013.01); H01H 2221/08 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing comprising an outer surface configured to at least partially form an external appearance of the electronic device, a button accommodation recess having a predetermined depth from the outer surface in a first direction oriented to an inner space of the electronic device, and at least one through-hole connected to an inner surface of the housing in the button accommodation recess;
a key button disposed through the button accommodation recess, the key button comprising a key top inserted into the button accommodation recess and at least partially exposed to an outside, and a key base coupled to the key top and comprising a protrusion facing a key flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) disposed in the inner space through the at least one through-hole; and
a waterproof member disposed between the key FPCB and the inner surface of the housing to be in close contact therewith,
wherein the protrusion comprises an engagement portion formed at an end thereof to be larger than the protrusion,
wherein, after the protrusion passes through the at least one through-hole, the engagement portion is engaged with the inner surface around the at least one through-hole,
wherein the waterproof member is configured to seal a periphery of the at least one through-hole, and
wherein the key FPCB is configured to perform a switching operation through pressing of the waterproof member by the protrusion and the engagement portion.
 
16. An electronic device comprising:
a front cover;
a rear cover facing away from the front cover;
a side frame connecting the front cover and the rear cover, the side frame comprising an outer surface configured to at least partially form an external appearance of the electronic device, a button accommodation recess having a predetermined depth from the outer surface in a first direction oriented to an inner space of the electronic device, and at least one through-hole connected to an inner surface of the side frame in the button accommodation recess;
a key button disposed through the button accommodation recess, the key button comprising a key top inserted into the button accommodation recess and at least partially exposed to an outside, and a key base coupled to the key top and comprising a protrusion facing a key flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) disposed in the inner space through the at least one through-hole; and
a waterproof member disposed between the key FPCB and the inner surface of the side frame to be in close contact therewith,
wherein the protrusion comprises an engagement portion having a first inclined surface,
wherein the at least one through-hole comprises a second inclined surface,
wherein, when the protrusion passes through the at least one through-hole, the first inclined surface of the engagement portion is engaged with the second inclined surface,
wherein the waterproof member is configured to seal a periphery of the at least one through-hole, and
wherein the key FPCB is configured to perform a switching operation through which the protrusion and the engagement portion press the waterproof member.
 
19. An electronic device comprising:
a front cover;
a rear cover facing away from the front cover;
a side frame connecting the front cover and the rear cover, the side frame comprising an outer surface configured to at least partially form an external appearance of the electronic device, a button accommodation recess having a predetermined depth from the outer surface in a first direction oriented to an inner space of the electronic device, and at least one through-hole connected to an inner surface of the side frame in the button accommodation recess;
a key button disposed through the button accommodation recess, the key button comprising a key top inserted into the button accommodation recess and at least partially exposed to an outside, and a key base coupled to the key top and comprising a protrusion facing a key flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) disposed in the inner space through the at least one through-hole, wherein the protrusion comprises an engagement portion formed at an end thereof to be larger than the protrusion, and after the protrusion passes through the at least one through-hole, the engagement portion is engaged with the inner surface around the at least one through-hole; and
a waterproof member disposed between the key FPCB and the inner surface of the side frame to be in close contact therewith, the waterproof member being configured to seal a periphery of the at least one through-hole comprising the engagement portion and a periphery of a dome key.