Side keypad assembly and portable electronic device using the same

A portable electronic device comprising:

• a housing;
• and
• a side keypad assembly detachably assembled with the housing, the side keypad assembly comprising:
• a keypad panel and a base panel assembled with the keypad panel;
• the keypad panel comprising:
• a pressing surface comprising a plurality of keypads protruding therefrom;
• and
• a mating surface opposite to the pressing surface and assembled with the base panel, the mating surface comprising a plurality of stepped protruding columns corresponding to the plurality of keypads, and a plurality of separating protrusions located between each two adjacent keypads, the separating protrusions protruding from the mating surface along a direction toward the base panel;
• wherein the base panel comprises a first surface, an opposite second surface;
• the first surface comprises a plurality of blind holes and a plurality of grooves corresponding to the plurality of stepped columns and a plurality of separating protrusions respectively, and a plurality of column projections and a plurality of protruding ribs on the second surface of the base panel;
• the stepped columns and the separating protrusions latch with the blind holes and grooves of the base panel respectively;
• the housing includes a side wall and a rectangular assembling portion concaved on the outside surface of the side wall, the assembling portion includes a bottom wall;
• the bottom wall comprises a plurality of sensing contact pads protruding therefrom that correspond to the keypads respectively;
• the side keypad assembly is assembled within the assembling portion, the column projections and the protruding ribs are resisted on the sensing contact pads and bottom wall respectively.

A side keypad assembly for a portable electronic device, comprising:

• a pressing surface comprising a plurality of keypads protruding therefrom;
• and
• a mating surface opposite to the pressing surface comprising a plurality of stepped protruding columns corresponding to the plurality of keypads, and a plurality of separating protrusions located between each two adjacent keypads;
• a keypad panel and a base panel assembled with the keypad panel, the pressing surface and the mating surface respectively defined on the opposite surfaces of the keypad panel;
• wherein the base panel comprises a first surface, an opposite second surface;
• the first surface comprises a plurality of blind holes, and a plurality of grooves corresponding to the stepped columns and separating protrusions respectively, thereby forming a plurality of column projections and a plurality of protruding ribs on the second surface of the base panel;
• the stepped columns and the separating protrusions respectively latch with the blind holes and grooves of the base panel;
• the mating surface comprises an assembling groove, a first side wall, and an opposite second side wall;
• the base panel is assembled within the assembling groove.