CN108666162B

CN108666162B - Keyboard device and key structure thereof

Info

Publication number: CN108666162B
Application number: CN201710207501.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈柏安; 潘锦松
Original assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 2017-03-31
Filing date: 2017-03-31
Publication date: 2020-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-31
Also published as: CN108666162A

Abstract

The invention provides a keyboard device and a key structure thereof. Each key structure comprises a key cap, a hinge element and a base, wherein the hinge element comprises a first side wing part connected between the key cap and the base, a second side wing part connected between the key cap and the base and a bending part connected between the first side wing part and the second side wing part, the thickness of the bending part is smaller than that of the first side wing part and that of the second side wing part, when the key cap moves up and down relative to the circuit board, the bending angle of the hinge element is changed, and the relative position between a first base convex shaft of the base and a first accommodating through hole of the first side wing part is also changed.

Description

Keyboard device and key structure thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of input equipment, in particular to a keyboard device.

Background

Common input devices around computers include mouse devices, keyboard devices 1 and trackball devices, wherein the keyboard devices 1 allow users to directly input characters and symbols into the computers, and are therefore highly appreciated.

First, a structure and a function of a conventional keyboard apparatus 1 are described, please refer to fig. 1 to 2, fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the conventional keyboard apparatus, and fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a mechanical switch of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 1 after a key cap is pressed. The keyboard device 1 includes a plurality of mechanical key structures 12 and a circuit board 11, each mechanical key structure 12 includes a key cap 121 and a mechanical switch 124 disposed between the key cap 121 and the circuit board 11, and the mechanical switch 124 includes a housing 1241, a pushing component 1242, a linkage component 1243, a first elastic sheet 1244, a second elastic sheet 1245 and an elastic body 1246, and the housing 1241 can be used to accommodate the linkage component 1243, the elastic body 1246, at least part of the pushing component 1242, at least part of the first elastic sheet 1244 and at least part of the second elastic sheet 1245.

In detail, the housing 1241 includes a base 12411 and an upper cover 12412 covering the base 12411 and having an upper cover opening 12413, and one end of the pushing component 1242 upwardly passes through the upper cover opening 12413 and contacts the key cap 121, and the other end is located in the housing 1241 and connected to the linking component 1243, and the linking component 1243 is disposed at the center of the base 12411 and can move up and down relative to the base 12411, and the linking component 1243 has a linking protrusion 12431, which is formed by extending from a side wall of the linking component 1243 toward the first elastic piece 1244. In addition, the elastic body 1246 is disposed below the linking member 1243, and one end of the elastic body is connected to the linking member 1243, and the other end of the elastic body is fixed on the base 12411 for providing an elastic force to the linking member 1243.

Furthermore, the first elastic piece 1244 is adjacent to the side wall of the base 12411, and has a first electrical connection portion 12441, a spring portion 12442 and a first fixing portion 12443 fixed on the base 12411, the first fixing portion 12443 is located between the first electrical connection portion 12441 and the spring portion 12442, and the spring portion 12442 is located in the housing 1241 and can contact with the linking protrusion 12431 of the linking member 1243 to swing relative to the fixing portion; the first electrical connection portion 12441 passes through the base 12411 downward to contact and electrically connect to the circuit board 11; the second elastic piece 1245 is disposed between the linking member 1243 and the first elastic piece 1244, and has a second electrical connection portion 12451, a conduction portion 12452, and a second fixing portion 12453 fixed on the base 12411, the second fixing portion 12453 is located between the second electrical connection portion 12451 and the conduction portion 12452, the conduction portion 12452 is located in the housing 1241, and the second electrical connection portion 12451 passes through the base 12411 downward to contact and electrically connect to the circuit board 11.

In the process that a user touches and presses the key cap 121, the key cap 121 will first push the pushing part 1242 downwards, so that the linking part 1243 connected with the key cap moves downwards synchronously, meanwhile, the elastic body 1246 is compressed to generate an elastic force, and the linking protrusion 12431 of the linking part 1243 contacts the bouncing part 12442 of the first elastic piece 1244 and moves downwards relative to the bouncing part 12442 to push the bouncing part 12442, so that the bouncing part 12442 swings relative to the first fixing part 12443; then, after the linkage 1243 continuously moves downwards, the swinging elastic portion 12442 contacts and hits the conducting portion 12452 of the second elastic piece 1245, and at this time, the circuit board 11 generates a corresponding key signal in response to the contact between the first elastic piece 1244 and the second elastic piece 1245, as shown in fig. 2; since the elastic part 12442 of the first elastic piece 1244 hits the conduction part 12452 of the second elastic piece 1245 to generate sound, the feedback feeling of the user touching and pressing the key cap 121 can be provided. In addition, when the user stops pressing the key cap 121, the linking member 1243 and the pushing member 1242 move upward in response to the elastic force generated by the elastic body 1246, so that the key cap 121 returns to the original position as shown in fig. 1.

However, the conventional keyboard apparatus 1 has a disadvantage that the key cap 121 of the key structure 12 is not uniformly supported due to a small contact area with the pushing part 1242, so that the key cap 121 itself has an unstable shaking phenomenon in both the front and rear directions or the left and right directions, which affects the operational feeling of the user, and particularly, the shaking degree of the key cap 121 is more obvious when the user presses the periphery of the key cap 121. Accordingly, the conventional keyboard device and the key structure thereof have room for improvement.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a key structure including a hinge element, such that a key cap can move up and down smoothly without loosening and shaking during a touch and release action.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device including the above-mentioned key structure, so as to provide a user with a good operation feeling.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a key structure, comprising:

a key cap;

the hinge component comprises a first side wing part, a second side wing part and a bent part, wherein the bent part is connected between the first side wing part and the second side wing part, and the thickness of the bent part is smaller than that of the first side wing part and that of the second side wing part; the first side wing part and the second side wing part are connected with the keycap and respectively provided with a first containing through hole and a second containing through hole; and

a base having a first base protruding shaft and a second base protruding shaft, wherein the first base protruding shaft passes through the first receiving through hole, and the second base protruding shaft passes through the second receiving through hole; when the keycap moves up and down relative to the base, a bending angle of the hinge element and a relative position between the first base protruding shaft and the first accommodating through hole are changed.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention also provides a keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a circuit board;

a plurality of key structures, set up on this circuit board, be used for being touched and pressed and make this circuit board produce a corresponding key signal respectively, wherein, every this key structure includes:

a key cap;

a base having a first base protruding shaft and a second base protruding shaft, wherein the first base protruding shaft passes through the first receiving through hole, and the second base protruding shaft passes through the second receiving through hole; when the keycap moves up and down relative to the circuit board, a bending angle of the hinge element and a relative position between the first base protruding shaft and the first containing through hole are changed.

Drawings

FIG. 1: is a structural schematic diagram of the existing keyboard device.

FIG. 2: the key cap of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 1 is pressed to form a mechanical switch.

FIG. 3: a schematic structural diagram of a keyboard apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown.

FIG. 4: is a schematic exploded view of the key cap, hinge element and base of the key structure shown in fig. 3.

FIG. 5: is a cross-sectional view of the circuit board and the key cap, hinge element and base of the key structure shown in fig. 3.

FIG. 6: is a schematic structural diagram of the mechanical switch of the key structure shown in fig. 3.

FIG. 7: the schematic diagram of the mechanical switch of the key structure shown in fig. 6 is shown after the key cap is pressed.

FIG. 8: is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key cap, the hinge element and the base of the key structure shown in fig. 5 after the key cap is pressed.

FIG. 9: the keyboard device of the present invention is a schematic cross-sectional view of a circuit board, a key cap of a key structure, a hinge element and a base in a fourth preferred embodiment.

FIG. 10: is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key cap, hinge element and base of the key structure shown in fig. 9 after the key cap is pressed.

FIG. 11: a schematic cross-sectional view of a circuit board and a key structure of a keyboard device according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12: is a perspective exploded view of the circuit board shown in fig. 11.

Wherein the reference numerals are as follows:

1 keyboard device

2 keyboard device

11 circuit board

12 mechanical key structure

21 circuit board

21' circuit board

22 key structure

22' key structure

121 keycap

124 mechanical switch

211 upper film

212 lower film

213 middle layer film

221 keycap

221' key cap

222 hinge element

222' hinge element

223 base

224 mechanical switch

225 elastomer

1241 outer casing

1242 push-against part

1243 linkage part

1244 first spring plate

1245 second spring plate

1246 elastomer

2111 first circuit pattern

2112 upper contact

2121 second circuit pattern

2122 lower contact

2131 opening contact points

2211 Water drop hole

2211a water drop hole

2211b water drop hole

2212 chute

2221 first wing part

2222 second side wing part

2222' second flank section

2223 bent part

2231 base housing

2232 first pedestal convex shaft

2233 second pedestal convex shaft

2241 outer casing

2242 pushing and supporting part

2243 linkage part

2244 first elastic sheet

2245 second elastic sheet

2246 elastic body

2251 sustaining part

12411 base

12412 Upper cover

12413 the upper cover has a hole

12431 interlock projection

12441 first electrical connection

12442 spring part

12443 first fixed part

12451 second electrical connection

12452 conduction part

12453 second fixed part

22211 first hinge convex shaft

22212 first receiving through hole

22221 protruding axis of second hinge

22222 second receiving through hole

22222' second receiving through hole

22311 hollowed-out parts

22411 base

22412 cover

22413 the upper cover has a hole

22431 interlock projection

22441 first electrical connection part

22442 spring part

22443 first fixing part

22451 second electrical connection part

22452 conduction part

22453 second fixing part

Detailed Description

Please refer to fig. 3, which is a schematic structural diagram of a keyboard apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and for clarity, fig. 3 shows only a single key structure. The keyboard device 2 includes a circuit board 21 and a plurality of key structures 22 disposed on the circuit board 21, wherein the key structures 22 can be classified into general keys, numeric keys, and function keys, which are respectively pressed by a user's fingers to enable the circuit board 21 to generate corresponding key signals to the computer, so as to enable the computer to execute corresponding functions, such as inputting symbols such as english letters, etc., with the general keys, inputting numbers with the numeric keys, and providing various shortcut functions with the function keys, such as F1-F12, etc.

Referring to fig. 4 to 5, fig. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a key cap, a hinge element and a base of the key structure shown in fig. 3, and fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a circuit board and the key cap, the hinge element and the base of the key structure shown in fig. 3. Each key structure 22 includes a key cap 221, a hinge element 222 and a base 223, wherein two sides of the key cap 221 respectively have a water drop hole 2211 and a sliding slot 2212, the hinge element 222 includes a first wing portion 2221, a second wing portion 2222 and a bending portion 2223, the bending portion 2223 is connected between the first wing portion 2221 and the second wing portion 2222, and the thickness of the bending portion 2223 is smaller than the thickness of the first wing portion 2221 and the thickness of the second wing portion 2222, so that the hinge element 222 can be bent; the first side wing portion 2221 has a first hinge protruding axis 22211 and a first receiving through hole 22212 located between the first hinge protruding axis 22211 and the bending portion 2223, the first hinge protruding axis 22211 is pivotally connected to the water drop hole 2211 of the key cap 221, the second side wing portion 2222 has a second hinge protruding axis 22221 and a second receiving through hole 22222 located between the second hinge protruding axis 22221 and the bending portion 2223, and the second hinge protruding axis 22221 passes through the sliding slot 2212 of the key cap 221 and can slide relative to the sliding slot 2212. Preferably, but not limited thereto, the hinge element 222 is integrally formed and made of a plastic material.

Furthermore, the base 223 includes a base housing 2231, a first base convex shaft 2232 and a second base convex shaft 2233, the base housing 2231 is fixed on the circuit board 21, the first base convex shaft 2232 and the second base convex shaft 2233 are respectively disposed on the base housing 2231 and extend outward, and the base housing 2231 has a hollow portion 22311 penetrating through the base 223 for other elements to be disposed in the hollow portion 22311 and/or to pass through the hollow portion 22311; the first base convex shaft 2232 passes through the first receiving through hole 22212, the relative position of the first base convex shaft 2232 and the first receiving through hole 22212 can be changed by bending the hinge element 222, and the second base convex shaft 2233 passes through and is pivoted to the second receiving through hole 22222.

In the preferred embodiment, each key structure 22 is a mechanical key structure and includes a mechanical switch. Please refer to fig. 6, which is a schematic structural diagram of the mechanical switch of the key structure shown in fig. 3. The mechanical switch 224 is disposed on the circuit board 21 and includes a housing 2241, a pushing component 2242, a linkage component 2243, a first elastic sheet 2244, a second elastic sheet 2245 and an elastic body 2246, wherein the housing 2241 can be used for accommodating the linkage component 2243, the elastic body 2246, at least part of the pushing component 2242, at least part of the first elastic sheet 2244 and at least part of the second elastic sheet 2245; the housing 2241 of the mechanical switch 224 is located in a hollow 22311 (not shown in fig. 6, see fig. 4 to 5) of a base housing 2231 (not shown in fig. 6, see fig. 4 to 5) of the base 223 (not shown in fig. 6, see fig. 4 to 5), and at least a portion of the mechanical switch 224 passes through the hollow 22311 to contact the key cap 221.

In detail, the housing 2241 includes a base 22411 and an upper cover 22412 covering the base 22411 and having an upper cover opening 22413, one end of the pushing element 2242 upwardly passes through the upper cover opening 22413 to connect with the key cap 221, the other end is located in the housing 2241 and connected to the linking element 2243, the linking element 2243 is disposed at the center of the base 22411 and can move up and down relative to the base 22411, and the linking element 2243 has a linking protrusion 22431 formed by extending from a sidewall of the linking element 2243 in a direction of the first elastic sheet 2244. In addition, the elastic body 2246 is disposed below the linking member 2243, one end of the elastic body is connected to the linking member 2243, and the other end of the elastic body is fixed on the base 22411, so as to provide elastic force to the linking member 2243.

Furthermore, the first resilient strip 2244 is adjacent to the sidewall of the base 22411, and has a first electrical connection portion 22441, a resilient portion 22442 and a first fixing portion 22443 fixed on the base 22411, the first fixing portion 22443 is located between the first electrical connection portion 22441 and the resilient portion 22442, and the resilient portion 22442 is located in the housing 2241 and can contact with the interlocking protrusion 22431 of the interlocking member 2243 to swing relative to the first fixing portion 22443; and the first electrical connection 22441 passes downwardly through the base 22411 to contact and electrically connect to the circuit board 21; the second resilient sheet 2245 is disposed between the linking member 2243 and the first resilient sheet 2244, and has a second electrical connection portion 22451, a conduction portion 22452 and a second fixing portion 22453 fixed on the base 22411, the second fixing portion 22453 is located between the second electrical connection portion 22451 and the conduction portion 22452, the conduction portion 22452 is located in the housing 2241, and the second electrical connection portion 22451 passes through the base 22411 downward to contact and electrically connect to the circuit board 21.

Next, the operation of the keyboard apparatus 2 after the key structure 22 is pressed will be described. Referring to fig. 6 and 7 synchronously, fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the mechanical switch of the key structure shown in fig. 6 after the key cap is pressed. In the process that a user touches and presses the keycap 221, the keycap 221 moves downwards to push the pushing part 2242, so that the linkage part 2243 connected with the keycap moves downwards synchronously, meanwhile, the elastic body 2246 is compressed to generate elastic force, the linkage convex part 22431 of the linkage part 2243 contacts the elastic part 22442 of the first elastic sheet 2244 and moves downwards relative to the elastic part 22442 to push the elastic part 22442, so that the elastic part 22442 swings relative to the first fixing part 22443; then, after the linkage 2243 continuously moves downward, the swinging elastic part 22442 will contact and hit the conducting part 22452 of the second elastic sheet 2245, and at this time, the circuit board 21 will generate and output a corresponding key signal in response to the contact between the first elastic sheet 2244 and the second elastic sheet 2245, as shown in fig. 7; since the elastic part 22442 of the first elastic sheet 2244 hits the conduction part 22452 of the second elastic sheet 2245 to generate sound, the user can feel feedback when touching the key cap 221. The operation principle of the mechanical switch 224 is well known to those skilled in the art, and therefore will not be described herein, and the type of the mechanical switch 224 is not limited to that shown in fig. 6 and 7.

Referring to fig. 5 and 8 synchronously, fig. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key cap, the hinge element and the base of the key structure shown in fig. 5 after the key cap is pressed. During the downward movement of the key cap 221 by the user pressing the key cap 221, the water drop hole 2211 and the sliding slot 2212 on both sides of the key cap 221 push against the first hinge protruding shaft 22211 and the second hinge protruding shaft 22221 of the hinge element 222, respectively, so that both sides of the hinge element 222 move downward to change the bending angle of the hinge element 222, and at the same time, the first hinge protruding shaft 22211 pivots relative to the water drop hole 2211, the second hinge protruding shaft 22221 slides outward relative to the sliding slot 2212, the second base protruding shaft 2233 of the base 223 pivots relative to the second receiving through hole 22222 of the hinge element 222, and the relative position between the first base protruding shaft 2232 of the base 223 and the first receiving through hole 22212 of the hinge element 222 is changed, as shown in fig. 8.

Furthermore, when the user stops pressing the key cap 221, the pushing member 2242 and the linking member 2243 of the mechanical switch 224 move upward in response to the elastic force of the elastic body 2246, therefore, the key cap 221 will be pushed by the pushing member 2242 to return to the original position as shown in fig. 5, in the process, the water drop holes 2211 and the sliding slots 2212 on the two sides of the key cap 221 also pull up the first hinge protruding shaft 22211 and the second hinge protruding shaft 22221 of the hinge element 222, so that both sides of the hinge element 222 move upward to change the bending angle of the hinge element 222 again, and at the same time, the first hinge projection shaft 22211 pivots with respect to the water drop hole 2211, and the second hinge protruding shaft 22221 slides inward relative to the sliding slot 2212, and the second base protruding shaft 2233 of the base 223 pivots relative to the second receiving through hole 22222 of the hinge element 222, and the relative position between the first base convex shaft 2232 of the base 223 and the first receiving through hole 22212 of the hinge element 222 is changed back to the initial state as shown in fig. 5.

As can be seen from the above description, during the operation of pressing and releasing the key structure 22 of the keyboard apparatus 2, the key cap 221 is not only supported by the pushing element 2242 of the mechanical switch 224, but also the hinge elements 222 connected to the two sides of the key cap 221 provide the function of synchronously pulling down or pulling up the periphery of the key cap 221, so as to stabilize the up and down movement of the key cap 221 without loosening and shaking, thereby improving the operation feeling of the user.

However, the above is only a preferred embodiment, the connection manner of the key cap 221 and the hinge element 222, the connection manner of the hinge element 222 and the base 223, the position of the base 223, the type of the mechanical switch 224 and the type of the key structure 22 are not limited to the above, and those skilled in the art can make any equivalent design changes according to the practical application requirements and the teaching obtained by the above embodiments.

Several variations of the keyboard apparatus of the present invention are illustrated below. In a second preferred embodiment of the keyboard apparatus of the present invention, the keyboard apparatus 2 of the first preferred embodiment can be modified such that the base 223 of the key structure 22 is mounted and fixed on the top cover 22412 of the housing 2241 of the mechanical switch 224, and similarly, the hinge element 222 connected between the base 223 and the key cap 221 provides the function of synchronously pulling down or pulling up the periphery of the key cap 221, thereby stabilizing the up and down movement of the key cap 221 without loose and swaying.

In a third preferred embodiment of the keyboard apparatus of the present invention, the keyboard apparatus 2 of the first preferred embodiment can be modified such that the base 223 of the key structure 22 directly serves as the housing 2241 of the mechanical switch 224, i.e. the first base convex shaft 2232 and the second base convex shaft 2233 for respectively passing through the first receiving through hole 22212 and the second receiving through hole 22222 of the hinge element 222 are disposed on the housing 2241 of the mechanical switch 224 in the present preferred embodiment, and similarly, the hinge element 222 also provides the function of synchronously pulling down or pulling up the periphery of the key cap 221, thereby stabilizing the up and down movement of the key cap 221 without loose and swaying.

Please refer to fig. 9, which is a schematic cross-sectional view of a circuit board, a key cap, a hinge element and a base of a key structure of a keyboard apparatus according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention. The keyboard device of the present preferred embodiment is substantially similar to that described in the first preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and will not be described herein again. The difference between the present preferred embodiment and the aforementioned first preferred embodiment is that the key cap 221 'of the key structure 22' is provided with

water drop holes

2211a, 2211b on both sides, the first hinge convex shaft 22211 of the first side wing portion 2221 of the hinge element 222 'and the second hinge convex shaft 22221 of the second side wing portion 2222' are respectively pivoted to the two

water drop holes

2211a, 2211b, and the length of the second receiving through hole 22222 'on the hinge element 222' for the second base convex shaft 2233 of the base 223 to pass through is increased, so that the relative position of the second base convex shaft 2233 and the second receiving through hole 22222 'can be changed according to the bending of the hinge element 222'.

Referring to fig. 9 and 10 synchronously, fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key cap, the hinge element and the base of the key structure shown in fig. 9 after the key cap is pressed. During the downward movement of the key cap 221 ' by the user pressing the key cap 221 ', the

water drop holes

2211a, 2211b on both sides of the key cap 221 ' push against the first hinge convex shaft 22211 and the second hinge convex shaft 22221 of the hinge element 222 ', respectively, so that both sides of the hinge element 222 ' move downward to change the bending angle of the hinge element 222 ', and at the same time, the first hinge convex shaft 22211 and the second hinge convex shaft 22221 pivot relative to the two

water drop holes

2211a, 2211b, respectively, and the relative positions between the first base convex shaft 2232 of the base 223 and the first receiving through hole 22212 of the hinge element 222 ' and between the second base convex shaft 2233 of the base 223 and the second receiving through hole 22222 ' of the hinge element 222 ' are changed, as shown in fig. 10.

Furthermore, when the user stops pressing the key cap 221, the pushing member 2242 (not shown in fig. 9 and 10, see fig. 6 and 7) and the linking member 2243 (not shown in fig. 9 and 10, see fig. 6 and 7) of the mechanical switch 224 (not shown in fig. 9 and 10, see fig. 6 and 7) move upward in response to the elastic force of the elastic body 2246 (not shown in fig. 9 and 10, see fig. 6 and 7), so that the key cap 221 ' is pushed by the pushing member 2242 to return to the original position as shown in fig. 9, during which the water drop holes 2211a and 2211b at the two sides of the key cap 221 ' respectively pull up the first hinge convex axis 22211 and the second hinge convex axis 22221 of the hinge element 222 ', so that the two sides of the hinge element 222 ' move upward to change the bending angle of the hinge element 222 ', and the first hinge convex axis 22211 and the second hinge convex axis 22221 respectively correspond to the two water drop holes 2211a, 2211b are pivoted and the relative positions of the first base convex axis 2232 of base 223 and the first receiving aperture 22212 of hinge element 222 ' and the second base convex axis 2233 of base 223 and the second receiving aperture 22222 ' of hinge element 222 ' are changed back to the initial state as shown in fig. 9.

Referring to fig. 11 and 12, fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a circuit board and a key structure of a keyboard device according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention, and fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the circuit board shown in fig. 11. For the sake of clarity, the base of the key structure is not shown in fig. 11. The keyboard device of the present preferred embodiment is substantially similar to that described in the first preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and will not be described herein again. The difference between the present preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment is that the circuit board 21 "is a thin film circuit board, and the key structure 22" further includes an elastic body 225, and the elastic body 225 has a top 2251, which is disposed between the key cap 221 and the circuit board 21 "and is located in a hollow 22311 (not shown in fig. 11, see fig. 5 and fig. 8) of the base 223 (not shown in fig. 11, see fig. 4).

Further, the circuit board 21 ″ includes a plurality of films laminated on each other. In the preferred embodiment, the circuit board 21 ″ includes an upper film 211 and a lower film 212, the lower surface of the upper film 211 has a first circuit pattern 2111, the first circuit pattern 2111 has a plurality of upper contacts 2112 respectively corresponding to the plurality of key structures 22 ″, the upper surface of the lower film 212 has a second circuit pattern 2121, and the second circuit pattern 2121 has a plurality of lower contacts 2122 respectively corresponding to the plurality of upper contacts 2112; each upper contact 2112 is spaced apart from its corresponding lower contact 2122, and forms a membrane switch with the corresponding lower contact 2122. In order to keep a distance between each upper contact 2112 and its corresponding lower contact 2122, the circuit board 21 ″ further includes a middle film 213 disposed between the upper film 211 and the lower film 212, and the middle film 213 has a plurality of contact openings 2131 corresponding to the upper contacts 2112 and the lower contacts 2122, respectively.

When the key cap 221 of any key structure 22 "is pressed and moves downward relative to the circuit board 21", the downward moving key cap 221 presses the elastic body 225, so that the top 2251 of the elastic body 225 abuts against and triggers the corresponding upper contact 2112, and further the corresponding upper contact 2112 contacts the corresponding lower contact 2122 through the corresponding contact opening 2131, thereby electrically connecting the corresponding membrane switch to enable the circuit board 21 "to generate the corresponding key signal. When the key cap 221 of the key structure 22 "is no longer pressed, the key cap 221 moves upward to a return position relative to the circuit board 21" in response to the elastic force of the elastic body 225.

Similarly, during the pressing and releasing actions of the key structure 22 ", the key cap 221 is not only supported by the elastic body 225, but also the hinge elements 222 connected to the two sides of the key cap 221 provide the function of synchronously pulling down or pulling up the circumference of the key cap 221, so as to stabilize the up and down movement of the key cap 221 without loosening and shaking, thereby improving the operational feeling of the user.

The above description is only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention, so that other equivalent changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A key structure comprising:

a key cap;

the hinge component comprises a first side wing part, a second side wing part and a bent part, wherein the bent part is connected between the first side wing part and the second side wing part, and the thickness of the bent part is smaller than that of the first side wing part and that of the second side wing part; the first side wing part and the second side wing part are connected with the keycap and respectively provided with a first containing through hole and a second containing through hole, and the hinge element is integrally formed;

a base, including a base shell, the base shell has a hollow-out part, and has a first base convex shaft and a second base convex shaft arranged on the base shell, the first base convex shaft passes through the first containing through hole, and the second base convex shaft passes through the second containing through hole; when the keycap moves up and down relative to the base, a bending angle of the hinge element and a relative position between the first base convex shaft and the first containing through hole are changed; and

a mechanical switch, comprising:

one end of the pushing and abutting piece is contacted with the keycap;

a linkage member connected to the pushing member;

the first elastic sheet is electrically connected with a circuit board of a keyboard device;

the second elastic sheet is electrically connected with the circuit board of the keyboard device; and

a housing for accommodating at least part of the pushing component, the linking component, at least part of the first elastic sheet and at least part of the second elastic sheet; when the pushing part moves downwards due to the fact that the keycap is pressed, the linkage part moves downwards synchronously, so that the first elastic sheet contacts the second elastic sheet, and the circuit board generates a key signal; the base shell is arranged on the shell of the mechanical switch or the circuit board of the keyboard device, and the shell of the mechanical switch penetrates through the hollow-out part of the base shell.

2. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second side wing portions further have a first hinge protruding axis and a second hinge protruding axis, respectively, the first hinge protruding axis is connected to one side of the key cap, and the second hinge protruding axis is connected to another side of the key cap.

3. The key structure of claim 2, wherein the first hinge pin and the first receiving hole are respectively disposed at two sides of the first side portion, and the first receiving hole is disposed between the first hinge pin and the bending portion.

4. The key structure of claim 2, wherein the second hinge shaft and the second receiving hole are respectively disposed at two sides of the second side portion, and the second receiving hole is disposed between the second hinge shaft and the bending portion.

5. The key structure of claim 2, wherein the key cap has a water drop hole and a sliding groove on two sides thereof, the water drop hole is connected to the first hinge protruding shaft, and the sliding groove is connected to the second hinge protruding shaft.

6. The key structure of claim 2, wherein two water drop holes are respectively formed on two sides of the key cap, and the two water drop holes are respectively connected to the first hinge protruding shaft and the second hinge protruding shaft; when the keycap moves up and down relative to the base, a relative position between the second base protruding shaft and the second containing through hole is changed.

7. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the key structure further comprises an elastic body disposed between the key cap and the circuit board and located in the hollow portion, the elastic body having a top portion, and when the key cap is pressed, the elastic body is compressed to make the top portion press against a switch on the circuit board, and when the key cap is no longer pressed, the elastic body provides an elastic force to the key cap to restore the key cap.

8. A key structure comprising:

a key cap;

the hinge component comprises a first side wing part, a second side wing part and a bent part, wherein the bent part is connected between the first side wing part and the second side wing part, and the thickness of the bent part is smaller than that of the first side wing part and that of the second side wing part; the first side wing part and the second side wing part are connected with the keycap and respectively provided with a first containing through hole and a second containing through hole;

a base, including a base shell, the base shell has a hollow-out part and a first base convex shaft and a second base convex shaft, and the first base convex shaft passes through the first containing through hole, and the second base convex shaft passes through the second containing through hole; when the keycap moves up and down relative to the base, a bending angle of the hinge element and a relative position between the first base convex shaft and the first containing through hole are changed;

one end of the pushing and abutting piece is contacted with the keycap;

a linkage member connected to the pushing member;

the first elastic sheet is electrically connected with a circuit board of a keyboard device; and

the second elastic sheet is electrically connected with the circuit board of the keyboard device;

the base shell is fixed on the circuit board of the keyboard device, at least part of the pushing part, the linkage part, at least part of the first elastic sheet and at least part of the second elastic sheet are accommodated in the hollow part of the base shell, and when the pushing part moves downwards due to the fact that the keycap is touched and pressed, the linkage part synchronously moves downwards to enable the first elastic sheet to contact the second elastic sheet, and the circuit board generates a key signal.

9. The key structure of claim 8, wherein the hinge element is integrally formed.

10. A keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a circuit board;

a plurality of key structures, set up on this circuit board, be used for respectively being touched and pressed and make this circuit board produce a corresponding key signal, wherein, each key structure includes:

a key cap;

a base, including a base shell, the base shell having a hollow part and having a first base protruding shaft and a second base protruding shaft disposed on the base shell, and the first base protruding shaft passing through the first receiving through hole, and the second base protruding shaft passing through the second receiving through hole; when the keycap moves up and down relative to the circuit board, a bending angle of the hinge element and a relative position between the first base convex shaft and the first containing through hole are changed; and

a mechanical switch, comprising:

one end of the pushing and abutting piece is contacted with the keycap;

a linkage member connected to the pushing member;

11. The keyboard apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuit board comprises a plurality of switches respectively corresponding to the plurality of key structures, and at least one of the key structures further comprises an elastic body disposed between the key cap and the circuit board and located in the hollow portion, the elastic body having a top portion, and when the key cap is pressed, the elastic body is compressed to make the top portion press against the corresponding switch, and when the key cap is no longer pressed, the elastic body provides an elastic force to the key cap to restore the key cap.

12. A keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a circuit board;

a key cap;

a base, including a base shell, the base shell having a hollow part and having a first base protruding shaft and a second base protruding shaft disposed on the base shell, and the first base protruding shaft passing through the first receiving through hole, and the second base protruding shaft passing through the second receiving through hole; when the keycap moves up and down relative to the circuit board, a bending angle of the hinge element and a relative position between the first base convex shaft and the first containing through hole are changed;

one end of the pushing and abutting piece is contacted with the keycap;

a linkage member connected to the pushing member;

the first elastic sheet is electrically connected with the circuit board; and

the second elastic sheet is electrically connected with the circuit board;

the base shell is fixed on the circuit board, at least part of the pushing and abutting piece, the linkage piece, at least part of the first elastic piece and at least part of the second elastic piece are contained in the hollow-out part of the base shell, and when the pushing and abutting piece moves downwards due to the fact that the keycap is pressed, the linkage piece synchronously moves downwards to enable the first elastic piece to contact the second elastic piece, and the circuit board generates a key signal.