The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 15, 2018
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2014
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Matthew D. Hill, Cupertino, CA (US);
Matthew P. Rao, Cupertino, CA (US);
Alex M. Lee, Cupertino, CA (US);
Benjamin J. Pope, Cupertino, CA (US);
Jared M. Kole, Cupertino, CA (US);
Scott A. Myers, Cupertino, CA (US);
Stefan C. Mag, Cupertino, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A tactile switch assembly can include a tactile switch structure electrically connected to one end of a flexible circuit. The tactile switch assembly has a first length when the flexible circuit is in an unfolded state and a smaller second length when the flexible circuit is in a folded state. The flexible circuit folds over itself one or more times in the folded state. The tactile switch structure can include a stiffener positioned over a switch. The flexible circuit can extend over at least a portion of a top surface of the stiffener and wrap around the stiffener at a bend region and extend under at least a portion of a bottom surface of the stiffener. One or more component chambers can be created in openings in the stiffener that provide additional locations for one or more electrical components to be electrically connected to the flexible circuit.