Touchpad and pick button assembly

Abstract

A touchpad assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The touchpad assembly may include a touchpad frame operative to be placed within an opening in an electronic device frame. The touchpad assembly may include a support plate for supporting a touchpad, and a bracket for receiving a pick button. The support plate and bracket may be manufactured into a same component to increase the rigidity of the touchpad assembly. The pick button may include a varying height to prevent the pick button from deflecting and to make the pick button travel for providing a selection instruction uniform. The pick button may be coupled to the frame using any suitable approach, including using springs connected the ends of the pick button to the frame. The frame may also include pads to muffle the sound of the pick button when it returns to its initial position after having been pressed.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An electronic device comprising:
 a housing comprising an opening;   a pick button positioned within the opening; and   a first spring, wherein:
 a first end of the first spring is attached to the pick button; and 
 a second end of the first spring is attached to the housing. 
   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of:
 the first end of the first spring is directly connected to the pick button; and   the second end of the first spring is directly connected to the housing.   
     
     
         21 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first end of the first spring is directly connected to the pick button; and   the second end of the first spring is directly connected to the housing.   
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , further comprising a second spring, wherein:
 the first end of the first spring is attached to a first end of the pick button;   the second end of the first spring is attached to the housing adjacent a first side of the opening;   a first end of the second spring is attached to a second end of the pick button; and   a second end of the second spring is attached to the housing adjacent a second side of the opening.   
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of:
 the first end of the first spring is directly connected to a first end of the pick button;   the second end of the first spring is directly connected to the housing adjacent a first side of the opening;   a first end of the second spring is directly connected to a second end of the pick button; and   a second end of the second spring is directly connected to the housing adjacent a second side of the opening.   
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the first end of the first spring is directly connected to a first end of the pick button;   the second end of the first spring is directly connected to the housing adjacent a first side of the opening;   a first end of the second spring is directly connected to a second end of the pick button; and   a second end of the second spring is directly connected to the housing adjacent a second side of the opening.   
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , further comprising a bracket defining a recess, wherein the bracket is secured to the housing such that the pick button is positioned within the recess. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 25 , wherein the bracket is not coupled to at least one of the pick button and the first spring. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the bracket is not coupled to the pick button; and   the bracket is not coupled to the first spring.   
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 25 , wherein the bracket is not coupled to the pick button. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the first end of the first spring is attached to a recessed platform of the pick button. 
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 29 , wherein the combined thickness of the first end of the first spring and the recessed platform of the pick button is equal to a thickness of the pick button adjacent to the recessed platform. 
     
     
         31 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , further comprising a pad, wherein:
 the first spring is operative to allow a top surface of the pick button to be deflected away from a bottom surface of the housing and to then return the top surface of the pick button towards the bottom surface of the housing;   the pad is positioned between the bottom surface of the housing and the top surface of the pick button; and   the pad is operative to muffle sounds created when the top surface of the pick button is returned towards the bottom surface of the housing.   
     
     
         32 . An assembly comprising:
 a bracket defining a recess;   a pick button positioned within the recess;   a switch positioned within the recess between a bottom surface of the pick button and the bracket; and   at least one spring coupled to the pick button, wherein:
 the at least one spring allows the pick button to be deflected from its initial position towards the bracket for actuating the switch and then returns the pick button to its initial position; and 
 the pick button comprises a rib extending along the length of the bottom surface of the pick button. 
   
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the switch is positioned within the recess between a first portion of the bottom surface of the pick button and the bracket; and   the rib extends adjacent to the first portion of the bottom surface of the pick button.   
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the rib causes the deflection of the pick button for actuating the switch to be the same independent of the location on the pick button of the force causing the deflection. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising a support plate extending from the bracket, wherein:
 the switch is positioned within the recess between a first portion of the bottom surface of the pick button and the bracket;   the rib extends adjacent to the first portion of the bottom surface of the pick button; and   the rib is positioned between the first portion of the bottom surface and an edge of the pick button that is adjacent the support plate.   
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising a support plate extending from the bracket, wherein:
 the switch is positioned within the recess between a first portion of the bottom surface of the pick button and the bracket;   the rib extends adjacent to the first portion of the bottom surface of the pick button; and   the pick button further comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a distal end adjacent the support plate when the pick button is positioned within the recess, and a proximal end opposite the distal end; and   the length of the bottom surface extends between the first end and the second end.   
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the rib is positioned between the first portion of the bottom surface and the distal end. 
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the bracket is operative to be secured to an electronic device housing; and   the at least one spring is coupled to the first end of the pick button and to the electronic device housing.   
     
     
         39 . The assembly of  claim 38 , further comprising at least one other spring coupled to the second end of the pick button and to the electronic device housing. 
     
     
         40 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein:
 a first amount of deflection of the pick button is necessary to actuate the switch when the pick button is deflected at the first end of the pick button;   a second amount of deflection of the pick button is necessary to actuate the switch when the pick button is deflected between the first end of the pick button and the second end of the pick button; and   the rib is configured to allow the first amount of deflection to equal the second amount of deflection.   
     
     
         41 . A method of manufacturing an assembly frame, the method comprising:
 stamping a single piece of metal to form:
 a first flat portion operative to support a touchpad; and 
 a bracket extending from the first flat portion, the bracket defining a recess that is operative to receive a pick button. 
   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the stamped single piece of metal also forms:
 a first tab at a first edge of the first flat portion for coupling the single piece of metal to a first portion of an electronic device housing; and   a second tab at a first edge of the bracket for coupling the single piece of metal to a second portion of the electronic device housing, wherein a second edge of the first flat portion opposite the first edge of the first flat portion comprises a second edge of the bracket opposite the first edge of the bracket.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the single piece of metal comprises at least one of aluminum and steel.