EP4278436A1 - Ensemble bouton haptique et clavier contenant un tel ensemble bouton - Google Patents

Ensemble bouton haptique et clavier contenant un tel ensemble bouton

Info

Publication number
EP4278436A1
EP4278436A1 EP21700557.8A EP21700557A EP4278436A1 EP 4278436 A1 EP4278436 A1 EP 4278436A1 EP 21700557 A EP21700557 A EP 21700557A EP 4278436 A1 EP4278436 A1 EP 4278436A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
button
dome shaped
shaped member
assembly according
elastomeric
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21700557.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Marek WO NIAK
Leszek KWIECIE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Merit Automotive Electronics Systems SL
Original Assignee
Merit Automotive Electronics Systems SL
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merit Automotive Electronics Systems SL filed Critical Merit Automotive Electronics Systems SL
Publication of EP4278436A1 publication Critical patent/EP4278436A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
    • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
    • H03K17/965—Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch
    • H03K17/975—Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch using a capacitive movable element
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2239/00—Miscellaneous
    • H01H2239/006—Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
    • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
    • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
    • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
    • H03K2217/960755—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
    • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
    • H03K2217/965—Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch
    • H03K2217/9651—Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch the moving element acting on a force, e.g. pressure sensitive element

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a to a haptic button assembly, in particular for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising a housing, at least one button held in the housing and apt to be moved in the activation direction along an activation axis, at least one elastomeric dome shaped member disposed beneath the button having a chamber and an activating surface disposed within the chamber, wherein the elastomeric dome shaped member normally maintains an extended equilibrium position and buckles, while the button is pressed contributing to the tactile response of the button by providing at least one local maximum of the force with regard to the button stroke, and an electric switch corresponding to said button and cooperating with said activating surface.
  • the present invention also relates to a keypad comprising a number of such button assemblies.
  • Button assemblies of this kind are commonly used in consumer devices to provide a distinct tactile response of the button.
  • the activating surface is covered with a conductive layer and maintained at certain non-zero-distance over a printed circuit board (PCB) held in the housing.
  • PCB printed circuit board
  • strain energy stored in the elastomeric dome shaped member during its deformation is released forcing it to return to its equilibrium, inactive position along with the button.
  • Capacitive switches operating on the basis of measuring changes in electrical capacitance between two capacitive regions are devoid of the aforementioned drawbacks. Yet their haptic response is limited.
  • Patent publication US6914785B1 discloses a circuit component having an elastically deformable first structure, a second structure, and a support structure coupling the first and second structures, wherein the support structure acts a fulcrum about which the first structure can be variably deformed in response to a variable force, to provide either a variable capacitor or a variable tank circuit having a variable capacitor and an inductor.
  • the circuit component includes a zipper actuator for elastically deforming the first structure.
  • Patent publication US2013299331 discloses a dome switch that includes a capacitive sensor.
  • a dome switch can include a dome operative to deform to provide tactile feedback to a user.
  • the region underneath the dome can define a free space separating conductive regions forming a capacitor.
  • a tip of the dome, a button placed between the dome and a circuit board, or a user's finger can form a first conductor of a capacitor, and a support structure for the dome can include a terminal forming a second conductor completing the capacitor.
  • the distance between the conductors can change and provide a measurable capacitance variation, which the device can detect.
  • a button assembly comprising stacked metal and elastomeric domes is disclosed in patent publication US9012795.
  • the stacking of the elastomeric metal domes takes advantage of the abrupt force drop in the metal dome buckling and applies it to the elastomeric dome force, making it possible to design a low-travel key while still maintaining or improving the tactile feeling of the key switch.
  • the invention provides a button assembly of the kind mentioned in the outset which is characterised in that said electric switch is defined by at least one first capacitive region formed on a first member and separated along the axis from at least one second capacitive region formed on a second member disposed beneath the activating surface of the dome shaped member, wherein said second member is capable of being deflected or displaced under the pressure of the activating surface when the button is being pressed, wherein displacement of said second member further contributes to the tactile response of the button, and the change of the capacitance between said capacitive regions indicates the state of the button.
  • the elastomeric dome shaped member is devoid of its mechanical, electrical contact activation function and is responsible solely for the haptic response of the button assembly. This also reduces the cost of the assembly as the relatively expensive conductive layers are no longer necessary.
  • the assembly is resistant to contamination by liquids or solids, burn outs and debouncing phenomenon, what extends its service life. The elimination of short circuiting positively affects the design of other electrical components of the assembly.
  • the tactile response felt by user pressing the button can be shaped and fine-tuned to a large extent by modification of materials, number and geometry of the elastomeric dome shaped member, as well as materials, geometry of said second displaceable or deflectable member.
  • the assembly is particularly advantageous to implement a short stroke tactile response providing versatile digital tuning options for adjusting the point of the button activation.
  • said second member has a form of a metal plate.
  • said second member is deflectable or biased by a spring.
  • said elastomeric dome shaped member has an activating projection terminated with said activating surface.
  • said second member can be preloaded by said activating projection in an extended equilibrium position of the elastomeric dome shaped member.
  • said activating surface is curved and preferably spherical.
  • said elastomeric dome shaped member is formed in an elastomeric sheet, wherein said at least one first capacitive region and said at least one second capacitive region are located on the opposite sides of said elastomeric sheet.
  • the elastomeric sheet serves as a dielectric layer of the capacitive switch.
  • said first member is provided with an opening surrounding the dome shaped member.
  • said first member has a form of a printed circuit board.
  • said elastomeric dome shaped member is provided with a light guide.
  • buttons can be disposed beneath the elastomeric dome shaped members to illuminate the buttons.
  • the invention also provides a keypad comprising a number of button assemblies defined above. Brief description of drawings
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic axonometric and exploded view of an embodiment of the button assembly (Fig. 1a as seen from the top, Fig. 1b as seen from the bottom);
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button assembly shown in Fig. 1 (Fig. 2a in an inactive, standby state, Fig. 2b upon activation);
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the elastomeric dome shaped member
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of subsequent embodiment of the elastomeric dome shaped member
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the elastomeric dome shaped member
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the button assembly upon activation
  • Fig. 7 is a schematic axonometric view of an elastomeric sheet and a metal plate of the button assembly shown in Fig. 1 and 2 (Fig. 7a in an inactive, standby state, Fig. 7b upon activation);
  • Fig. 8 is a schematic axonometric view of a metal plate of the button assembly shown in Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 9 is a schematic axonometric view of another embodiment of a metal plate illustrating additional light sources to illuminate the buttons;
  • Fig. 10 is a force vs. displacement characteristic of a typical elastomeric dome shaped member
  • Fig. 11 outlines force vs. displacement characteristics of two embodiments of the haptic button assemblies of the present invention.
  • buttons 3a and 3b are held in the housing 2 apt to be moved axially in the activation direction along an activation axis A.
  • Each button 3 cooperates with an elastomeric dome shaped member 51 disposed beneath the button 3.
  • the geometry of the member 51 ensures that it normally maintains an expanded state due to elastic forces and thus maintains an inactive state of the button 3.
  • Each dome shaped member 51 defines a chamber 52 and has an activating surface 53 disposed within the chamber 52.
  • two pairs of the elastomeric dome shaped members 51a and 51b corresponding respectively to the buttons 3a and 3b are shaped in a single elastomeric sheet 5.
  • each elastomeric dome shaped member 51 cooperates with an electric capacitive switch defined by a first capacitive region 41 formed on a first, immovable member 4 and separated along the axis A from a second capacitive region 61 formed on a second member 6 disposed beneath the activating surface 53 of the dome shaped member 51 and capable of being displaced under the pressure of the activating surface 53 as a result of a user pressing the button 3.
  • the elastomeric sheet 5 works additionally as a dielectric separator between the capacitive regions 41 and 61 and its thickness influences the referential capacitance of the electric capacitive switch 41 , 61 .
  • the first, still member 4 has a form of a printed circuit board (PCB) fixed between the housing bottom 23 and the housing body 22 and provided with openings 42 surrounding the dome shaped members 51.
  • the first capacitive regions 41a and 41b have a form of a circular conductive rings printed around the openings 42a and 42b on the PCB 4 surface adjoining the elastomeric sheet 5.
  • the second member 6 has a form of a metal plate 6 held in the housing bottom 23.
  • the second capacitive regions 61a and 61b are the areas of the plate 6 located beneath the activating surfaces 53a and 53b and capable of deflection while pressed.
  • the metal plate 6 (and thus also the second capacitive regions 61a and 61b) is common for all two buttons 3a and 3b.
  • the metal plate is made of spring stainless steel and has a thickness of about 0.2 mm. It is also provided with four connecting surfaces 64 that are soldered to the corresponding connecting surfaces 43 of the PCB.
  • the metal plate 6 further comprises three pairs of shaped projections 62 supporting it within the housing bottom 23 and remains deflectable between each pair of projections 62 and each pair of connecting surfaces 64.
  • the housing bottom 23 on the other hand comprises four three-element sets of supporting protrusions 24, each set corresponding to one dome shaped member 51.
  • Each protrusion 24 passes through an opening 63 in the metal plate and supports the PCB 4.
  • the elastomeric sheet 5 passes through an opening 63 in the metal plate and supports the PCB 4.
  • the elastomeric sheet 5 is provided with bridges 54 defining gaps 55 around the dome shaped members 51 .
  • the metal plate 6 presses the elastomeric sheet 5 to the PCB 4 compensating any mechanical imperfections within the assembly 1 .
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the functionality of the button assembly 1.a
  • the distance between the capacitive regions 41 and 61 is small and defined by the thickness of the elastomeric sheet 5.
  • the elastomeric dome shaped member 51 b returns to its equilibrium position illustrated in Fig. 2a decreasing the distance between the capacitive regions 41 and 61 to minimum.
  • the button assembly 1a is a digital system and for its operation requires an electronic control unit (not shown) that can be conveniently installed at the PCB 4 and connected with the first capacitive regions 41a, 41b and the metal plate 6a defining the second capacitive regions 61a, 61b to measure the capacitance and provide appropriate output to further systems (not shown) controlled by the button assembly 1a. Skilled technician shall appreciate that this output can be Boolean (button_off/button_on), as well as continuous, indicating the stroke of the buttons 3a, 3b even if not entirely pressed.
  • Various embodiments of the dome shaped members 51c, 51 d and 51 e are shown in Figs. 3-5. The member 51c shown in Fig.
  • the dome shaped member could have no activating projection 56 at all.
  • the member 51 d shown in Fig. 4 has an activating projection 56 extending below the metal layer 5 and thus normally preloading it at the stroke S 5 .
  • the member 51 e has an activating projection 56 terminated with a spherical activating surface 53 which improves angular activation in direction slanted with regard to the activation axis A.
  • the activating projection 56 of the member 51 e is provided with a light guide 57 that can be used to illuminate the buttons by light sources disposed beneath the second capacitive region 61 (cf. Fig. 9).
  • Fig. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the button assembly 1 b in which a first capacitive region 41 is disposed beneath a second capacitive region 61 and formed on the top surface of the PCB 4 held within the housing 2.
  • the second capacitive region 61 is formed on a plastic, displaceable second member 6 biased by a spring 9 positioned on a dielectric member 7 separating the PCB 4 and the second member 6.
  • the capacitance C between the capacitive regions 41 and 61 increases with the button 3c stroke.
  • FIG. 9 Another embodiment of a metal plate 6b is shown in Fig. 9.
  • the metal plate 6b is flat and each second capacitive region 61a, 61b is provided with linear cutouts 65 extending radially from its centre, where the force can be applied by the activating surface 53, so that the regions between the adjoining cutouts 65 can freely deflect. Furthermore the cutouts 65 allow light transmission through the plate 6b, so that additional light sources 8 (such as LEDs) can be used to illuminate the buttons.
  • additional light sources 8 such as LEDs
  • the elastomeric dome shaped members 51 should be transparent or provided with light guides 57, as in the embodiment 51 e shown in Fig. 5.
  • Fig. 10 schematically illustrates a graph of reaction force of an exemplary elastomeric dome shaped member, of a geometry corresponding to the dome shaped member 51c shown in Fig. 3, when used in a contact switch known from the state of art, as a function of its stroke (displacement along the activation axis). As shown the elastomeric dome provides a buildup of the force from zero to a local maximum Fi at certain stroke Si.
  • Fig. 11 outlines the tactile feel that would be experienced by a user pressing the button of the present invention and provided with the dome shaped member 51 b (ST, S 2 ’, FT, F 2 ’) shown in Fig. 3 and the dome shaped member 51c (ST’, S2”, FT’, F 2 ”) shown in Fig. 4.
  • the haptic properties of the button assembly according to the invention is achieved from amplifying nonlinear haptic properties of the dome shaped member 51b, 51c with substantially linear haptic of the metal plate.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un ensemble bouton haptique, comprenant un boîtier, au moins un bouton maintenu dans le boîtier et apte à être déplacé dans la direction d'activation, au moins un élément en forme de dôme élastomère disposé sous le bouton ayant une surface d'activation, l'élément en forme de dôme élastomère maintenant normalement une position d'équilibre étendue et se déformant, tandis que le bouton est pressé contribuant à la réponse tactile du bouton, et un commutateur électrique correspondant audit bouton et coopérant avec ladite surface d'activation.
EP21700557.8A 2021-01-13 2021-01-13 Ensemble bouton haptique et clavier contenant un tel ensemble bouton Pending EP4278436A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2021/050550 WO2022152371A1 (fr) 2021-01-13 2021-01-13 Ensemble bouton haptique et clavier contenant un tel ensemble bouton

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4278436A1 true EP4278436A1 (fr) 2023-11-22

Family

ID=74186702

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21700557.8A Pending EP4278436A1 (fr) 2021-01-13 2021-01-13 Ensemble bouton haptique et clavier contenant un tel ensemble bouton

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4278436A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2022152371A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4500758A (en) * 1983-07-05 1985-02-19 Hewlett-Packard Company Keyboard switch assembly having sensory feedback
JP4295883B2 (ja) * 1999-12-13 2009-07-15 株式会社ワコー 力検出装置
US6914785B1 (en) 2002-10-11 2005-07-05 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Variable electronic circuit component
US8674941B2 (en) * 2008-12-16 2014-03-18 Dell Products, Lp Systems and methods for implementing haptics for pressure sensitive keyboards
DE102009032634A1 (de) * 2009-07-10 2011-01-13 Trw Automotive Electronics & Components Gmbh Tastschalter mit kapazitiver Tastenerkennung
US9012795B2 (en) 2010-02-24 2015-04-21 Apple Inc. Stacked metal and elastomeric dome for key switch
US8450627B2 (en) 2010-04-01 2013-05-28 Apple Inc. Capacitive dome switch
WO2016125216A1 (fr) * 2015-02-04 2016-08-11 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 Dispositif d'entrée, et appareil électronique mettant celui-ci en œuvre

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2022152371A1 (fr) 2022-07-21

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