1. A trackpad module, comprising:

a touch pad component, under which a switch is arranged;

the bracket is arranged below the touch pad component and comprises at least one through hole;

at least one elastic piece, which is arranged between the touch pad component and the bracket and is positioned above the at least one through hole; and

at least one spacer arranged between the elastic element and the touch pad component and corresponding to the at least one through hole;

when the touch pad assembly is pressed, the at least one spacer is pressed by the touch pad assembly to push the at least one elastic element, so that the at least one elastic element is deformed and extends towards the at least one through hole.

2. The touch panel module of claim 1, wherein the touch panel assembly comprises a top cover and a circuit board, the top cover is disposed above the circuit board and at least partially exposed outside a housing, and the switch is disposed on a lower surface of the circuit board.

3. The touch panel module of claim 2, wherein the top cover is a glass cover or a plastic cover, and the top cover is glued to the circuit board via a glue.

4. The trackpad module of claim 2, wherein the housing is located on an electronic computer or the trackpad module comprises the housing.

5. The trackpad module of claim 2, wherein the trackpad assembly further comprises a stiffener plate disposed below the circuit board.

6. The touch panel module of claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic member is made of a metal material.

7. The trackpad module of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer is made of a metal material.

8. The trackpad module of claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient member is coupled to the carriage by laser welding.

9. The trackpad module of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer is coupled to the trackpad assembly by laser welding.

10. The touch panel module of claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic member has at least one opening corresponding to the at least one through hole.

11. The trackpad module of claim 1, wherein the switch is a haptic feedback sensor.

12. An electronic computer, comprising:

a shell with an inward concave containing space;

a processor disposed in the housing; and

a touch pad module disposed in the accommodating space and electrically connected to the processor, comprising:

a touch pad component, under which a switch is arranged;

the bracket is arranged below the touch pad component and comprises at least one through hole;

at least one elastic piece, which is arranged between the touch pad component and the bracket and is positioned above the at least one through hole; and

at least one spacer arranged between the elastic element and the touch pad component and corresponding to the at least one through hole;

when the touch pad assembly is pressed, the at least one spacer is pressed by the touch pad assembly to push the at least one elastic element, so that the at least one elastic element is deformed and extends towards the at least one through hole.

13. The electronic computer of claim 12, wherein the touch pad assembly comprises a top cover and a circuit board, the top cover is disposed above the circuit board and at least partially exposed outside the housing, and the switch is disposed on a lower surface of the circuit board.

14. The electronic computer of claim 13, wherein the touch pad assembly further comprises a stiffener plate disposed below the circuit board.

15. The computer according to claim 12, wherein the at least one resilient member is made of a metal material.

16. The computer of claim 12, wherein the at least one spacer is made of a metal material.

17. The computer according to claim 12, wherein the at least one elastic member is attached to the bracket by laser welding.

18. The computer of claim 12, wherein the at least one spacer is coupled to the touch pad assembly by laser welding.

19. The electronic computer according to claim 12, wherein the at least one elastic member has at least one opening corresponding to the at least one hole.

20. The electronic computer of claim 12, wherein the switch is a tactile feedback sensor.

Background

With the development of technology, the electronic devices are greatly developed to bring convenience to human life, and therefore it is an important issue how to make the operations of the electronic devices more humanized. For example, the common electronic devices in daily life are notebook computers, mobile phones, satellite navigation devices, and the like, and the storage capacities and the operation performance of the processors of the electronic devices are greatly improved, so that the functions of the electronic devices become increasingly powerful and complex. In order to operate a plurality of electronic devices efficiently, manufacturers of electronic devices use touch pads as input devices to operate the plurality of electronic devices.

Please refer to fig. 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional notebook computer and a touch pad module thereof. The touch pad module 1 is disposed in the housing 21 of the notebook computer 2 and at least partially exposed to allow a user to touch the touch pad module 1 to operate the notebook computer 2, for example, the user can touch the touch pad module 1 with fingers and slide on the touch pad module 1 to move a cursor 23 on a screen 22, or can press the touch pad module 1 to allow the notebook computer 2 to perform a specific function, so that the touch pad module 1 can replace the function of a mouse, and the user does not need to carry or install the mouse additionally, which is inconvenient.

Referring to fig. 2 and fig. 3 simultaneously, fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the touch pad module shown in fig. 1 when the touch pad module is not pressed, and fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the touch pad module shown in fig. 2 after the touch pad module is pressed. The housing 21 of the notebook computer 2 has an inwardly recessed frame 24, and opposite sides in the frame 24 are respectively provided with a supporting structure 241 and a triggering portion 242 extending into the frame 24, and the first end 11 of the touch pad module 1 is provided with a metal dome switch (dome switch), and the second end 12 of the touch pad module 1 is connected to the supporting structure 241. When the user touches the touch pad module 1, the first end 11 of the touch pad module 1 swings downward relative to the trigger portion 242 with the supporting structure 241 as a fulcrum, so that the metal dome elastic switch 13 of the touch pad module 1 abuts against the trigger portion 242 of the frame 24, and the metal dome elastic switch 13 is triggered to generate a feedback sound of knocking. In addition, when the metal dome elastic switch 13 is triggered, the touch pad module 1 outputs a switch control signal to the notebook computer 2, so that the notebook computer 2 performs a corresponding function, and when the user no longer touches the touch pad module 1, the first end 11 of the touch pad module 1 swings upward relative to the triggering portion 242 according to the elastic force of the supporting structure 241, so that the touch pad module 1 returns to the original position.

However, the known touch pad module 1 has a disadvantage that the touch pad module 1 may cause different positions to have different moving strokes after being touched, thereby causing operational obstruction. Taking fig. 1 as an example, the area a and the area B are respectively located at two corners of the touch pad module 1 and are also located at two opposite sides of the first end 11 of the touch pad module 1, when a user touches either of the area a and the area B, the difference between the downward movement amplitude of the area a and the downward movement amplitude of the area B is too large, so that the operation feeling is poor, and even the metal dome elastic switch 13 cannot be effectively triggered.

In order to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks, another touch panel module is proposed. Please refer to fig. 4, which is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of another conventional touch pad module. The touch pad module 1' includes a touch pad assembly 14, a bracket 15 and a plurality of silicone rubber 16, wherein a tactile feedback sensor 141 (gestures) is mounted on a bottom surface of the touch pad assembly 14, the bracket 15 is disposed below the touch pad assembly 34 and fixed in the frame 24, and the silicone rubber 16 is disposed between the touch pad assembly 14 and the bracket 15. When a user touches any position of the touch pad module 1 ', the touch pad module 1' moves downwards to push and compress the silica gel 16, and the touch feedback sensor 141 is triggered to enable the touch pad module 1 'to output a switch control signal to the notebook computer 2, so that the notebook computer 2 executes a corresponding function, and when the user does not touch the touch pad module 1', the touch pad module 1 swings upwards relative to the bracket 32 according to the elastic force generated after the silica gel is compressed, so as to restore the original position.

However, in the process of the touch pad module 1 ', the silicone rubber 16 is respectively combined with the touch pad assembly 14 and the bracket 15 through the rubber 17, and the process of pressing and baking the touch pad assembly for more than 30 minutes by a jig is required, so the process of the touch pad module 1' is time-consuming and complicated by using the silicone rubber 16 as an elastic body for providing elastic force after the touch pad module 1 is compressed. In addition, if a foreign substance (such as oil stain) remains on the joint of the touch pad assembly 14 and the silicone rubber 16 due to poor cleaning, the silicone rubber 16 cannot be tightly attached to the touch pad assembly 14 and is easy to fall off, which is a significant factor affecting the yield of the touch pad module 1'.

From the above description, there is room for improvement in known touch panel modules and electronic computers having the touch panel modules.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel module capable of simplifying the process and increasing the yield.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic computer having the above touch pad module.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a touch pad module, which includes a touch pad assembly, a bracket, at least one elastic member and at least one spacer. A switch is arranged below the touch pad component; a dragging frame arranged below the touch control panel component and comprising at least one through hole; at least one elastic piece is arranged between the touch control panel assembly and the bracket and positioned above the at least one through hole; at least one spacer is arranged between the elastic piece and the touch pad component and corresponds to the at least one through hole.

When the touch pad assembly is pressed, the at least one spacer is pressed by the touch pad assembly to push the at least one elastic element, so that the at least one elastic element is deformed and extends towards the at least one through hole.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention also provides an electronic computer, which includes a housing, a processor, a touch pad module, a touch pad assembly, a bracket, at least one elastic member and at least one spacer. The shell is provided with an accommodating space which is sunken inwards; a processor disposed in the housing; and a touch pad module, which is arranged in the accommodating space and electrically connected with the processor, and comprises: a touch pad component, under which a switch is arranged; the bracket is arranged below the touch pad component and comprises at least one through hole; at least one elastic piece, which is arranged between the touch pad component and the bracket and is positioned above the at least one through hole; and at least one spacer arranged between the elastic element and the touch pad component and corresponding to the at least one through hole.

When the touch pad assembly is pressed, the at least one spacer is pressed by the touch pad assembly to push the at least one elastic element, so that the at least one elastic element is deformed and extends towards the at least one through hole.

The touch pad module has the advantages that in the process of the touch pad module, the elastic piece can be connected to the bracket through laser welding, and the spacing piece can also be connected to the reinforcing plate of the touch pad component through laser welding, so that the defects that in the prior art, the process of the touch pad module is time-consuming and complicated because silica gel is used as the elastic body for providing elastic force after the touch pad module is compressed can be overcome, the problem that all elements fall off from the touch pad module can be avoided, and the manufacturing yield of the touch pad module is improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional notebook computer and a touch pad module thereof.

Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the touch pad module shown in fig. 1 when not being pressed.

Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the touch pad module shown in fig. 2 after being pressed.

Fig. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a touch pad module according to another embodiment.

Fig. 5 is an external structural diagram of an electronic computer and a touch pad module thereof according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an external view of the touch pad module and a portion of the housing of the electronic computer shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an external view of the touch pad module and a portion of the housing of the electronic computer shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the touch pad module shown in fig. 7.

FIG. 9A is a conceptual side view of a portion of the structure of the touchpad module shown in FIG. 6 prior to being pressed.

Fig. 9B is a conceptual side view of a portion of the structure of the touch pad module shown in fig. 6 after being pressed.

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a touch pad module according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view illustrating an application of a touch pad module according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

The reference numbers are as follows:

1 touch control panel module

1' touch pad module

2 notebook computer

3 touch control panel module

3' touch control panel module

4 electronic computer

5 Signal transmission means

6 desktop computer

11 first end of touch pad module

12 second end of touch pad module

13 metal dome elastic switch

14 touch pad assembly

15 towing bracket

16 silica gel

21 outer cover

22 Screen

23 Cursor

24 frame

31 touch pad assembly

32 towing bracket

33 elastic member

33' elastic member

34 spacer

35 casing

39 locking element

41 casing

42 Screen

43 processor

44 Cursor

141 tactile feedback sensor

311 switch

312 reinforced plate

313 upper cover plate

314 circuit board

321 through the hole

331 opening hole

331' opening hole

Region A

Region B

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the invention will be further explained by the following in conjunction with the associated drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. In the drawings, the shape and thickness may be exaggerated for simplicity and convenience. It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown in the drawings or described in the specification are in a form known to those skilled in the art. Various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art based on the teachings herein.

Please refer to fig. 5, which is an appearance structure diagram of the electronic computer and the touch pad module thereof according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. The electronic computer 4 is a notebook computer, but not limited thereto, and includes a housing 41, a screen 42, a processor 43, and a touch pad module 3, where the housing 41 has an inward recessed accommodating space for the touch pad module 3 to be disposed therein and electrically connected to the processor 43, and at least a portion of the touch pad module 3 is exposed to the outside for a user to contact to operate the electronic computer 4, for example, the user can move a cursor 44 on the screen 42 by touching the touch pad module 3 with a finger and sliding on the touch pad module 3, or can execute a specific function by clicking (pressing) the touch pad module 3.

Referring to fig. 6 to 8, fig. 6 is an external view structure diagram of a portion of the housing and the touch pad module of the electronic computer shown in fig. 5 at a top view angle, fig. 7 is an external view structure diagram of a portion of the housing and the touch pad module of the electronic computer shown in fig. 5 at a bottom view angle, and fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the structure of the touch pad module shown in fig. 7. The touch panel module 3 includes a touch panel assembly 31, a bracket 32, two elastic members 33 and a plurality of spacers 34, wherein the switch 311 is disposed below the touch panel assembly 31, the bracket 32 is disposed below the touch panel assembly 31 and includes a plurality of through holes 321, and the bracket 32 is fastened to an inner wall 411 of the housing 41 by a fastening element 39 such as a screw, as shown in fig. 7. In addition, the two elastic members 33 are disposed between the touch pad assembly 31 and the bracket 32 and above the through holes 321, and the plurality of spacers 34 are disposed between the elastic members 33 and the touch pad assembly 31, wherein each spacer 34 corresponds to one through hole 321.

In the preferred embodiment, the touch pad assembly 31 further includes an upper cover 313, a circuit board 314 and a reinforcing plate 312, wherein at least a portion of the upper cover 313 is exposed outside the housing 41, the circuit board 314 is disposed between the upper cover 313 and the reinforcing plate 312, and the switch 310 is disposed on a lower surface of the circuit board 314; the reinforcing plate 312 carries the upper cover 313 and the circuit board 314 to provide the effect of reinforcing the structure, and the circuit board 314 is used to sense the contact and operation actions of the user on the upper cover 313 and output the corresponding electronic signal, so as to enable the electronic computer 4 to execute the corresponding instruction.

Alternatively, the upper cover 313 and the circuit board 314 are combined by glue, the upper cover 313 is a glass cover or a plastic cover, the glue is Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA), and the switch 311 is a tactile feedback sensor (touches). Preferably, the elastic members 33 and the spacers 34 are made of metal, the elastic members 33 can be connected to the bracket 32 by laser welding, and the spacers 34 can be connected to the reinforcing plate 312 of the touch pad assembly 31 by laser welding. However, the above embodiments are only examples, and the materials of the upper cover 313, the elastic members 33 and the spacers 34, the connection manner of the upper cover 313 and the circuit board 314, the connection manner of the elastic members 33 and the brackets 32, the connection manner of the spacers 34 and the touch pad assembly 31, and the types of the switches 311 are not limited to the above embodiments.

The operation of the touch panel module 3 will be described. Referring to fig. 9A and 9B simultaneously, fig. 9A is a conceptual side view of a portion of the structure of the touch pad module shown in fig. 6 before being touched and pressed, and fig. 9B is a conceptual side view of the portion of the structure of the touch pad module shown in fig. 6 after being touched and pressed. When any position of the upper cover 313 of the touch pad assembly 31 is pressed, the touch pad assembly 31 moves downward relative to the bracket 32, so that the spacers 34 are pressed by the touch pad assembly 31 to push against the elastic members 33, and thus each elastic member 33 deforms to extend into the corresponding through hole 321 of the bracket 32, as shown in fig. B. In the above process, the switch 311 located on the lower surface of the circuit board 314 is triggered to enable the circuit board 314 to output a corresponding electrical signal, and the switch 311 provides the tactile feedback. When the touch pad assembly 31 is no longer pressed, the elastic force generated by the deformation of the elastic member 33 pushes the spacer 34 to move the touch pad assembly 31 upward relative to the bracket 32, so that the touch pad assembly 31 returns to the original position as shown in fig. 9A.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the elastic members 33 has a plurality of openings 331 corresponding to the through holes 321 of the bracket 32, as shown in fig. 8, for increasing the extensibility of the elastic members 33 extending upward and downward to facilitate the operation of the touch pad module 3. However, the opening pattern of the elastic member 33 is not limited to the above, and those skilled in the art can make any equivalent design changes according to the practical application requirements, for example, the elastic member shown in FIG. 8 can be modified to be an elastic member 33 'having another opening 331' pattern as shown in FIG. 10.

In particular, in the process of the touch pad module of the present invention, since the elastic member can be connected to the bracket by laser welding and the spacer can also be connected to the reinforcing plate of the touch pad assembly by laser welding, the defect in the prior art that the process of the touch pad module is time-consuming and complicated due to the use of silicone as the elastic body for providing the elastic force after the touch pad module is compressed can be improved, and the problem that each element falls off from the touch pad module can be avoided, thereby improving the manufacturing yield of the touch pad module.

In addition, the touch pad module of the present invention is not limited to be disposed in an electronic computer. Please refer to fig. 11, which is a schematic diagram illustrating an application of a touch pad module according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention. The touch pad module 3' shown in fig. 11 is an input device independent from the electronic computer, and can be connected to the desktop computer 6 through a signal transmission means 5, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB). Furthermore, the composition structure of the touch pad module 3 'of the preferred embodiment can adopt the touch pad module 3 described in the above preferred embodiments, but the difference is that the touch pad module 3' further includes a housing 35 which is independent and used for accommodating the touch pad assembly 31, the bracket 32, the elastic member 33 and the spacer 34.

The above-mentioned embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and therefore, all equivalent changes and modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.