CN218069693U - Switch module - Google Patents

Abstract

A switch module comprises a circuit board, two terminal assemblies and a switch assembly. Each terminal assembly comprises a base part, an elastic structure and at least two positioning parts. The elastic structure and the two positioning parts are connected to the base part. The two positioning parts are respectively positioned on two opposite sides of the elastic structure and positioned on the circuit board. The switch component is configured on the circuit board and is provided with two pins. The two pins respectively correspond to the two terminal assemblies, and the elastic structure of each terminal assembly contacts with the corresponding pin.

Description

Switch module

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a switch module, and more particularly, to a switch module having a terminal assembly.

Background

In modern times of electronic technology popularization, work and entertainment often require electronic input devices (e.g., keyboards) to input various commands and data to electronic computing devices (e.g., computers). Some keyboard switch assemblies have two pins electrically connected to the circuit board through two terminals of a connector on the circuit board. However, in the design of the conventional connector, the two terminals are fixed to the fixing member (e.g. plastic member) and then soldered to the circuit board, which not only complicates the manufacturing process but also increases the manufacturing cost. In addition, since the two terminals of the connector are fixed to the fixing member, the distance between the terminals cannot be changed, and once the switch assembly has different pin positions, the original connector cannot be applied. That is, when the pin positions of the switch components are designed differently, a corresponding connector needs to be developed separately, which results in unnecessary development resources and manpower consumption.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model provides a switch module can save manufacturing cost, and applicable in the switch module who has different stitch positions.

The utility model discloses a switch module includes circuit board, two terminal subassembly and switch module. Each terminal assembly comprises a base part, an elastic structure and at least two positioning parts. The elastic structure and the two positioning parts are connected to the base part. The two positioning parts are respectively positioned on two opposite sides of the elastic structure and positioned on the circuit board. The switch component is configured on the circuit board and is provided with two pins. The two pins respectively correspond to the two terminal assemblies, and the elastic structure of each terminal assembly contacts the corresponding pin.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic structure includes two clamping portions, and each pin is clamped between the two clamping portions.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the clamping portions includes a connecting section and an elastic section, the connecting section is connected between the base portion and the elastic section, and the elastic section contacts the corresponding pin.

In an embodiment of the invention, an extending direction of the elastic section is inclined to an extending direction of each pin.

In an embodiment of the invention, the elastic section has a connecting end and a free end, the connecting end is connected to the connecting section, and a distance between the elastic section of one clamping portion and the elastic section of the other clamping portion decreases from the connecting end to the free end.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the two terminal assemblies are separated from each other.

In an embodiment of the invention, the two positioning portions include at least two folding walls, and a thickness direction of one folding wall is perpendicular to a thickness direction of the other folding wall.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the base portion has two opposite second edges and two opposite first edges, and the elastic structure is connected to the two first edges.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the base portion has two opposite second sides and two opposite first sides, and the elastic structure is connected to the two second sides.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the two positioning portions are respectively connected to the two second edges.

In an embodiment of the invention, one of the positioning portions is adjacent to one of the first edges, and the other positioning portion is adjacent to the other of the first edges.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the two positioning portions include at least two folding walls, and a thickness direction of the at least one folding wall is not parallel to the first edge and the second edge.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the two positioning portions include three positioning portions, one positioning portion is located at one side of the elastic structure and connected to a second edge, and the other two positioning portions are located at the other side of the elastic structure and connected to the two first edges respectively.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the base has a slot, and the slot pair is located on the corresponding pin.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the circuit board has at least two positioning slots, and the positioning portions are respectively inserted into the positioning slots.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the one positioning portion limits the base portion to move along a first direction, and the other positioning portion limits the base portion to move along a second direction, the first direction is parallel to a length direction of the one positioning groove, and the second direction is parallel to a length direction of the other positioning groove and perpendicular to the first direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal assembly includes at least one extending portion, and the extending portion is connected between the base portion and the positioning portion and extends in a direction away from the base portion.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the extension portion is greater than the width of the base portion.

In view of the above, in the switch module of the present invention, the two terminal assemblies are respectively positioned on the circuit board by the positioning portions thereof, and the two terminal assemblies are not first fixed on the fixing member and then assembled to the circuit board together. Therefore, the configuration of the fixing piece is omitted, the process can be effectively simplified, the manufacturing cost is saved, the relative positions of the two terminal assemblies can be flexibly adjusted, the switch assembly with different pin relative positions is suitable, and the development cost is reduced.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side view of a switch module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the terminal assembly of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the switch module of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal assembly of a switch module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a terminal assembly of a switch module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a terminal assembly of a switch module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the switch module of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a switch module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the terminal assembly and switch assembly of fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the terminal assembly of fig. 8.

Description of reference numerals:

100. 100': switch module

110. 110A, 110': circuit board

112: opening(s)

114. 114A, 114B: locating slot

116: opening holes

120. 120A, 120B, 120C, 120': terminal assembly

122: base part

124: elastic structure

126. 126A, 126B, 126C, 126D: positioning part

128: extension part

132: slotting

142: clamping part

144: connecting section

146: elastic segment

146a: connecting end

146b: free end

180 switch assembly

182: stitch pin

184: convex part

A. B: length of

d. D: distance between two adjacent devices

L: length of

LE: first side

And SE: second side

W: width of

X1: a first direction

X2: the second direction

θ 1, θ 2, θ 3: included angle

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a side view of a switch module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 1, the switch module 100 of the present embodiment includes a circuit board 110, two terminal assemblies 120, and a switch assembly 180, wherein the switch assembly 180 is, for example, a mechanical switch for a keyboard, but the type of the switch assembly 180 is not limited thereto. The two terminal assemblies 120 are separated from each other and disposed on the circuit board 110, and each terminal assembly 120 includes at least two positioning portions 126, and is positioned on the circuit board 110 by the positioning portions 126. The switch assembly 180 has two pins 182, and the two pins 182 correspond to the two terminal assemblies 120 respectively. The switch assembly 180 is disposed on the circuit board 110 and electrically connected to the circuit board 110 by the two pins 182 contacting the two terminal assemblies 120. In the present embodiment, the two pins 182 of the switch assembly 180 are asymmetrically configured (i.e. have front and rear pins), and the two terminal assemblies 120 of the circuit board 110 are also asymmetrically configured, so as to achieve the fool-proof effect of contact conduction and assembly.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the terminal assembly of fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the switch module of fig. 1. Referring to fig. 1 to fig. 3, each terminal assembly 120 further includes a base 122 and a resilient structure 124. The base 122 is, for example, a rectangular plate and has two first sides LE opposite to each other and two second sides SE opposite to each other, but the base 122 may have other shapes such as a circular shape, an oval shape, or a trapezoidal shape, and the shape of the base 122 is not limited thereto. The elastic structure 124 is connected to the first side LE of the base 122 and includes two opposite clamping portions 142, and the two clamping portions 142 are not in contact with each other. The switch assembly 180 also has a boss 184. When the switch assembly 180 is disposed on the circuit board 110, the protrusion 184 extends into the opening 116 of the circuit board 110, each pin 182 extends into the corresponding terminal assembly 120, the elastic structure 124 of each terminal assembly 120 contacts the corresponding pin 182, and the pin 182 is clamped between the two corresponding clamping portions 142, so that the switch assembly 180 is stably disposed on the circuit board 110. In another embodiment, the elastic structure 124 may also be connected to the second side SE of the base portion 122 and include two opposite clamping portions 142, and the two clamping portions 142 are not in contact with each other.

Moreover, the elastic structure 124 and the pin 182 are made of conductive metal. Therefore, when the pins 182 are inserted into the corresponding terminal assemblies 120, the switch assembly 180 can be electrically connected to the circuit board 110 through the pins 182 and the elastic structures 124, so that the input signal of the switch assembly 180 can be smoothly transmitted to the circuit board 110.

In the present embodiment, each clamping portion 142 of the elastic structure 124 includes a connecting section 144 and an elastic section 146, and the connecting section 144 is connected between the base portion 122 and the elastic section 146. The elastic structure 124 is bent to extend from the first edge LE of the base 122 toward the switch assembly 180 to form a connecting section 144, and then bent to extend toward the base 122 to form an elastic section 146, wherein the extending direction of the elastic section 146 is inclined to the extending direction of the pin 182. When the pin 182 is inserted between the two clamping portions 142, the elastic section 146 of each clamping portion 142 contacts and is pressed by the corresponding pin 182, and is elastically deformed. Under the accumulated elastic potential energy, the elastic section 146 tightly abuts against the pin 182, so that the pin 182 is effectively clamped by the two clamping portions 142.

In detail, the elastic section 146 has a connection end 146a and a free end 146b, and the connection end 146a is connected to the connection section 144. The elastic section 146 of one clamping portion 142 of the elastic structure 124 is spaced from the elastic section 146 of the other clamping portion 142 by a distance D, the distance D decreases from the connecting end 146a to the free end 146b, and the minimum value of the distance D is smaller than the thickness of the pin 182. Thereby, the terminal assembly 120 can effectively clamp the pins 182. In addition, the free end 146b of the elastic section 146 is curved, for example, to prevent the free end 146b from scratching the surface of the pin 182.

In addition, the ratio of the length B of the elastic section 146 to the length a of the connecting section 144 is, for example, one third or one half, but the ratio of the length B to the length a is not limited thereto. The connecting section 144 and the elastic section 146 have an included angle θ 1 therebetween, and the included angle θ 1 is, for example, 35 to 45 degrees. The connecting section 144 and the base 122 have an included angle θ 2 therebetween, the included angle θ 2 is, for example, 85 to 90 degrees, but the angles between the included angle θ 1 and the included angle θ 2 are not limited thereto. Thereby, it can be ensured that the elastic section 146 of the terminal assembly 120 is well electrically connected to the pin 182 of the switch module 180.

In the present embodiment, the positioning portions 126 are, for example, folded walls, located on two opposite sides of the elastic structure 124 and substantially perpendicular to the base portion 122, and connected to the second side SE of the base portion 122 in a folded manner and extending toward the switch assembly 180. The terminal assembly 120 is positioned on the circuit board 110 by the positioning portion 126, and is electrically connected to the circuit in the circuit board 110 by the positioning portion 126. In detail, the circuit board 110 has at least two positioning slots 114 (four positioning slots 114 are shown in fig. 3), the positioning slots 114 respectively correspond to the positioning portions 126, and the number of the positioning slots 114 is equal to the number of the positioning portions 126. The positioning portions 126 are respectively inserted into the corresponding positioning slots 114 and then soldered to the circuit board 110. In this way, the terminal assembly 120 can be stably disposed on the front or back of the circuit board 110 and electrically connected to the circuit board. In the embodiment, the terminal assembly 120 positions the positioning portion 126 on the circuit board 110 by Surface Mount Technology (SMT), but the invention is not limited thereto.

The circuit board 110 of the present embodiment also has two openings 112. When the two terminal assemblies 120 are disposed on the circuit board 110, the elastic structure 124 of one terminal assembly 120 penetrates through one opening 112, and the elastic structure 124 of the other terminal assembly 120 penetrates through the other opening 112. The opening 112 penetrates through the front surface and the back surface of the circuit board 110, and the elastic structure 124 may penetrate through the opening 112 from the front surface of the circuit board 110, or may penetrate through the opening 112 from the back surface of the circuit board 110. That is, the terminal assembly 120 may be disposed on the front side of the circuit board 110 or on the back side of the circuit board 110 as required.

In addition, the base portion 122 of each terminal assembly 120 also has a slot 132, the slot 132 being aligned with a corresponding pin 182. When the terminal assembly 120 is disposed on the front surface of the circuit board 110, the elastic structure 124 penetrates through the opening 112 from the front surface of the circuit board 110, and the pins 182 are inserted through the slots 132 and clamped by the elastic structure 124. When the pin 182 is inserted into the two clamping portions 142, if the pin 182 is too long, it can pass through the slot 132 from one side of the circuit board 110 to the other side of the circuit board 110 without being blocked by the terminal assembly 120. The present invention does not limit the length of the pin 182, and it can have a shorter length without passing through the slot 132.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal assembly of a switch module according to another embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated embodiment of fig. 4 differs from the embodiment of fig. 2 in that in the terminal assembly 120A of fig. 4, one positioning portion 126A is located adjacent to one first edge LE on one second edge SE and abuts one first edge LE, and the other positioning portion 126A is located adjacent to the other first edge LE and abuts the other first edge LE on the other second edge SE. In other words, the two positioning portions 126A are located at diagonal positions of the base portion 122. The remaining configuration of the terminal assembly 120A is the same as or similar to the manner of positioning the terminal assembly 120 on the circuit board 110, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a terminal assembly 120B of a switch module 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated embodiment of fig. 5 differs from the embodiment of fig. 4 in that the terminal assembly 120B of fig. 5 also includes two more positioning portions 126B. The positioning portion 126B is a folded wall, substantially perpendicular to the base portion 122, and the thickness direction thereof is not parallel to the first edge LE and the second edge SE. The angle θ 3 between the positioning portion 126B and the first edge LE is, for example, 45 °, but the angle of the angle θ 3 is not limited thereto. The remaining configuration of the terminal assembly 120B is the same as or similar to the manner of positioning the terminal assembly 120B on the circuit board 110, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a terminal assembly 120C of a switch module 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the embodiment shown in fig. 6 and the embodiment shown in fig. 2 is that the terminal assembly 120C in fig. 6 includes one positioning portion 126C and two positioning portions 126D, the positioning portion 126C is located on one side of the elastic structure 124 and connected to one second edge SE of the base 122, and the other two positioning portions 126D are located on the other side of the elastic structure 124 and respectively connected to two first edges LE of the base 122. In detail, the positioning portions 126C extend perpendicularly from the second side SE toward the switch assembly 180, the positioning portions 126D extend perpendicularly from the first side LE toward the switch assembly 180, and the two positioning portions 126D are parallel to each other. The positioning portions 126C, 126D are folded walls, and the thickness direction of the positioning portion 126C is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the other positioning portion 126D. The remaining configuration of the terminal assembly 120C is the same as or similar to the manner of positioning the terminal assembly 120C on the circuit board 110, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the switch module of fig. 6. Referring to fig. 7, in detail, the circuit board 110A includes at least one positioning groove 114A and two positioning grooves 114B, and the two positioning grooves 114B are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the positioning groove 114A. The pair of positioning portions 126C are located in the positioning slots 114A, and the pair of positioning portions 126D are located in the pair of positioning slots 114B. When the terminal assembly 120C is disposed on the circuit board 110A, the positioning portion 126C can limit the base 122 to move toward the first direction X1, wherein the first direction X1 is parallel to the length direction of the positioning slot 114B. Furthermore, the positioning portion 126D can limit the base portion 122 to move toward the second direction X2, wherein the second direction X2 is parallel to the length direction of the positioning slot 114A. Therefore, the terminal structure can be prevented from moving due to the elasticity of the terminal structure when the terminal assembly is assembled to the circuit board.

In the above embodiments, the switch assembly 180 is pluggable to the terminal assembly 120, so that a user can replace the switch assembly 180 conveniently. The terminal assembly 120C shown in fig. 6 to 7 has three positioning portions, so that the terminal assembly 120C is positioned on the circuit board 110A more accurately, and the terminal assembly 120C is positioned on the circuit board 110A more stably, thereby preventing the terminal assembly from being loosened due to multiple plugging and unplugging. Similarly, the terminal assembly 120B of fig. 5 has four positioning portions, which further enables the terminal assembly 120B to be accurately and stably positioned on the circuit board 110, and avoids loosening caused by multiple plugging and unplugging.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a switch module according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the terminal assembly and switch assembly of fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the terminal assembly of fig. 8. The main difference between the switch module 100' of the embodiment shown in fig. 8 to 10 and the embodiment shown in fig. 6 is that one of the terminal assemblies 120' of the switch module 100' includes an extending portion 128, and the extending portion 128 is connected between the base portion 122 and one of the positioning portions 126D, extends in a direction parallel to the direction of the circuit board 110' away from the base portion 122, and has a distance D from the perpendicular direction of the circuit board 110 '. That is, the position of the positioning portion 126D is changed by the addition of the extension portion 128. Based on the position change of the positioning portion 126D, the position of the corresponding positioning slot 114B is changed.

As described above, the extension 128 is formed between the base 122 and the positioning portion 126D of the terminal assembly 120', and the length of the extension 128 can be determined according to the position of the electrical contact corresponding to the positioning portion 126D in the circuit board 110', so that the positioning portion 126D is directly connected to the electrical contact. In detail, the circuit board 110' may be configured with wires in the area corresponding to the terminal assembly 120' as required, and since the extending portion 128 of the terminal assembly 120' has a distance D perpendicular to the circuit board 110', the extending portion 128 is not in contact with the wires of the circuit board 110', and the positioning portion 126D may cross the wires and be connected to the electrical contacts corresponding to the positioning portion 126D. That is, the extension of the extension portion 128 can achieve the effect of bridging, so that it is not necessary to arrange a complicated circuit in the circuit board 110' and/or arrange more than two layers of circuits in the circuit board 110' for achieving the above purpose, and the design and manufacturing cost of the circuit board 110' can be greatly reduced.

Referring to fig. 9, in the present embodiment, for example, the length L of the extension portion 128 is greater than the width W of the base portion 122. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the extension portion 128 may be designed to have other lengths as required. In addition, the present invention does not limit the number and extending direction of the extending portions 128. For example, fig. 9 shows that only one extending portion 128 corresponding to one positioning portion 126D is formed on one terminal assembly 120, but the other positioning portion 126D and/or the positioning portion 126C of the terminal assembly 120 may also be formed with corresponding extending portions 128. In addition, the positioning portion 126C and/or the positioning portion 126D of the other terminal assembly 120 in fig. 9 may also be formed with corresponding extending portions 128. Also, the extending direction of each extending portion 128 may be determined according to design requirements. In fig. 2, 4-5 and other embodiments, the terminal assembly may also have the same or similar design as the aforementioned extension portion, which is not repeated herein.

In summary, in the switch module of the present invention, the two terminal assemblies are respectively positioned on the circuit board by the positioning portions thereof, and the two terminal assemblies are not first fixed to the fixing member and then assembled to the circuit board together. Therefore, the configuration of the fixing piece is omitted, the working procedure can be effectively simplified, the manufacturing cost is saved, the size of the terminal component can be effectively reduced, and the space operation of the circuit board is facilitated. In addition, because the two terminals are separated from each other, the relative positions of the two terminal assemblies can be flexibly adjusted, so that the switch assembly with different pin relative positions is suitable, and the development cost is reduced. It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments are only examples, and are not limited to the examples. For example, those who do not depart from the basic structure of the invention should be construed to fall within the scope of the claims that follow.

Claims (18)

1. A switch module, comprising:

a circuit board;

the terminal assembly comprises a base part, an elastic structure and at least two positioning parts, wherein the elastic structure and the at least two positioning parts are connected to the base part, and the at least two positioning parts are respectively positioned on two opposite sides of the elastic structure and positioned on the circuit board; and

the switch assembly is configured on the circuit board and is provided with two pins, wherein the two pins respectively correspond to the two terminal assemblies, and the elastic structure of each terminal assembly contacts the corresponding pin.

2. The switch module of claim 1, wherein the resilient structure comprises two clamping portions between which each of the pins is clamped.

3. The switch module of claim 2, wherein each of the clamping portions includes a connecting section and a resilient section, the connecting section being connected between the base portion and the resilient section, the resilient section contacting the corresponding pin.

4. The switch module of claim 3, wherein the direction of extension of the resilient section is oblique to the direction of extension of each pin.

5. The switch module of claim 3, wherein the resilient section has a connecting end and a free end, the connecting end being connected to the connecting section, the resilient section of one of the clamping portions having a distance from the resilient section of the other of the clamping portions, the distance decreasing from the connecting end to the free end.

6. The switch module of claim 1, wherein the two terminal assemblies are separate from each other.

7. The switch module according to claim 1, wherein the at least two positioning portions include at least two folded walls, and a thickness direction of one of the folded walls is perpendicular to a thickness direction of the other folded wall.

8. The switch module of claim 1, wherein the base has two opposing second sides and two opposing first sides, the resilient structure being connected to the two first sides.

9. The switch module of claim 1, wherein the base has two opposing second sides and two opposing first sides, the spring structure being connected to the two second sides.

10. The switch module according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the at least two positioning portions are connected to the two second sides, respectively.

11. The switch module of claim 8 or 9, wherein one of said locating portions abuts one of said first edges and the other of said locating portions abuts the other of said first edges.

12. The switch module according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the at least two positioning portions comprise at least two folded walls, and a thickness direction of at least one of the folded walls is not parallel to the first edge and the second edge.

13. The switch module according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the at least two positioning portions comprise three positioning portions, one positioning portion is located on one side of the elastic structure and connected to one of the second edges, and the other two positioning portions are located on the other side of the elastic structure and connected to the two first edges, respectively.

14. The switch module of claim 1 wherein the base has slots, the slot pairs being located on the corresponding pins.

15. The switch module according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board has at least two positioning grooves into which the at least two positioning portions are inserted, respectively.

16. The switch module of claim 15, wherein one of the positioning portions restricts movement of the base in a first direction parallel to a length of one of the detents and the other of the positioning portions restricts movement of the base in a second direction parallel to the length of the other detent and perpendicular to the first direction.

17. The switch module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the terminal assemblies includes at least one extension connected between the base and at least one of the locating portions and extending in a direction away from the base.

18. The switch module of claim 17, wherein the length of the at least one extension is greater than the width of the base.

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