CN110875152B

CN110875152B - Keyboard with a keyboard body

Info

Publication number: CN110875152B
Application number: CN201811004674.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 林志坪; 汪光申
Original assignee: Qun Optoelectronics Suzhou Co ltd
Current assignee: Qun Optoelectronics Suzhou Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-30
Filing date: 2018-08-30
Publication date: 2021-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-30
Also published as: CN110875152A

Abstract

A keyboard comprises a bottom plate, a keycap and at least one balance component. The base plate has a plurality of attachment structures. The keycap is located above the bottom plate. The balance assembly comprises a balance rod and two silencing pieces. The balancing pole is located between bottom plate and the key cap to link up the key cap. The silencing piece is connected with the balance rod and is connected with the connecting structure. The balancing component is configured to guide the keycap to move relative to the base plate. The hardness of the bottom plate and the balancing rod is greater than that of the silencing piece.

Description

Keyboard with a keyboard body

Technical Field

The invention relates to a keyboard.

Background

In terms of the current usage habit of personal computers, a keyboard is one of the indispensable input devices for inputting characters or numbers. Moreover, for consumer-grade electronic products in contact with daily life or large processing equipment used in the industry, a key structure is required to be provided as an input device for operating the electronic products and the processing equipment.

For the keys of the keyboard, in order to guide the keycap to move vertically, a linkage member is usually disposed under the keycap of the key. For example, the scissors-type linkage is formed by two supporting members that are disposed alternately. In addition, in order to balance the force applied by the user on the long-time key, a balance rod is usually arranged below the keycap of the long-time key. Therefore, the force can be evenly distributed on the whole key cap surface no matter the force is applied to the side edge or the corner of the key cap.

Generally, the balance bar is usually fixed in the keyboard by a hook connected to the bottom plate. One conventional method of forming the hooks on the base plate is to stamp a sheet metal part to form the hooks that can be bent and erected. However, the bottom plate and the balance bar are generally made of metal, so that when the keyboard is used, metal knocking noise is often generated.

Therefore, how to provide a keyboard capable of solving the above problems is one of the problems that the industry needs to invest in research and development resources to solve.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, an objective of the present invention is to provide a keyboard that can effectively solve the aforementioned problems.

To achieve the above objective, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard comprises a base, a key cap, and at least one balance element. The base plate has a plurality of attachment structures. The keycap is located above the bottom plate. The balance assembly comprises a balance rod and two silencing pieces. The balancing pole is located between bottom plate and the key cap to link up the key cap. The silencing piece is connected with the balance rod and is connected with the at least one connecting structure. The balancing component is configured to guide the keycap to move relative to the base plate. The hardness of the bottom plate and the balancing rod is greater than that of the silencing piece.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the balance bar includes a first bar body and a second bar body that are connected and bent with respect to each other. The first rod body is connected with the keycap. The silencing piece comprises a body part and at least one shaft part. The body part is sleeved at one end of the corresponding second rod body, which is far away from the first rod body. The at least one shaft part is connected with the body part and is connected with the corresponding connecting structure.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the shaft is substantially parallel to the first rod.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the shaft extends substantially opposite to the second rod.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the shaft portion extends substantially opposite to the second rod body.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the number of the at least one shaft portion is two. The body portion is located between two of the connection structures. The two shafts are located on two opposite sides of the main body and respectively connected with the two connecting structures.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the body portion is slidably sleeved on the end of the at least one second rod away from the first rod.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the body portion has a channel. The channel has two open ends. The second rod body is inserted into the channel from one of the two open ends.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the number of the at least one balancing component is two. The two balancing components are arranged in a horizontal symmetrical mode relative to the bottom plate.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the keyboard further includes a linkage. The linkage piece is connected between the base plate and the keycap and configured to guide the keycap to move towards or away from the base plate. The two balance components surround the linkage component together.

In summary, in the keyboard of the present invention, the balance bar of the balance assembly is connected to the connecting structure on the bottom plate through the noise reduction element, and is not directly touched to the connecting structure, so that the noise caused by metal impact when the keycap is pressed can be effectively avoided. In addition, by means of the fact that the silencing piece is slidably sleeved on the balance rod (namely, the silencing piece and the balance rod are in a non-fixed state), interference between the silencing piece and the balance rod can be avoided during sliding of the silencing piece relative to the connecting structure, and the problem that structural interference occurs between the balance component and other components in the process that the keycap is pressed is effectively avoided.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the problems, solutions to problems, and other aspects of the present invention, and the specific details thereof are set forth in the following description and the related drawings.

Drawings

In order to make the aforementioned and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the invention more comprehensible, the following description is given:

fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2A is a perspective assembly view illustrating a key device of the keyboard in fig. 1.

Fig. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the key device shown in fig. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a side view of a portion of the components of the key device shown in FIG. 2A in an operating state.

Fig. 3B is a side view illustrating a portion of the components of the key device in fig. 2A in another operation state.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the balancing assembly of FIG. 2B along line 4-4.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a balancing assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a balancing assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a side view of a key device according to another embodiment of the invention in an operating state.

FIG. 7B is a side view of a portion of the components of a key device according to another embodiment of the invention in another operating state.

Wherein the reference numerals are:

100: keyboard with a keyboard body

110. 410: base plate

111. 411: connection structure

120: circuit board

130: linkage piece

140: key cap

141a, 141 b: side edge

150. 250, 350, 450: balancing assembly

151. 451: balancing pole

151a, 451 a: the first rod body

151b, 451 b: second rod body

152. 252, 352: silencing piece

152a, 252a, 352 a: body part

152a 1: channel

152b, 252b, 352 b: shaft part

E1, E2: open end

Detailed Description

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous implementation details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that these implementation details are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention. That is, in some embodiments of the invention, such implementation details are not necessary. In addition, for simplicity and clarity of illustration, certain conventional structures and components are shown in simplified schematic form in the drawings, and like reference numerals are used to designate like components in the various embodiments.

Please refer to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a keyboard 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in fig. 1, the keyboard 100 of the present embodiment may be an external keyboard (for example, a PS2 interface keyboard or a USB interface keyboard) for a desktop computer or an input device including keys, but is not limited thereto. In other words, the concept of the keyboard 100 of the present invention can be applied to any electronic product using pressing as an input method.

Please refer to fig. 2A to fig. 3B. Fig. 2A is a perspective assembly diagram illustrating the key device of the keyboard 100 in fig. 1. Fig. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the key device shown in fig. 2A. FIG. 3A is a side view of a portion of the components of the key device shown in FIG. 2A in an operating state. Fig. 3B is a side view illustrating a portion of the components of the key device in fig. 2A in another operation state. The structure and function of each component included in the keyboard 100 and the connection relationship between each component will be described in detail below.

As shown in fig. 1 to fig. 3B, in the present embodiment, the keyboard 100 includes a bottom plate 110, a circuit board 120, a plurality of linkage members 130 (only one is representatively shown in fig. 2B), a plurality of key caps 140 and a plurality of balance members 150 (only one is representatively shown in fig. 2B), wherein the combination of the bottom plate 110, the circuit board 120, the two linkage members 130, the key caps 140 and the two balance members 150 can be regarded as an independent key device, but the invention is not limited thereto. The base plate 110 has a plurality of connecting structures 111 (only one is representatively shown in fig. 2B), in the embodiment, the connecting structures 111 are hooks formed on the base plate 110 by stamping, but the invention is not limited thereto. The keycap 140 is positioned above the base plate 110. The circuit board 120 is disposed on the base plate 110 and located between the base plate 110 and the keycap 140. The linkage 130 and the balance assembly 150 are located between the bottom plate 110 and the key cap 140. The upper end of the linkage member 130 and the upper end of the balance member 150 are respectively connected with the key cap 140, and the connection structure 111 of the base plate 110 passes through the circuit board 120 and is respectively connected with the lower end of the linkage member 130 and the lower end of the balance member 150. The linkage 130 and the balance member 150 are configured to guide the keycap 140 to move relative to the base plate 110. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, the balance member 150 extends along the long sides (i.e., the sides 141a, 141B) of the key cap 140 to two short sides, thereby providing a more balanced linkage effect for the edges or corners of the key cap 140 and evenly distributing the applied force over the entire surface of the key cap 140.

As shown in fig. 2B to fig. 3B, in the embodiment, the linking member 130 is a scissor-type link assembly as an example, but the invention is not limited thereto. In practical applications, the linking member 130 can be replaced by other structures with similar functions (i.e., driving the key cap 140 to move up and down relative to the base plate 110), such as a V-shaped, a-shaped or two parallel link structures.

In some embodiments, the key device of the keyboard 100 may further include a reset element (not shown). The reset piece may be disposed between the circuit board 120 and the key cap 140. When the key cap 140 is pressed down by an external force, the reset element generates a resistance force for supporting the key cap 140, so as to provide a hand feeling for a user to press, and the pressed key cap 140 can be moved to the lowest position by the guidance of the linkage element 130 and the balance element 150. After the external force applied to the key cap 140 is released, the reset member can make the depressed key cap 140 return to the highest position by the generated resistance. The mechanism and principle of the key device being pressed to generate the trigger signal can refer to the related art and will not be described herein. In some embodiments, the restoring member may be an elastomer, such as a rubber dome, but the invention is not limited thereto. In practical applications, the reset element may be replaced by other elements with similar functions, such as a metal spring, a mechanical switch, and a magnetic element.

As shown in fig. 2B to fig. 3B, in the present embodiment, the balance assembly 150 includes a balance bar 151 and two muffling elements 152 (only one is representatively labeled in fig. 2B). The balance bar 151 is located between the base plate 110 and the key cap 140 and engages the key cap 140. The noise dampening member 152 is coupled to the balancing bar 151 and engages the coupling structure 111 on the base plate 110. Specifically, the balance bar 151 includes a first bar 151a and two second bars 151b that are connected and bent with respect to each other. The two second rods 151b are connected to two ends of the first rod 151a, respectively. The first rod 151a engages the key cap 140. For example, the bottom of the key cap 140 may have a plurality of engaging portions (not shown) respectively engaging with a plurality of portions of the first rod 151a, so as to increase the engaging stability between the key cap 140 and the first rod 151 a. In some embodiments, the first rod 151a is pivotally connected to the key cap 140, but the invention is not limited thereto.

In the present embodiment, each sound damping element 152 includes a main body 152a and two shaft portions 152 b. The body portion 152a is sleeved on one end of the corresponding second rod 151b away from the first rod 151a, and is located between the two connecting structures 111. The two shaft portions 152b are connected to opposite sides of the body portion 152a and engage the connecting structure 111. In the present embodiment, the two shafts 152b slidably engage with the connecting structure 111 respectively, but the invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the two shaft portions 152b can also be pivotally connected to the connecting structure 111.

In some embodiments, in order to provide sufficient structural strength to the keyboard 100, the material of the base plate 110 and the material of the balance bar 151 in the balance assembly 150 are both harder than the material of the noise damping member 152. In some embodiments, the material of the connecting structure 111 and the material of the balance bar 151 comprise metal, and the material of the noise damping member 152 comprises plastic, but the invention is not limited thereto.

With the above-mentioned structure configuration, it can be ensured that the balance rod 151 of the balance assembly 150 is connected to the connecting structure 111 on the bottom plate 110 through the sound-absorbing member 152, and does not directly touch the connecting structure 111, so that the noise of metal impact generated when the keycap 140 is pressed can be effectively avoided.

Referring to FIG. 4, a partial cross-sectional view of the balancing assembly 150 of FIG. 2B along line 4-4 is shown. As shown in fig. 4, in the present embodiment, the body portion 152a of the silencer 152 has a passage 152a 1. The channel 152a1 has two open ends E1, E2. The corresponding second rod 151b penetrates the channel 152a1 from the open end E1 and penetrates out from the open end E2. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. In other embodiments, the body portion 152a of the sound-deadening member 152 may have only a single open end E1 for the second rod 151b to penetrate.

In some embodiments, the sound-deadening member 152 may be formed on the end of the second rod 151b away from the first rod 151a by an injection molding process.

In other embodiments, the body portion 152a of the sound-absorbing member 152 is slidably sleeved on an end of the second rod 151b away from the first rod 151a (i.e., the sound-absorbing member 152 and the second rod 151b are not fixed). With this structure, it is able to avoid the interference between the noise suppressor 152 and the balance rod 151 during the sliding of the noise suppressor 152 relative to the connection structure 111, and effectively avoid the problem of structural interference between the balance assembly 150 and other assemblies during the process of pressing the key cap 140.

As shown in fig. 2B, in the present embodiment, the shaft portion 152B of the same balancing assembly 150 is substantially parallel to the first rod 151 a. The two sound absorbing members 152 of each balance assembly 150 have four shaft portions 152b, wherein two shaft portions 152b extend inward and face each other, and the other two shaft portions 152b extend outward and face each other. The four shaft portions 152b are slidably engaged with the four connecting structures 111 on the bottom plate 110, so that the engagement between the balance assembly 150 and the bottom plate 110 can be enhanced. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

Referring to fig. 5, a perspective view of a balance assembly 250 according to another embodiment of the invention is shown. In the present embodiment, the balance assembly 250 includes the balance bar 151 and two sound absorbing members 252, wherein the balance bar 151 is the same as or similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 2B, so that reference can be made to the related descriptions, which will not be repeated herein. The difference between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in fig. 2B is that each sound-deadening member 252 of this embodiment includes only one shaft portion 252B connected to the main body portion 252 a. The first rod 151a and any one of the shaft portions 252b extend substantially opposite to the second rod 151 b. That is, the two shaft portions 252b of the two noise dampers 252 extend in opposite directions with respect to the stabilizer bar 151. To engage with the balancing assembly 250 of the present embodiment, the bottom plate 110 shown in fig. 2B may be reduced by two connecting structures 111.

Referring to fig. 6, a perspective view of a balance assembly 350 according to another embodiment of the invention is shown. In the present embodiment, the balance assembly 350 includes the balance bar 151 and two sound-absorbing members 352, wherein the balance bar 151 is the same as or similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 2B, so that reference can be made to the above description, which will not be repeated herein. The difference between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in fig. 2B is that each sound deadening member 352 of this embodiment includes only one shaft portion 352B connected to the main body portion 352 a. The first rod 151a and any one of the shaft portions 352b extend substantially opposite to the second rod 151 b. That is, the two shaft portions 352b of the two muffling elements 352 extend inward toward the stabilizer bar 151. To engage with the balancing assembly 350 of the present embodiment, the bottom plate 110 shown in fig. 2B may be reduced by two connecting structures 111.

Referring back to fig. 3A and 3B, in the present embodiment, the connecting structure 111 connected to the two balance elements 150 is located between the two balance elements 150, and the two balance elements 150 are substantially horizontally and symmetrically arranged with respect to the bottom plate 110. However, the invention is not limited thereto.

Please refer to fig. 7A and fig. 7B. FIG. 7A is a side view of a key device according to another embodiment of the invention in an operating state. FIG. 7B is a side view of a portion of the components of a key device according to another embodiment of the invention in another operating state. In this embodiment, the key device includes a bottom plate 410, a circuit board 120 (refer to fig. 2B without illustration), a linkage member 130, a key cap 140 (refer to fig. 2B without illustration), and a balance assembly 450, wherein the noise reduction member 152 in the circuit board 120, the two linkage members 130, the key cap 140, and the balance assembly 450 is the same as or similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 2B, and therefore, the foregoing description can be referred to, and is not repeated herein. The difference between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in fig. 2B is that the key device of this embodiment only includes a single balance member 450, and the first rod body 451a and the sound-deadening member 152 are respectively adjacent to two long sides of the key cap 140 (i.e., respectively adjacent to the lower portions of the two side edges 141a, 141B of the key cap 140 in fig. 2B. in addition, the position of the connecting structure 411 on the bottom plate 410 also needs to be adjusted corresponding to the position of the sound-deadening member 152. therefore, the second rod body 451B of the balance rod 451 of this embodiment is longer than the second rod body 151B of the balance rod 151 in fig. 2B, but the balance member 450 of this embodiment can also achieve the purpose of guiding the key cap 140 to move relative to the bottom plate 410.

As is apparent from the above detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, in the keyboard of the present invention, the balancing rod of the balancing assembly is connected to the connecting structure on the bottom plate through the noise reduction member, and does not directly touch the connecting structure, so that the noise caused by metal impact when the keycap is pressed can be effectively avoided. In addition, by means of the fact that the silencing piece is slidably sleeved on the balance rod (namely, the silencing piece and the balance rod are in a non-fixed state), interference between the silencing piece and the balance rod can be avoided during sliding of the silencing piece relative to the connecting structure, and the problem that structural interference occurs between the balance component and other components in the process that the keycap is pressed is effectively avoided.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it should be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

It should be emphasized that the above detailed description is specific to possible embodiments of the invention, but this is not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, and all equivalent implementations or modifications that do not depart from the technical spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a base plate having a plurality of connecting structures;

a keycap located above the bottom plate; and

at least one balance assembly comprising:

a balancing rod, which is positioned between the bottom plate and the keycap and is connected with the keycap; and

two silencing pieces connected with the balance bar and connected with the connecting structures,

and the balance component is configured to guide the keycap to move relative to the base plate;

wherein, the hardness of this bottom plate and this balancing pole all is greater than the hardness of these amortization pieces, and this balancing pole contains a first body of rod and two second body of rods that link to each other and buckle relatively, and this key cap is linked up to this first body of rod, and these some amortization pieces contain respectively:

the body part is sleeved at one end of the corresponding second rod body, which is far away from the first rod body; and

at least one shaft part connected with the body part and connected with the corresponding connecting structure;

wherein the shaft portions are substantially parallel to the first rod.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the shafts extend substantially opposite to the second rods.

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the shafts extend substantially opposite to the second rods.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the at least one shaft portion is two in number, the body portion is disposed between two of the connecting structures, and the two shafts are disposed on opposite sides of the body portion and respectively engage the two of the connecting structures.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the body is slidably disposed over the end of the at least one second rod remote from the first rod.

6. The keyboard as in claim 1, wherein the body has a channel with two open ends, and the second rod is inserted into the channel from one of the two open ends.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one balance element is two, and the two balance elements are substantially horizontally symmetrically arranged with respect to the bottom plate.

8. The keyboard of claim 7, further comprising a linkage member coupled between the base and the keycap and configured to guide the keycap to move toward or away from the base, wherein the two balancing members surround the linkage member.