CN112466693A

CN112466693A - Keyboard device and key structure thereof

Info

Publication number: CN112466693A
Application number: CN201910841282.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杨哲玮; 吴明翰; 陈宜玮
Original assignee: Zhishen Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Zhishen Technology Co ltd; Primax Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-06
Filing date: 2019-09-06
Publication date: 2021-03-09

Abstract

The invention provides a keyboard device and a key structure thereof, wherein the keyboard device comprises a film circuit board, a key frame arranged above the film circuit board and the key structure, the key structure comprises a keycap and a flank part, the keycap is used for being pressed to move in the key frame, one end of the flank part is connected with the side edge of the keycap, and the other end of the flank part extends into a partition wall of a frame body from the side edge of the keycap; the side wing part is provided with a through hole for the convex part of the key frame to pass through, thereby preventing the keycap from falling off from the keyboard device.

Description

Keyboard device and key structure thereof

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of computer peripheral devices, and more particularly, to a keyboard device and a key structure thereof.

Background

Common input devices for computer peripherals include mouse devices, keyboard devices 1 and trackball devices, among which keyboard devices are very important for users to input characters and symbols directly into computers.

First, the structure and function of a conventional keyboard device will be described, please refer to fig. 1 to 4, fig. 1 is an external structural diagram of the conventional keyboard device, fig. 2 is a perspective diagram of a partial structure of the keyboard device shown in fig. 1, fig. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram of the partial structure of the keyboard device shown in fig. 2, and fig. 4 is a conceptual sectional diagram of the partial structure of the keyboard device shown in fig. 2. For clarity, only a portion of the key frame, a single key structure and related component structures are illustrated in fig. 2 to 4.

The conventional keyboard apparatus 1 includes a plurality of key structures 10, a key base 11, a film circuit board 12 and a key frame 13, wherein the film circuit board 12 has a plurality of film switches 121 corresponding to the plurality of key structures 10, each key structure 10 includes a key cap 101, a scissors-type connecting element 102 and an elastic body 103, the scissors-type connecting element 102 is connected between the key cap 101 and the key base 11 and includes a first frame 1021 and a second frame 1022 pivotally connected to the first frame 1021, so that the first frame 1021 and the second frame 1022 can swing relative to each other. In addition, the elastic body 103 is disposed between the key cap 101 and the key base 11, and has an abutting portion (not shown).

When the key cap 101 of any key structure 10 is pressed and moves downward relative to the key base plate 11, the first frame 1021 and the second frame 1022 of the scissors-type connecting element 102 change from the open-close state to the folded state, and the downward-moving key cap 101 presses the elastic body 103, so that the abutting portion of the elastic body 103 abuts against and triggers the corresponding membrane switch 121, and the keyboard apparatus 1 generates the corresponding key signal. When the key cap 101 of the key structure 10 is no longer pressed, the key cap 101 moves upward relative to the key base 11 according to the elastic force of the elastic body 103, and the first frame 1021 and the second frame 1022 change from the folded state to the open-closed state, and the key cap 101 returns to the original position.

Furthermore, the key frame 13 is disposed above the thin film circuit board 12, and has a frame 132 and a plurality of accommodating holes 131 respectively corresponding to the plurality of key structures 10, and each accommodating hole 131 is used for allowing the keycap 101 of the corresponding key structure 10 to move therein. However, since the key caps 101 of the keyboard apparatus 1 are only fixed on the key base 11 against the scissors linkage 102, the key caps 101 are easily detached from the keyboard apparatus 1 when an external force is applied.

In view of this, a keyboard apparatus having a key drop prevention design is proposed. Please refer to fig. 5, which is a schematic partial sectional view of a keyboard device with a key-drop prevention design, and is also a keyboard device proposed by taiwan patent application No. TWI 669729. The keyboard apparatus 1 'is substantially similar to the keyboard apparatus 1, except that the keyboard apparatus 1' further comprises a limiting frame 14 disposed above the key frame 13, and the limiting frame 14 comprises a frame 142 and a plurality of accommodating holes 141 respectively corresponding to the plurality of key structures 10 and longitudinally penetrating through the frame 142; any containing hole 141 of the limiting frame 14 is communicated with the corresponding containing hole 131 on the key frame 13, and the opening of each containing hole 141 of the limiting frame 14 is smaller than the opening of the corresponding containing hole 131 on the key frame 13.

Furthermore, each key structure 10' further includes a wing portion 104, one end of the wing portion 104 is connected to the side edge of the key cap 101, and the other end of the wing portion 104 extends outward from the side edge of the key cap 101 to the lower side of the frame 142, so that the wing portion 104 and the frame 142 form an interference relationship. Therefore, when the key cap 101 is subjected to a large external striking force or is scratched, the key cap 101 is not easily separated from the keyboard apparatus 1' because the frame 142 of the position-limiting frame 14 provides a position-limiting effect on the side wing portions 104 of the key structure 10.

However, after the applicant researches, it is found that the effect of preventing the keycap 101 from falling off only by using the interference relationship between the key structure 10' and the limiting frame 14 is still quite limited, and once the keycap 101 is subjected to a large external knocking force or is intentionally scratched, such as when being applied to the educational market, the side wing portions 104 may still be deformed to overcome the interference relationship between the side wing portions and the limiting frame 14, thereby causing the keycap 101 to come loose and slide. Thus, the known keyboard apparatus 1' still has room for improvement.

Disclosure of Invention

One objective of the present invention is to provide a key structure with a side wing portion extending laterally from a side edge of a key cap and having a through hole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device having the above-mentioned key structure, wherein the key frame has a protrusion for passing through the wing portion, thereby preventing the keycap from falling off the keyboard device.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a keyboard device, which includes a thin film circuit board, a key frame and a key structure. The film circuit board comprises a film switch; the key frame is arranged above the film circuit board and comprises a frame body, an accommodating hole and at least one convex part. A containing hole longitudinally penetrating through the frame body; at least one convex part, one end of each convex part is connected with the frame body, and the other end of each convex part extends from the frame body to the film circuit board; the key structure corresponds to the membrane switch and comprises a key cap and at least one side wing part, and the key cap is used for being pressed and moving in the containing hole; one end of each side wing part is connected with the side edge of the keycap, and the other end of each side wing part extends from the side edge of the keycap in the lateral direction; each side wing part is provided with a through hole, and each through hole is used for the corresponding convex part to pass through.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention also provides a key structure for a keyboard device having a key frame, comprising a key cap and at least one wing portion, wherein the key cap is pressed to move in the key frame; one end of each side wing part is connected with the side edge of the keycap, and the other end of each side wing part extends into a partition wall of the frame body from the side edge of the keycap; wherein, each side wing part is provided with a through hole, and each through hole is used for a convex part of the key frame to pass through.

The key structure has the advantages that the through holes of the first side wing part and the second side wing part of the key structure respectively form a limit relation with the corresponding convex parts of the key frame, the limit relation still allows the first side wing part and the second side wing part to keep the elasticity moving up and down along with the key cap in the process that the key cap moves up and down relative to the key bottom plate, and when the key cap is subjected to larger external knocking force or is scratched deliberately, the key cap can be prevented from falling off from the keyboard device due to the deformation of the first side wing part and the second side wing part.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an appearance structure of a conventional keyboard device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a conceptual sectional view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a part of a keyboard device with a key-dropping prevention design.

Fig. 6 is an external structural view of a keyboard apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective exploded view of the thin film circuit board of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a conceptual sectional view of a part of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a conceptual top view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus of fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a conceptual top view of a portion of a keyboard apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.

The reference numbers are as follows:

1 keyboard device

1' keyboard device

2A keyboard device

2B keyboard device

10 push-button structure

10' key structure

11 key bottom board

12 film circuit board

13 key frame

14 limit frame

20 key structure

21 push-button bottom board

22 thin film circuit board

23 key frame

24 limiting frame

101 key cap

102 scissor type connecting element

103 elastomer

104 side wing part

121 thin film switch

131 accommodating hole

132 frame body

141 accommodating hole

142 frame body

201 keycap

202 connecting element

203 elastomer

204 first wing portion

205 second wing portion

206 perforation

221 thin film switch

222 upper film

223 lower film

224 middle layer film

231 accommodating hole

232 frame body

233 convex part

1021 first frame

1022 second frame

2021 first frame

2022 second frame

2221 first circuit pattern

2231 second circuit pattern

2222 upper contact

2232 lower contact point

2241 contact opening

2321 spacing wall

2322 grooves

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 of a type well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Many variations and modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 6 to 7, fig. 6 is an external structural view of a keyboard apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and fig. 7 is a perspective view of a partial structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6. In fig. 7, only a part of the key frame and a single key structure are shown for clarity of illustration. The keyboard device 2A includes a plurality of key structures 20, a key base 21, a film circuit board 22 and a key frame 23, the plurality of key structures 20 can be classified into general keys, numeric keys and function keys, which are respectively pressed by a user's fingers to enable the keyboard device 2A to generate corresponding key signals to the computer, so as to enable the computer to execute corresponding functions, for example, the general keys are used for inputting symbols such as english letters, the numeric keys are used for inputting numbers, and the function keys are used for providing various shortcut functions, for example, F1-F12.

Please refer to fig. 8, which is a schematic exploded view of the thin film circuit board of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6. The thin film wiring board 22 includes a plurality of thin films stacked on one another. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of films includes an upper film 222 and a lower film 223, the lower surface of the upper film 222 has a first circuit pattern 2221, the first circuit pattern 2221 has a plurality of upper contacts 2222 corresponding to the plurality of key structures 20, respectively, the upper surface of the lower film 223 has a second circuit pattern 2231, and the second circuit pattern 2231 has a plurality of lower contacts 2232 corresponding to the plurality of upper contacts 2222, respectively; each upper contact 2222 is spaced apart from its corresponding lower contact 2232, and forms a membrane switch 221 (see fig. 9) together with the corresponding lower contact 2232.

In order to provide a distance between each upper contact 2222 and its corresponding lower contact 2232, the film circuit board 22 further includes an intermediate film 224 disposed between the upper film 222 and the lower film 223, and the intermediate film 224 has a plurality of contact openings 2241 corresponding to the plurality of upper contacts 2222 and the plurality of lower contacts 2232, respectively. Preferably, but not limited thereto, any one of the upper film 222, the lower film 223 and the middle film 224 may be made of a Polycarbonate (PC) material, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material, a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material, a Polyurethane (PU) material or a Polyimide (PI) material.

Referring to fig. 9 to 11 synchronously, fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the keyboard device shown in fig. 7, fig. 10 is a conceptual sectional view of the portion of the keyboard device shown in fig. 7, and fig. 11 is a conceptual top view of the portion of the keyboard device shown in fig. 7. For more clarity, fig. 9 to 10 only show a part of the key frame, a single key structure and related elements, and fig. 10 shows different elements with different patterns. Each of the key structures 20 includes a key cap 201, a connecting element 202 and an elastic body 203, wherein the connecting element 202 is connected between the key cap 201 and the key base 21 for moving the key cap 201 up and down relative to the key base 21, and the elastic body 203 is disposed between the key cap 201 and the key base 21 and has a top portion (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, the connecting element 202 is a scissors-type connecting element and includes a first frame 2021 and a second frame 2022 pivotally connected to the first frame 2021, so that the first frame 2021 and the second frame 2022 can swing relative to each other.

When the key cap 201 of any key structure 20 is pressed and moves downward relative to the key base 21, the first frame 2021 and the second frame 2022 of the connecting element 202 change from the open-close state to the folded state, and the downward moving key cap 201 presses the elastic body 203, so that the abutting portion of the elastic body 203 abuts against and triggers the corresponding upper contact 2222, and further the corresponding upper contact 2222 contacts the corresponding lower contact 2232 through the corresponding contact opening 2241, thereby electrically connecting the corresponding membrane switch 221, so that the keyboard device 2A generates the corresponding key signal. When the key cap 201 of the key structure 20 is no longer pressed, the key cap 201 moves upward relative to the key base 21 according to the elastic force of the elastic body 203, and at this time, the first frame 2021 and the second frame 2022 change from the folded state to the open-closed state, and the key cap 201 returns to the original position. However, the above is only an embodiment, and the connection relationship among the connection element 202, the key base 21 and the key top 201 is not limited thereto.

Furthermore, the key frame 23 is disposed above the thin film circuit board 22, and includes a frame body 232, a plurality of accommodating holes 231, and a plurality of protrusions 233, and the frame body 232 includes a plurality of partition walls 2321, and each accommodating hole 231 penetrates the frame body 232 in the longitudinal direction, wherein at least a part of the partition walls 2321 has a groove 2322, and each protrusion 233 is disposed in the corresponding groove 2322, and one end thereof is connected to the upper surface of the groove 2322, and the other end thereof extends toward the thin film circuit board 22. Preferably, but not limited thereto, the frame 232 is integrally formed with the plurality of protrusions 233.

In addition, in the present invention, each key structure 20 further includes a first side wing 204 and a second side wing 205, and one end of the first side wing 204 and one end of the second side wing 205 are respectively connected to two opposite side edges of the key cap 201, and the other end of the first side wing 204 and the other end of the second side wing 205 respectively extend from two opposite side edges of the key cap 201 to the grooves 2322 of the two partition walls 2321; the first and

second side wings

204 and 205 have through holes 206, and each through hole 206 is for the corresponding protrusion 233 to pass through.

Based on the above design, the through holes 206 of the first and second

side wing portions

204 and 205 of the key structure 20 respectively form a limit relationship with the corresponding protrusions 233 of the key frame 23, and such limit relationship still allows the first and second

side wing portions

204 and 205 to maintain the elasticity of moving up and down along with the key cap 201 during the process that the key cap 201 moves up and down relative to the key base 21, and when the key cap 201 is subjected to a large external striking force or is accidentally scratched, the key cap 201 can be prevented from falling off from the keyboard apparatus 2A due to the deformation of the first and second

side wing portions

204 and 205, thereby effectively improving the defects of the prior art.

However, the above embodiments are merely examples, and those skilled in the art can make any equivalent design according to the actual application requirements. For example, although the key structure 20 of the keyboard apparatus 2A has two

side wings

205 and 206, it can be designed to have only one side wing. For another example, although the positions of the first side wing portion 204 and the second side wing portion 205 of the keyboard apparatus 2A are in a left-right symmetrical relationship, the positions of the first side wing portion 204 and the second side wing portion 205 may be designed to be shifted back and forth, so that the distance between any two key structures 20 can be shortened to achieve the miniaturization effect, as shown in the keyboard apparatus 2B shown in fig. 12.

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.

Claims

1. A keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a film circuit board including a film switch;

a key frame disposed above the thin film circuit board and including:

a frame body;

a containing hole longitudinally penetrating through the frame body; and

at least one convex part, one end of each convex part is connected with the frame body, and the other end of each convex part extends from the frame body to the film circuit board; and

a key structure corresponding to the membrane switch and comprising:

a key cap, which is pressed to move in the containing hole; and

at least one side wing part, one end of each side wing part is connected with the side edge of the keycap, and the other end of each side wing part extends from the side edge of the keycap in the lateral direction; each side wing part is provided with a through hole, and each through hole is used for the corresponding convex part to pass through.

2. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of partition walls, and at least a portion of the partition walls has a recess; wherein, the other end of the corresponding flank part extends into the groove.

3. The keyboard apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one protrusion is disposed in the recess, the end of the at least one protrusion is connected to an upper surface of the recess, and the other end of the at least one protrusion passes through the corresponding through hole.

4. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one side wing portion comprises a first side wing portion and a second side wing portion, and the first side wing portion and the second side wing portion are disposed in a front-back staggered relationship or a left-right symmetrical relationship.

5. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion is configured to pass through the through hole of the first side wing, and the second protrusion is configured to pass through the through hole of the second side wing.

6. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the thin film circuit board comprises an upper film and a lower film, and the upper film is provided with a first circuit pattern and the lower film is provided with a second circuit pattern; the first circuit pattern and the second circuit pattern are respectively provided with an upper contact and a lower contact, and a spacing distance is formed between the upper contact and the lower contact to jointly form the membrane switch.

7. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a key base, and the key structure further comprises a linking member coupled between the key base and the keycap to move the keycap up and down relative to the key base.

8. The keyboard apparatus of claim 7, wherein the connecting element is a scissor-type connecting element and comprises a first frame and a second frame pivotally connected to the first frame.

9. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the key structure further comprises an elastic body disposed between the key cap and the thin film circuit board and having a top portion, wherein when the key cap is pressed, the elastic body is compressed to make the top portion press against the thin film 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 to its original position.

10. A key structure applied to a keyboard device with a key frame comprises:

a key cap, which is pressed to move in the key frame; and

at least one side wing part, one end of each side wing part is connected with the side edge of the keycap, and the other end of each side wing part extends into a partition wall of the frame body from the side edge of the keycap; wherein, each side wing part is provided with a through hole, and each through hole is used for a convex part of the key frame to pass through.

11. The key structure of claim 10, wherein the at least one wing portion includes a first wing portion and a second wing portion, and the first wing portion and the second wing portion are disposed in a front-back staggered relationship or a left-right symmetrical relationship.

12. The key structure of claim 10, further comprising a connecting element, wherein the connecting element is connected between a key base plate of the keyboard apparatus and the key cap, so that the key cap moves up and down relative to the key base plate.

13. The key structure of claim 12, wherein the connecting element is a scissors-type connecting element and includes a first frame and a second frame pivotally connected to the first frame.

14. The key structure of claim 10, further comprising an elastic body disposed between the key cap and a thin film circuit board of the keyboard device and having a top portion, wherein when the key cap is pressed, the elastic body is compressed to make the top portion press against the thin film 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 to its original position.