U.S. Pat. No. 10,857,453

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 5, a button assembly100and a game controller200in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown. The game controller200includes the button assembly100. The button assembly100adapted for being mounted in the game controller200, includes a pedestal1, a pressure sensor module2and a key cap3.

The pedestal1has a circular base portion101. A peripheral surface of the base portion101of the pedestal1has a plurality of arc-shaped limiting blocks111, so that a middle of the pedestal1has an accommodating groove11penetrating upward through a top surface of the middle of the pedestal1and the accommodating groove11is surrounded by the plurality of the limiting blocks111. In the preferred embodiment, two opposite sides of the peripheral surface of the base portion101protrude outward and then extend upward to form two arc-shaped limiting blocks111, so that the middle of the pedestal1has the accommodating groove11penetrating upward through the top surface of the middle of the pedestal1and surrounded by the two limiting blocks111.

Two opposite sides of the pedestal1have two limiting portions12oppositely protruded outward. The two opposite sides of the peripheral surface of the base portion101extend oppositely outward to form the two limiting portions12connected with two opposite sides of two outer surfaces of the two limiting blocks111away from each other, respectively. Each limiting portion12has a lower extending portion121extending outward from one side of the base portion101. Tail ends of the lower extending portions121of the two limiting portions12open two limiting holes122. Two sides of the two limiting portions12protrude oppositely outward to form two propping blocks123. Outer sides of top surfaces of the two propping blocks123are recessed downward to form two locking grooves124. The base portion101opens a fastening hole13vertically penetrating through the base portion101. A bottom of the base portion101protrudes downward to form a hollow fixing pillar16. A middle of the fixing pillar16opens a fixing hole161corresponding to a middle of the fastening hole13and communicated with the fastening hole13.

The pressure sensor module2is mounted in the accommodating groove11of the pedestal1. A top of the pressure sensor module2has a circular soft material sensor21. The pressure sensor module2has a fastening portion23, and a first capacitor22extended outward from one side of the fastening portion23. The pressure sensor module2includes the circular soft material sensor21mounted on a middle of a top of the fastening portion23. A portion of a periphery of the fastening portion23protrudes outward to form a locating portion24. Two opposite sides of the locating portion24extend beyond two opposite sides of the soft material sensor21. Two free ends of the two limiting blocks111adjacent to the locating portion24gradually approach each other and are spaced from each other to form a locating groove102between the two free ends of the two limiting blocks111adjacent to the locating portion24. The locating portion24is positioned in and located in the locating groove102.

With reference toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the key cap3is covered on the pressure sensor module2. A bottom surface of the key cap3has a contact portion31contacting with the pressure sensor module2. Two opposite sides of the key cap3have two active portions32protruded outward. The key cap3has an elliptical main portion33. A bottom surface of the main portion33has the contact portion31matched with the soft material sensor21. The contact portion31contacts with a top surface of the soft material sensor21. Two opposite sides of the main portion33protrude outward to form the two active portions32. The two active portions32are mounted to the two limiting portions12, respectively. The two active portions32are capable of moving upward and downward in the two limiting portions12. In processes of pressing and releasing the key cap3, the two active portions32move downward and upward with respect to the two limiting portions12. The two active portions32are movably inserted downward into the two limiting holes122.

The two active portions32have two upper extending portions321extended oppositely outward from the two sides of the main portion33. The two upper extending portions321are disposed above the two lower extending portions121of the two limiting portions12. Bottoms of two free ends of the two upper extending portions321protrude downward to form two protruding blocks322. The two protruding blocks322are disposed corresponding to the two limiting holes122, respectively. Bottoms of outer surfaces of the two protruding blocks322protrude oppositely outward to form two stopping blocks323. When the key cap3is assembled to the pressure sensor module2and the pedestal1, the two protruding blocks322penetrate downward through the two limiting holes122, respectively. Top surfaces of the two stopping blocks323abut against bottom surfaces of the two lower extending portions121of the two limiting portions12.

Because the button assembly100uses the soft material sensor21, a sensing sensitivity of the pressure sensor module2is higher than sensing sensitivities of a flexible printed circuit board and a pressure sensing component. When a user presses the pressure sensor module2, pressure values are easily caused to be overly changed, so the pressure sensor module2of the button assembly100in accordance with the present invention is assembled in and between the pedestal1and the key cap3. When the key cap3of the button assembly100is pressed by the user, the soft material sensor21shows a sunken status, the two protruding blocks322pass through the two limiting holes122and move downward along the two limiting holes122respectively to make the two upper extending portions321move downward, so that the user proceeds a downward pressed action on the key cap3.

Because the soft material sensor21has an elasticity, when the user presses a portion of the key cap3, a part of the soft material sensor21corresponding to the portion of the key cap3is pressed downward by the key cap3, at the moment, the part of the soft material sensor21corresponding to the portion of the key cap3will generate a sunken area on account of the soft material sensor21bearing a force exerted by the key cap3, at the moment, the sunken area of the soft material sensor21will generate an upward resilience due to the elasticity of the soft material sensor21. Specifically, when the user presses a portion of the main portion33of the key cap3, a portion of the soft material sensor21corresponding to the portion of the main portion33of the key cap3is pressed downward by the key cap3, at the moment, the portion of the soft material sensor21corresponding to the portion of the main portion33of the key cap3will generate the sunken area on account of the soft material sensor21bearing the force exerted by the key cap3, at the moment, the sunken area of the soft material sensor21will generate the upward resilience due to the elasticity of the soft material sensor21.

When the key cap3of the button assembly100is released, the soft material sensor21which shows the sunken status will rebound upward to return to an original status so as to push upward the contact portion31and make the two protruding blocks322of the two upper extending portions321move upward along the two limiting holes122, and then the key cap3is returned to an initial status. At the moment, the top surfaces of the two stopping blocks323abut against the bottom surfaces of the two lower extending portions121of the two limiting portions12for offsetting the upward resilience generated by the soft material sensor21to steadily maintain the key cap3in the initial status, so a pressed action of the button assembly100is completed.

With reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 6, the button assembly100in accordance with the present invention is applied in the game controller200. The game controller200includes an outer shell4, a circuit board5, a fastening frame6and a top cover7.

The outer shell4is of a hollow rectangular shape. A top of the outer shell4is opened freely and communicated with an outside. The outer shell4has an accommodating space41penetrating through a top of the outer shell4and communicated with the outside. The fastening frame6is mounted under the button assembly100. The circuit board5is mounted under the fastening frame6and the button assembly100. The circuit board5and the fastening frame6together with the button assembly100are disposed in the accommodating space41of the outer shell4. An inner surface of a bottom of the outer shell4protrudes upward to form a protruding pillar42projecting into the accommodating space41. A middle of a top surface of the protruding pillar42is recessed downward to form a fastening groove43. The fastening groove43of the protruding pillar42is corresponding to the fixing hole161and the fastening hole13.

The circuit board5is assembled in the outer shell4. The circuit board5has a connecting hole51. A bottom surface of the circuit board5is equipped with a second capacitor52. The fastening frame6is mounted on the circuit board5and is mounted in the outer shell4. The fastening frame6has a rectangular main board65. Top surfaces of two opposite sides of the main board65protrude upward to form two U-shaped restricting portions61. Mouths of the two restricting portions61face each other. The two restricting portions61are disposed corresponding to the two limiting portions12. Inner surfaces of upper portions of the two restricting portions61protrude inward to form two resisting blocks62. In the preferred embodiment, an inner surface of an upper portion of one side of one restricting portion61protrudes inward to form one resisting block62. An inner surface of an upper portion of one side of the other restricting portion61facing to the other side of the one restricting portion61protrudes inward to form the other resisting block62.

The two opposite sides of the main board65open two active holes63vertically penetrating through the two opposite sides of the main board65. The two active holes63are surrounded by the two restricting portions61, respectively. A substantial middle of the fastening frame6opens a locating hole64corresponding to and communicated with the connecting hole51. The protruding pillar42passes upward through the connecting hole51and the locating hole64. One side of the fastening frame6opens a guiding groove66vertically penetrating through the fastening frame6. The top cover7is covered on the outer shell4, and the top cover7covers the button assembly100, the circuit board5and the fastening frame6which are mounted in the outer shell4. A middle of the top cover7opens an elliptical opening71vertically penetrating through the top cover7. The opening71is disposed corresponding to the button assembly100. Specifically, the opening71is corresponding to the key cap3.

The button assembly100is assembled in the game controller200. The fixing hole161and the middle of the fastening hole13of the pedestal1are corresponding to the fastening groove43. The game controller200further includes a fastening element8. The fastening element8passes through and is fastened in the fastening hole13, the fixing hole161and the fastening groove43of the protruding pillar42passing upward through the connecting hole51. The first capacitor22is bent downward and passes through the guiding groove66, and then is bent towards the second capacitor52, a tail end of the first capacitor22is connected with the second capacitor52. The two limiting portions12are assembled in the two restricting portions61, respectively.

The outer sides of the top surfaces of the two propping blocks123are located under the two resisting blocks62of the two restricting portions61, respectively. The two resisting blocks62are received in the two locking grooves124, respectively, so that the two limiting portions12are limited by the two resisting blocks62and the pedestal1is fastened on the fastening frame6. The two limiting holes122are corresponding to the two active holes63. Lower portions of the two protruding blocks322penetrate through the two limiting holes122and the two active holes63, respectively. When the button assembly100is pressed by the user, the two limiting holes122and the two active holes63allow the two protruding blocks322to move upward and downward in the game controller200. The top cover7is covered on the outer shell4. The top cover7covers the circuit board5, the fastening frame6which are mounted in the outer shell4, and the button assembly100. The key cap3is exposed outside from the opening71. So the button assembly100is assembled in the game controller200.

The pressure sensor module2and the key cap3of the button assembly100are assembled to form a combination module9. The combination module9is mounted on the pedestal1. The combination module9is capable of being assembled to other structures of which each is matched with the combination module9, so the button assembly100in accordance with the present invention is without being limited to the above-mentioned detailed description disclosed in the preferred embodiment.

As described above, the button assembly100is capable of being pressed by virtue of the two limiting portions12and the two active portions32being disposed among the pedestal1, the pressure sensor module2and the key cap3, and furthermore, the pressure sensor module2and the key cap3of the button assembly100are assembled to form the combination module9, the combination module9is mounted on the pedestal1, so that the button assembly100reaches a modular requirement, the button assembly100applied in the game controller200may be easily detected and changed, and the combination module9is flexibly able to be assembled to or changed in the other structures of which each is matched with the combination module9. In addition, when the user presses the modular button assembly100, a pressing force is transmitted to the pressure sensor module2through the key cap3, comparing the modular button assembly100with a button assembly of the conventional game controller, the modular button assembly100has fewer accumulated tolerances and a higher sensing sensitivity in use.