CN112582195A

CN112582195A - Keyboard device

Info

Publication number: CN112582195A
Application number: CN201910938566.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李易树; 蔡磊龙
Original assignee: Zhishen Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Zhishen Technology Co ltd; Primax Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-30
Filing date: 2019-09-30
Publication date: 2021-03-30

Abstract

The invention provides a keyboard device which comprises a key structure, a thin film circuit board and a key bottom plate arranged below the thin film circuit board, wherein the key structure is provided with a lever structure, a spring plate structure or an interference structure and is used for knocking a key cap, the key bottom plate or a connecting element to generate operation sound when the key cap is touched and pressed and providing operation feedback feeling for a user.

Description

Keyboard device

Technical Field

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

Background

Common input devices for computer peripherals include mouse devices, keyboard devices and trackball devices, wherein the keyboard devices allow users to directly input characters and symbols into the computer, and are therefore highly appreciated.

First, the structure and function of a known keyboard device having a mechanical switch will be described. Referring to fig. 1 to 2, fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional keyboard device with a mechanical switch, fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the mechanical switch of the keyboard device shown in fig. 1 after a key cap is pressed, and fig. 1 and 2 only show a single mechanical key structure and related elements for clarity. The keyboard apparatus 2 includes a plurality of mechanical key structures 22 and a circuit board 21, each mechanical key structure 22 includes a key cap 221 and a mechanical switch 224 disposed between the key cap 221 and the circuit board 21, the mechanical switch 224 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, and the housing 2241 is configured to accommodate the linkage component 2243, the elastic body 2246, at least a portion of the pushing component 2242, at least a portion of the first elastic sheet 2244 and at least a portion of the second elastic sheet 2245.

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 and contacts the key cap 221, the other end is located in the housing 2241 and is connected to the link 2243, the link 2243 is disposed at the center of the base 22411 and can move up and down relative to the base 22411, and the link 2243 has a link protrusion 22431, which is formed by extending from a side wall of the link 2243 to the 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 sheet 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 be contacted with the coupling protrusion 22431 of the coupling member 2243 to swing relative to the fixing portion; and the first electrical connection 22441 passes downwardly through the base 22411 to contact and electrically connect to the circuit board 21; in addition, the second elastic sheet 2245 is disposed between the linking member 2243 and the first elastic 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.

In the process that a user touches and presses the keycap 221, the keycap 221 firstly pushes the pushing-against piece 2242 downwards, so that the linkage piece 2243 connected with the keycap moves downwards synchronously, meanwhile, the elastic body 2246 is compressed to generate elastic force, and the linkage convex part 22431 of the linkage piece 2243 contacts the elastic part 22442 of the first elastic sheet 2244 and moves downwards relative to the elastic part 22442 to push against 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 according to the contact between the first elastic sheet 2244 and the second elastic sheet 2245, as shown in fig. 2.

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, a better feedback feeling can be provided for the user. In addition, when the user stops pressing the key cap 221, the linking member 2243 and the pushing member 2242 move upward according to the elastic force generated by the elastic body 2246, so that the key cap 221 returns to the original position as shown in fig. 1. The operation principle of the mechanical switch 224 is 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. 1 and 2.

However, the mechanical switch has a complex structure, which results in high cost, and the keyboard device using the mechanical switch cannot be thinned effectively, so that it is difficult to satisfy the demands of users for electronic devices to be thin, and short. In view of this, a keyboard apparatus having a membrane switch is proposed.

Referring to fig. 3 to 4, fig. 3 is a side view of a structure of a keyboard device with a membrane switch in the prior art, and fig. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a membrane circuit board of the keyboard device shown in fig. 3. The keyboard apparatus 1 includes a key base 13, a film circuit board 14 and a plurality of key structures 12, wherein each key structure 12 includes a key cap 121, a scissors-type connecting element 122 and an elastic body 123, and the scissors-type connecting element 122 is connected between the key cap 121 and the key base 13 and includes a first frame 1221 and a second frame 1222 pivotally connected to the first frame 1221, so that the first frame 1221 and the second frame 1222 can swing relative to each other. In addition, the elastic body 123 is disposed between the key cap 121 and the thin film circuit board 14, and has a top 1231.

Furthermore, the film circuit board 14 includes an upper film 142, a lower film 141, and a middle film 143 disposed between the upper film 142 and the lower film 141, the lower surface of the upper film 142 has a first circuit pattern 1421, the first circuit pattern 1421 has a plurality of upper contacts 14211 respectively corresponding to the plurality of key structures 12, the upper surface of the lower film 141 has a second circuit pattern 1411, the second circuit pattern 1411 has a plurality of lower contacts 14111 respectively corresponding to the plurality of upper contacts 14211, and the middle film 143 has a plurality of contact openings 1431 respectively corresponding to the plurality of upper contacts 14211 and the plurality of lower contacts 14111. Each upper contact 14211 and its corresponding lower contact 14111 together form a membrane switch 144.

When the key cap 121 of any key structure 12 is pressed and moves downward relative to the key base 13, the first frame 1221 and the second frame 1222 of the scissors-type connecting element 122 are changed from the open-close state to the overlapped state, and the key cap 121 moving downward presses the elastic body 123, so that the abutting portion 1231 of the elastic body 123 abuts against and triggers the corresponding upper contact 14211, and further the corresponding upper contact 14211 contacts the corresponding lower contact 14111 through the corresponding contact opening 1431, thereby electrically connecting the corresponding membrane switch 144, and when the key cap 121 of the key structure 12 is no longer pressed, the key cap 121 moves upward relative to the key base 13 according to the elastic force of the elastic body 123, and at this time, the first frame 1221 and the second frame 1222 are changed from the overlapped state to the open-close state, and the key cap 121 returns to the original position.

According to the above description, the keyboard device using the membrane switch can be thinned effectively and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, but because the membrane switch cannot generate sound like a mechanical switch after being pressed, the keyboard device cannot provide better feedback hand feeling for users. Therefore, the known keyboard apparatus has room for improvement.

Disclosure of Invention

A first object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard apparatus having a lever structure in a key structure thereof, wherein the lever structure can strike a key cap according to the downward movement of the key cap, so that the keyboard apparatus can provide an operation sound and an operation feedback feeling similar to a mechanical switch for a user.

A second objective of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device having a spring structure in the key structure, wherein the spring structure can strike the key bottom plate according to the downward movement of the key cap, so that the keyboard device can provide the operation sound and the operation feedback feeling similar to a mechanical switch for the user.

A third objective of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device having an interference structure in the key structure, wherein the interference structure can strike the connecting element according to the downward movement of the key cap, so that the keyboard device can provide the operation sound and the operation feedback feeling like a mechanical switch for the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a keyboard device, which includes a thin film circuit board, a key bottom plate and a key structure. The film circuit board comprises a film switch; the key bottom plate is arranged below the thin film circuit board; the key structure comprises a keycap, a connecting element and a lever structure, wherein the keycap is positioned above the film circuit board; a connecting element is connected between the key base plate and the keycap for the keycap to move up and down relative to the key base plate; the lever structure is arranged below the keycap and is provided with a body, a first lever end, a second lever end and a fulcrum, the first lever end, the second lever end and the fulcrum are connected with the body, the first lever end and the second lever end respectively extend upwards from two ends of the body, and the fulcrum is positioned between the first lever end and the second lever and extends downwards from the body to contact the film circuit board or the key bottom board; the second lever end is used for knocking the keycap upwards when the keycap is pressed to enable the connecting element to push downwards to abut against the first lever end.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention also provides a keyboard device, which includes a thin film circuit board, a key bottom board and a key structure. The film circuit board comprises a film switch; a key bottom plate is arranged below the thin film circuit board; the key structure comprises a key cap, a connecting element and a spring plate structure, wherein the key cap is positioned above the film circuit board; a connecting element is connected between the key base plate and the keycap for the keycap to move up and down relative to the key base plate; a first end of the spring structure is fixedly connected to the connecting element, and a second end of the spring structure is used for knocking the key bottom plate downwards when the keycap is pressed to push against the connecting element.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention further provides a keyboard device, which includes a thin film circuit board, a key bottom plate and a key structure, wherein the thin film circuit board includes a thin film switch; a key bottom plate is arranged below the thin film circuit board; the key structure comprises a key cap, a connecting element and an interference structure, wherein the key cap is positioned above the film circuit board; a connecting element is connected between the key base plate and the keycap for the keycap to move up and down relative to the key base plate; an interference structure arranged below the keycap and comprising a spring element and a cover body, wherein one end of the spring element is contacted with the film circuit board or the key bottom plate, and the other end of the spring element is connected with the cover body so that the cover body is propped against the keycap; the cover body is used for interfering with the connecting element to generate sound when the keycap is pressed.

The keyboard device has the advantages that the keyboard device not only adopts the thin film circuit board to have the effects of thinning and reducing the manufacturing cost, but also arranges the interference structure which can strike the connecting element according to the downward movement of the keycap in the key structure, so that the keyboard device can provide the operation sound and the operation feedback feeling of a user like a mechanical switch, thereby having great industrial utilization value and being particularly suitable for the electric competition market, such as a game keyboard device for electric competition.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional keyboard device with mechanical switches.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a mechanical switch of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 1 after a key cap is pressed.

Fig. 3 is a structural side view of a known keyboard device with membrane switches.

Fig. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a thin film circuit board of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an external structural view of a keyboard apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a part of the structure of the film circuit board of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a structure of a part of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 9A is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6 at a viewing angle.

Fig. 9B is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6 from another perspective.

Fig. 10 is a conceptual side view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus of fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a keyboard apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 11 after the key cap is pressed.

Fig. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a keyboard apparatus according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a conceptual diagram of a structure of a part of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 14.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structural concept of a key cap and an interference structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in FIG. 14.

Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 14.

The reference numbers are as follows:

1 keyboard device

2 keyboard device

3A keyboard device

3B keyboard device

3C keyboard device

12 push-button structure

13 key bottom board

14 film circuit board

21 circuit board

22 mechanical key structure

30A key structure

30B key structure

30C button structure

31A key bottom board

31B key bottom board

31C key bottom board

32 film circuit board

121 keycap

122 scissor type connecting element

123 elastomer

141 lower film

142 upper film

143 middle layer film

144 thin film switch

221 keycap

224 mechanical switch

301A key cap

301B keycap

301C key cap

302A connecting element

302B connecting element

303 elastomer

304 lever structure

305 spring structure

306 interference structure

312 plate body

313 first bottom plate trip

314 second base plate hook

315 knocked part

321 thin film switch

322 upper film

323 lower film

324 middle layer film

1221 first frame

1222 second frame

1231 butting part

1411 second circuit pattern

1421 first circuit pattern

1431 contact opening

2241 outer casing

2242 pushing and supporting part

2243 linkage part

2244 first elastic sheet

2245 second elastic sheet

2246 elastic body

3011 fixing hook

3012 Movable hook

3013 position-limiting structure

3021 first frame

3022A second frame

3022B second frame

3023 fixed part

3024 the accommodating space

3031 sustaining part

3040 the subject matter

3041 the first lever end

3042 second lever end

3043 the fulcrum

3051 the first end of the elastic sheet structure

3052 the second end of the spring structure

3061 spring element

3062 cover body

3221A first circuit pattern

3222 Upper contact

3231 second circuit pattern

3232 lower contact

3241 contact opening

14111 lower contact

14211 upper contact

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

30211 first end of first frame

30212 second end of the first frame

30213 basket empty part

30221 first end of the second frame

30222 second end of second frame

30401 opening the holes

Direction D11

Direction D12

Direction D2

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 in a form known to those skilled in the art. Various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art in light of this disclosure.

Referring to fig. 5 to 6, fig. 5 is an external structural view of a keyboard apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, fig. 6 is a partial structural view of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 5, wherein, for clarity, fig. 6 only shows a single key structure and related component structures. The keyboard device 3A includes a plurality of key structures 30A, a key base plate 31A and a film circuit board 32 disposed on the key base plate 31A, the key structures 30A can be classified into general keys, numeric keys and function keys, which are respectively pressed by fingers of a user to enable the keyboard device 3A to generate corresponding key signals to a computer (not shown), so that the computer executes 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.

The thin film wiring board 32 includes a plurality of thin films stacked on each other. Please refer to fig. 7, which is a schematic perspective exploded view of a portion of the thin film circuit board of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6. In order to make fig. 7 clearly show the structure of each layer, the thickness of each film in fig. 7 is only an example, and only a single upper contact, a single lower contact and a single contact opening are illustrated in fig. 7. The plurality of films include an upper film 322 and a lower film 323, the lower surface of the upper film 322 has a first circuit pattern 3221, the first circuit pattern 3221 has a plurality of upper contacts 3222 corresponding to the plurality of key structures 30A, respectively, the upper surface of the lower film 323 has a second circuit pattern 3231, and the second circuit pattern 3231 has a plurality of lower contacts 3232 corresponding to the plurality of upper contacts 3222, respectively; each upper contact 3222 is spaced apart from its corresponding lower contact 3232, and forms a membrane switch 321 together with the corresponding lower contact 3232. In order to keep a distance between each upper contact 3222 and its corresponding lower contact 3232, the film circuit board 32 further includes an intermediate film 324 disposed between the upper film 322 and the lower film 323, and the intermediate film 324 has a plurality of contact openings 3241 corresponding to the plurality of upper contacts 3222 and the plurality of lower contacts 3232, respectively. Preferably, but not limited thereto, any one of the upper film 322, the lower film 323, and the middle film 324 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. 8, 9A, 9B and 10 in a synchronous manner, fig. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a partial structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6, fig. 9A is an exploded perspective view of a partial structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6 at one viewing angle, fig. 9B is an exploded perspective view of a partial structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6 at another viewing angle, and fig. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a side view of a partial structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 6. Similarly, for clarity, only a single key structure and related component structures are illustrated in fig. 8, 9A, 9B and 10. Each key structure 30A includes a key cap 301A, a connecting element 302A, an elastic body 303 and a lever structure 304, wherein the connecting element 302A is connected between the key cap 301A and the key base 31A for enabling the key cap 301A to move up and down relative to the key base 31A, and the elastic body 303 is disposed between the key cap 301A and the thin film circuit board 32 and has a top portion 3031. Furthermore, the lever structure 304 is disposed below the key cap 301A, and has a body 3040, and a first lever end 3041, a second lever end 3042 and a fulcrum 3043 connected to the body 3040, wherein the first lever end 3041 and the second lever end 3042 respectively extend upward from two ends of the body 3040, and the fulcrum 3043 is located between the first lever end 3041 and the second lever 3042 and extends downward from the body 3040 to contact the film circuit board 32 or pass through the film circuit board 32 to contact the key bottom board 31A. In the preferred embodiment, the body 3040 of the lever structure 304 is a plate and has an opening 30401, and the opening 30401 is used for the elastic body 303 to pass through. Preferably, but not limited thereto, the lever structure 304 is made of a metal material, and the first lever end 3041 is higher than the second lever end 3042.

In addition, the key cap 301A further has a fixed hook 3011 and a movable hook 3012 on the lower surface thereof, and the connecting element 302A is a scissors-type connecting element, which includes a first frame 3021 and a second frame 3022A pivotally connected to the first frame 3021, where the first frame 3021 and the second frame 3022A are respectively an inner frame and an outer frame, and the first frame 3021 has a basket space 30213 for the lever structure 304 to be placed therein. In addition, the key base 31A includes a plate 312 disposed below the film circuit board 22, and a first base hook 313 and a second base hook 314 extending upward from the plate 312 and penetrating through the film circuit board 32. Based on the above structural design, the first end 30211 and the second end 30212 of the first frame 3021 are respectively connected to the fixed hook 3011 of the key cap 301A and the second bottom hook 314 of the key bottom plate 31A, and the first end 30221 and the second end 30222 of the second frame 3022A are respectively connected to the first bottom hook 313 of the key bottom plate 31A and the movable hook 3012 of the key cap 301A, and the first frame 3021 and the second frame 3022A can swing relative to each other to be switched from the folded state to the open-closed state or from the open-closed state to the folded state. However, the above is only an embodiment, and the connection relationship among the connection element 302A, the key base 31A and the key cap 301A is not limited thereto.

Next, the operation of the keyboard apparatus 3A will be described. When the key cap 301A of any key structure 30A is pressed and moves downward relative to the key bottom plate 31A, the first frame 3021 and the second frame 3022A of the connecting element 302A change from the open-closed state to the folded state, and the downward moving key cap 301A presses the elastic body 303, so that the top portion 3033 of the elastic body 303 abuts against and triggers the corresponding upper contact 3222, and further the corresponding upper contact 3222 contacts the corresponding lower contact 3232 through the corresponding contact opening 3241, thereby electrically connecting the corresponding membrane switch 321, and enabling the keyboard device 3A to generate the corresponding key signal. When the key cap 301A of the key structure 30A is no longer pressed, the key cap 301A moves upward relative to the key base 31A according to the elastic force of the elastic body 303, and at this time, the first frame 3021 and the second frame 3022A change from the folded state to the open-closed state, and the key cap 301A returns to the original position.

Specifically, when the key cap 301A of the key structure 30A is pressed and moves downward relative to the key base 31A, the first end 30211 of the first frame 3021 pushes the first lever end 3041 of the lever structure 304 downward to swing in the direction D11, so that the second lever end 3042 of the lever structure 304 swings in the direction D12 according to the lever principle, and the second lever end 3042 of the lever structure 304 strikes the downward moving key cap 301A upward to generate an operation sound and an operation feedback.

According to the above description, the keyboard apparatus 3A of the preferred embodiment not only has the effects of thin-film circuit board 22 and low manufacturing cost, but also has the lever structure 304 disposed in the key structure 30A for knocking the key cap 301A according to the downward movement of the key cap 301A, so that the keyboard apparatus 3A can provide the operation sound and operation feedback feeling like a mechanical switch for the user, and thus has great industrial utility value, and is particularly suitable for the electronic competition market, such as a game keyboard apparatus for electronic competition.

Referring to fig. 11 to 12, fig. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional conceptual view of a partial structure of a keyboard apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, and fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the partial structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 11. The keyboard apparatus 3B of the preferred embodiment is substantially similar to that described in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and will not be described herein again. The difference between the present preferred embodiment and the foregoing first preferred embodiment is that the key structure 30B does not include the lever structure 304, but includes a spring structure 305 having one end fixed to the connecting element 302B, and the key bottom plate 31B further includes a knocked portion 315 extending upward from the plate 312 and passing through the film circuit board 32. Preferably, but not limited thereto, the spring structure 305 is made of a metal material.

In the preferred embodiment, the connecting element 302B further includes a fixing portion 3023, the fixing portion 3023 is formed on the outer side of the second frame 3022B, and the first end 3051 of the spring structure 305 is shaped like a U, and is used for clamping the fixing portion 3023 of the connecting element 302B to fix the spring structure 305 on the second frame 3022B. However, the above is only an embodiment in which one end of the elastic structure 305 is fixed to the connecting element 302B, and the invention is not limited thereto.

Specifically, when the key cap 301B of the key structure 30B is pressed and moves downward relative to the key base plate 31B, the connecting element 302B is pushed to move from the open-close state to the folded state, and at this time, the elastic sheet structure 305 also swings along with the second frame 3022B in the direction D2, so that the second end 3052 of the elastic sheet structure 305 strikes the knocked portion 315 of the key base plate 31B and interferes, thereby generating an operation sound and an operation feedback. Fig. 13 illustrates a state in which the second end 3052 of the spring structure 305 interferes with the knocked portion 315 and then elastically deforms to pass through the knocked portion 315.

According to the above description, the keyboard apparatus 3B of the preferred embodiment not only has the thin film circuit board 22 to achieve the effect of reducing the manufacturing cost, but also has the spring structure 305 disposed in the key structure 30B for striking the key bottom plate 31B according to the downward movement of the key cap 301B, so that the keyboard apparatus 3B can provide the user with the operation sound and operation feedback feeling like a mechanical switch, and thus has great industrial utility value, and is particularly suitable for the electronic competition market, such as a game keyboard apparatus for electronic competition.

Referring to fig. 14 to 17, fig. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a partial structure of a keyboard apparatus according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention, fig. 15 is a schematic structural view illustrating a partial structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 14, fig. 16 is a schematic structural view illustrating a key cap and an interference structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 14, and fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a partial structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 14. The keyboard apparatus 3C of the preferred embodiment is substantially similar to that described in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and will not be described herein again. The difference between the present preferred embodiment and the foregoing first preferred embodiment is that the key structure 30C does not include the lever structure 304, but includes the interference structure 306 disposed below the key cap 301C, and the lower surface of the key cap 301C further includes the position-limiting structure 3013 corresponding to the interference structure 306.

In detail, the interference structure 306 includes a spring element 3061 and a cover 3062, and one end of the spring element 3061 contacts the film circuit board 32 or passes through the film circuit board 32 to contact the key bottom 31C, and the other end of the spring element 3061 is connected to the cover 3062, so that the cover 3062 can push against the key cap 301C according to the elastic force of the spring element 3061, that is, the interference structure 306 is sandwiched between the key cap 301C and the film circuit board 32, or sandwiched between the key cap 301C and the key bottom 31C. When the cover 3062 abuts against the key cap 301C, the limiting structure 3013 is used to abut against an outer edge of the cover 3062, thereby limiting a moving range of the cover 3062 in a horizontal direction, as shown in fig. 16. In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the spring element 3061 is located in the accommodating space 3024 formed between the outer side of the first frame 3021 and the inner side of the second frame 3022C, as shown in fig. 15.

Specifically, when the key cap 301C of the key structure 30C is pressed and moves downward relative to the key base plate 31C, the connecting element 302C is pushed to move from the open-close state to the folded state, and at this time, the cover 3062 of the interference structure 306 also moves downward along with the key cap 301C, so that the cover 3062 strikes the connecting element 302C and interferes, and further, an operation sound and an operation feedback are generated.

As can be seen from the above description, the keyboard apparatus 3C of the preferred embodiment not only has the effects of thin-film circuit board 22 and low manufacturing cost, but also has the interference structure 306 disposed in the key structure 30C for striking the connecting element 302C according to the downward movement of the key cap 301C, so that the keyboard apparatus 3C can provide the operation sound and operation feedback feeling of the user as a mechanical switch, and thus has great industrial utility value, and is particularly suitable for the electronic competition market, such as a game keyboard apparatus for electronic competition.

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;

the key bottom plate is arranged below the thin film circuit board; and

a key structure, comprising:

the keycap is positioned above the film circuit board;

the connecting element is connected between the key base plate and the keycap and is used for enabling the keycap to move up and down relative to the key base plate; and

the lever structure is arranged below the keycap and is provided with a body, a first lever end, a second lever end and a fulcrum, the first lever end, the second lever end and the fulcrum are connected with the body, the first lever end and the second lever end respectively extend upwards from two ends of the body, and the fulcrum is positioned between the first lever end and the second lever and extends downwards from the body to contact the film circuit board or the key bottom board; the second lever end is used for knocking the keycap upwards when the keycap is pressed to enable the connecting element to push downwards to abut against the first lever end.

2. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body is a sheet-like plate body having an opening for an elastic body to pass through; the elastic body is arranged between the keycap and the film circuit board and is provided with a butting part, when the keycap is pressed, the elastic body is compressed to enable the butting part to butt against the film switch, and when the keycap is not pressed any more, the elastic body provides an elastic force to the keycap to enable the keycap to recover the original position.

3. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises a basket void, and the lever structure is located within the basket void.

4. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lever end is higher than the second lever end.

5. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lever structure is made of a metal material.

6. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises:

a first frame, a first end of the first frame is connected with the keycap, and a second end of the first frame is connected with the key bottom plate; and

the second frame is combined with the first frame and swings relative to the first frame, a first end of the second frame is connected with the key bottom plate, and a second end of the second frame is connected with the keycap.

7. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the thin film circuit board further 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 space is formed between the upper contact and the lower contact to jointly form the membrane switch.

8. A keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a film circuit board including a film switch;

the key bottom plate is arranged below the thin film circuit board; and

a key structure, comprising:

the keycap is positioned above the film circuit board;

a spring structure, a first end of which is fixed on the connecting element, and a second end of which is used for knocking the key bottom plate downwards when the keycap is pressed to push against the connecting element.

9. The keyboard apparatus of claim 8, wherein the connecting element comprises a fixing portion formed on an outer edge thereof, and the end of the spring structure is U-shaped for clamping the fixing portion to fix the spring structure to the connecting element.

10. The keyboard apparatus of claim 8, wherein the connecting member further comprises:

the second frame is combined with the first frame and swings relative to the first frame, a first end of the second frame is connected with the key bottom plate, and a second end of the second frame is connected with the keycap; wherein, the fixed part is formed at the outer side of the second frame.

11. The keyboard device of claim 8, wherein the key base plate comprises a plate body and a knocked portion, the plate body is located below the thin film circuit board, and the knocked portion extends upwards from the plate body and penetrates through the thin film circuit board; the second end of the spring structure is pressed by the keycap to push against the connecting element, and the knocked part is knocked downwards.

12. The keyboard device of claim 11, wherein the key substrate further comprises a first substrate hook and a second substrate hook, and the first substrate hook and the second substrate hook respectively extend upward from the plate and penetrate through the thin film circuit board; the first bottom plate hook is used for being connected with a second frame of the connecting element, and the second bottom plate hook is used for being connected with a first frame of the connecting element.

13. The keyboard apparatus of claim 8, 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.

14. The keyboard apparatus of claim 8, wherein the resilient sheet structure is made of a metal material.

15. A keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a film circuit board including a film switch;

the key bottom plate is arranged below the thin film circuit board; and

a key structure, comprising:

the keycap is positioned above the film circuit board;

the interference structure is arranged below the keycap and comprises a spring element and a cover body, one end of the spring element is contacted with the film circuit board or the key bottom plate, and the other end of the spring element is connected with the cover body so that the cover body is propped against the keycap; the cover body is used for interfering with the connecting element to generate sound when the keycap is pressed.

16. The keyboard apparatus of claim 15, wherein a bottom surface of the key cap has a position-limiting structure, and the position-limiting structure is configured to abut against an outer edge of the cover when the cover abuts against the key cap.

17. The keyboard apparatus of claim 15, wherein the connecting member comprises:

18. The keyboard apparatus of claim 15, wherein a space is formed between an outer side of the first frame and an inner side of the second frame, and the spring element is disposed in the space.

19. The keyboard apparatus of claim 15, wherein the spring element is made of a metal material and the cover is made of a plastic material.

20. The keyboard apparatus of claim 15, 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.