CN114203469A - Keyboard device and key structure thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a keyboard device and a key structure thereof. The keyboard device comprises a plurality of key structures, and each key structure comprises a plate component, a keycap, a connecting component and a buffer component. The sheet assembly has a through region. The keycap is arranged above the plate component and comprises at least one clamping hook piece. The connecting component is arranged between the keycap and the plate component, and the keycap is connected with the connecting component through at least one clamping hook component, so that the keycap can move up and down relative to the plate component through the connecting component. The buffer member is arranged on the plate assembly, extends towards the direction close to the keycap and penetrates through the penetrating area of the plate assembly. When the keycap descends and moves towards the direction close to the plate assembly through the connecting assembly, the at least one clamping hook piece is abutted against the buffer piece, and a gap is formed between the keycap and the plate assembly.

Description

Keyboard device and key structure thereof

Technical Field

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

Background

With the development of technology, the electronic devices are greatly developed to bring convenience to human life, and therefore it is an important issue how to make the operations of the electronic devices more humanized. Common input devices for electronic devices include mouse devices, keyboard devices, and trackball devices, wherein the keyboard devices allow users to directly input characters and symbols into a computer, and are therefore highly appreciated.

The keyboard device comprises a plurality of key structures, each key structure mainly comprises a keycap, a scissors type connecting element, a film circuit board and a supporting plate which are stacked in sequence, and if the key structure belongs to the type of the light-emitting keyboard, a backlight module is additionally arranged below the supporting plate. Specifically, the membrane circuit board is provided with a membrane switch, an elastic element is arranged between the keycap and the membrane circuit board, and the scissors-type connecting element is connected between the keycap and the supporting plate and comprises a first frame and a second frame pivoted to the first frame, so that the first frame and the second frame can swing relative to each other. When the key cap of any key structure is pressed and moves downwards relative to the supporting plate, the first frame and the second frame of the scissors type connecting element are changed into an overlapped state from an opening state, and the key cap moving downwards extrudes the elastic element to enable the elastic element to abut against and trigger the corresponding membrane switch, so that the keyboard device generates a corresponding key signal. When the key cap of the key structure is not pressed any more, the key cap can move upwards relative to the support plate according to the elastic restoring force of the elastic element, at the moment, the first frame and the second frame can be changed into an open-close state from a folding state, and the key cap can be restored to the original position.

However, the conventional keyboard apparatus has a disadvantage that when the key cap of any key structure is pressed and moves downward relative to the supporting board, the key cap will strike the membrane circuit board to generate a knocking sound, i.e. a sound generated when the kinetic energy generated by the key cap striking the membrane circuit board is transmitted downward to the supporting board made of metal, and the sound is unpleasant noise for users. Therefore, how to improve the above problems is the focus of attention of those skilled in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

One objective of the present invention is to provide a keyboard apparatus, wherein a buffer is disposed on a board assembly of a key structure, when a key cap is pressed, the key cap moves downward toward the board assembly through a connecting assembly to enable at least one hook member to abut against the buffer, so that a gap is formed between the key cap and the board assembly, thereby effectively preventing the key cap from directly impacting the board assembly, and achieving the effect of reducing noise.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a key structure, wherein a buffer is disposed on the board assembly, when the key cap is pressed, the key cap moves downward toward the board assembly through the connecting assembly to make at least one of the hooks abut against the buffer, so that a gap is formed between the key cap and the board assembly, thereby effectively preventing the key cap from directly impacting the board assembly, and achieving the effect of reducing noise.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the technical features disclosed in the present invention.

To achieve one or a part of or all of the above or other objects, the present invention provides a keyboard device, which includes a plurality of key structures. Each key structure comprises a plate component, a keycap, a connecting component and a buffer component. The sheet assembly has a through region. The keycap is arranged above the plate component and comprises at least one clamping hook piece. The connecting component is arranged between the keycap and the plate component, and the keycap is connected with the connecting component through at least one clamping hook component, so that the keycap can move up and down relative to the plate component through the connecting component. The buffer member is arranged on the plate assembly, extends towards the direction close to the keycap and penetrates through the penetrating area of the plate assembly. When the keycap descends towards the direction close to the plate assembly through the connecting assembly to enable the at least one clamping hook piece to abut against the buffer piece, a gap is formed between the keycap and the plate assembly.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least one hook of the key cap abuts against the buffer to generate a deformation amount of the buffer, wherein the deformation amount is between 0.05 mm and 1 mm.

In an embodiment of the invention, the board assembly includes a supporting board and a film circuit board. The supporting plate is provided with a first through hole. The film circuit board is arranged between the keycap and the supporting plate, and is provided with a second through hole which is communicated with the first through hole to form a through area.

In an embodiment of the invention, the key cap further includes a top portion and a skirt extending from the top portion toward a direction close to the board assembly, and when at least one hook of the key cap is connected to the buffer member, a gap is formed between the skirt and the thin film circuit board of the board assembly.

In an embodiment of the invention, the keyboard apparatus further includes a waterproof sheet. The waterproof sheet body is arranged below the plate assembly, and the waterproof sheet body and the buffer piece are of an integrally formed structure.

In an embodiment of the invention, the waterproof sheet includes polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the keyboard apparatus further includes a waterproof sheet. The waterproof sheet body is arranged below the plate assembly, and the buffer piece is arranged on the waterproof sheet body.

In an embodiment of the invention, the material of the waterproof sheet includes polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate, and the material of the buffer includes silicone and rubber.

In an embodiment of the invention, the buffer includes a surface facing the key cap and an elastic gel disposed on the surface, and when the key cap moves downward toward a direction close to the plate assembly to enable the at least one hook member to abut against the elastic gel, the gap is formed between the key cap and the plate assembly.

The invention further provides a key structure which comprises a plate assembly, a keycap, a connecting assembly and a buffer piece. The sheet assembly has a through region. The key cap is arranged above the plate component and is provided with at least one clamping hook piece. The connecting component is arranged between the keycap and the plate component, and the keycap is connected with the connecting component through at least one clamping hook component, so that the keycap can move up and down relative to the plate component through the connecting component. The buffer member is arranged on the plate assembly, extends towards the direction close to the keycap and penetrates through the penetrating area of the plate assembly. When the keycap descends towards the direction close to the plate assembly to enable the at least one clamping hook piece to abut against the buffer piece, a gap is formed between the keycap and the plate assembly.

According to the keyboard device provided by the embodiment of the invention, the buffer piece is arranged on the plate component of the key structure, when the key cap of the key structure is touched and pressed, the key cap descends and moves towards the direction close to the plate component through the connecting component to enable the at least one clamping hook piece to abut against the buffer piece, so that a gap is formed between the key cap and the plate component, and under the structural design, the key cap is effectively prevented from directly impacting the plate component, the sound generated in the process that the key structure is touched and pressed is reduced, and the effect of reducing the noise is further achieved.

In order to make the aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, preferred embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an external structural schematic view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a key structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key structure shown in FIG. 3 after being pressed.

Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged view of a region Z of the key structure shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key structure according to another embodiment of the invention.

The reference numbers are as follows:

1: keyboard device

10. 10 a: press piece structure

11: sheet material assembly

12: key cap

13: connecting assembly

14. 14 a: buffer piece

15: water-proof sheet

110: through region

111: supporting plate

112: thin film circuit board

120: fastening hook piece

121: top part

122: skirt edge

140: surface of

141: elastic colloid

1110: the first through hole

1120: second through hole

G: gap

Z: region(s)

AA: line segment

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 to 5, fig. 1 is an external structural schematic view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a key structure of the keyboard apparatus shown in fig. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key structure shown in FIG. 3 after being pressed. Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged view of a region Z of the key structure shown in fig. 4.

As shown in fig. 1, the keyboard device 1 includes a plurality of key structures 10, the key structures 10 can be classified into general keys, numeric keys, and function keys, etc. which are respectively pressed by fingers of a user to enable the keyboard device 1 to generate corresponding key signals to a 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.

The detailed structure of the key structure 10 of the keyboard apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be further described below.

As shown in fig. 2 to 5, the key structure 10 of the present embodiment includes a plate member 11, a key cap 12, a connecting member 13, and a buffer member 14. The sheet assembly 11 has a through area 110. The key cap 12 is disposed above the plate member 11, and the key cap 12 includes at least one hook 120, in the embodiment, the through region 110 of the plate member 11 and the hook 120 of the key cap 12 correspond to each other, and it should be noted that the number of the hooks 120 may be different according to the size of the key cap 12, for example, the number of hooks 120 of a space key or a Shift (Shift) key with a larger area and a longer length is greater than the number of hooks 120 of a general key or a numeric key, and therefore, the invention is not limited to the number of hooks 120. The link assembly 13 is disposed between the key cap 12 and the plate assembly 11, the key cap 12 is connected to the link assembly 13 by the hook 120, so that the key cap 12 moves up or down relative to the plate assembly 11 through the link assembly 13, in this embodiment, the link assembly 13 is, for example, a scissors-type link assembly, but the invention is not limited thereto. The buffer 14 is disposed on the plate member 11, and the buffer 14 extends toward the keycap 12 and passes through the through region 110 of the plate member 11. When the key cap 12 moves downward toward the plate member 11 to make the hook member 120 abut against the buffer member 14, a gap G exists between the key cap 12 and the plate member 11.

As can be seen from the above description, the buffer 14 is disposed on the board element 11 of each key structure 10 of the keyboard apparatus 1 of the embodiment, when the key structure 10 is pressed, the key cap 12 moves downward toward the board element 11 to make the hook element 120 abut against the buffer 14, and the hook element 120 of the key cap 12 interferes with the buffer 14, so that the key cap 12 stops moving after moving downward to a specific position and has a gap G with the board element 11.

As shown in fig. 2 to 5, the plate member 11 of the present embodiment includes a support plate 111 and a film wiring board 112. The supporting plate 111 has a first through hole 1110. The thin film circuit board 112 is disposed between the key cap 12 and the supporting plate 111, and the thin film circuit board 112 has a second through hole 1120. In the present embodiment, the supporting board 111 and the thin film circuit board 112 are stacked on each other, and the first through hole 1110 and the second through hole 1120 are communicated with each other to form the through region 110.

As shown in fig. 2 to 5, the key structure 1 of the present embodiment further includes a waterproof sheet 15. The waterproof sheet 15 is disposed below the board assembly 11, specifically, the waterproof sheet 15 is disposed below the supporting plate 111, and the thin film circuit board 112, the supporting plate 111 and the waterproof sheet 15 are sequentially stacked on each other from top to bottom. The waterproof sheet 15 is attached below the supporting plate 111 to prevent external moisture from entering the keyboard apparatus 1, and prevent internal components of the keyboard apparatus 1 from being damaged due to the entry of moisture. In the present embodiment, the waterproof sheet body 15 and the buffer 14 are integrally formed, for example, that is, the waterproof sheet body 15 having the buffer 14 is directly manufactured by a press forming method, an injection molding method, or the like. In the present embodiment, the material of the waterproof sheet 15 and the buffer 14 is, for example, Polycarbonate (PC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), but the invention is not limited thereto.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned structure in which the waterproof sheet body 14 and the buffering member 15 are integrally formed is only one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the waterproof sheet body 15 and the buffering member 14 are, for example, independent members, that is, after the buffering member 14 is disposed on the waterproof sheet body 15, the waterproof sheet body 15 disposed with the buffering member 14 is attached below the supporting plate 111, and the buffering member 14 disposed on the waterproof sheet body 15 passes through the penetrating area 110 formed by the first penetrating hole 1110 of the supporting plate 111 and the second penetrating hole 1120 of the thin-film circuit board 112. In the embodiment where the waterproof sheet 15 and the buffering member 14 are independent members, the material of the waterproof sheet 15 and the buffering member 14 may be the same or different, and in the case of different material, the material of the waterproof sheet 15 is, for example, Polycarbonate (PC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the material of the buffering member 14 is, for example, silicone or rubber, but the invention is not limited thereto.

As particularly described, the key structure 10 having the waterproof sheet 15 is only one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the waterproof sheet 15 may be omitted, and only the buffer 14 is disposed in the through region 110 of the board assembly 11.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, the key cap 12 of the present embodiment further includes a top portion 121 and a skirt 122 extending from the top portion 120 toward the plate member 11. When the key cap 12 of the key structure 10 is pressed and moves downward toward the direction close to the board assembly 11 through the connecting assembly 13, the hook 120 of the key cap 12 abuts against the buffer 14, and since the hook 120 of the key cap 12 and the buffer 14 interfere with each other, the skirt 122 of the key cap 12 does not directly impact on the film circuit board 112 of the board assembly 11, that is, while the hook 120 of the key cap 12 and the buffer 14 interfere with each other, a gap G exists between the skirt 122 of the key cap 12 and the film circuit board 112 of the board assembly 11. Specifically, the key structure 10 of the present embodiment further includes an elastic element (not shown in this figure) disposed between the key cap 12 and the film circuit board 112, and the film circuit board 112 is disposed with a film switch (not shown in this figure), when the key cap 12 of the key structure 10 is pressed and moves downward toward the direction close to the plate member 11 through the connecting member 13 and the hook member 120 of the key cap 12 abuts against the buffer member 14, the downward moving key cap 12 will press the elastic element, so that the elastic element abuts against and triggers the film switch on the film circuit board 112, that is, while the hook member 120 of the key cap 12 and the buffer member 14 interfere with each other, the film switch on the film circuit board 112 will also be triggered. Since the material of the buffer 14 is elastic, when the hook 120 of the key cap 12 and the buffer 14 interfere with each other, the buffer 14 is elastically deformed to have a deformation amount T, in this embodiment, the deformation amount T of the buffer 14 is, for example, between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, but the invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, as long as the gap G is formed between the key cap 12 and the board assembly 11 due to the interference between the hook 120 of the key cap 12 and the buffer 14 and the thin film switch on the thin film circuit board 112 can be triggered, the hook 120 of the key cap 12 only needs to be supported on the buffer 14 without elastically deforming the buffer 14.

Please refer to fig. 6, which is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a key structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 6, the key structure 10a of the present embodiment is similar to the key structure 10 shown in fig. 2 to 5, and the difference is that the buffer 14a of the present embodiment includes a surface 140 facing the keycap 12 and an elastic gel 141 disposed on the surface 140. When the key cap 12 of the key structure 10a is pressed and moves downward toward the plate element 11 through the connecting element 13, the hook element 120 of the key cap 12 abuts against the elastic colloid 141 of the buffer element 14a, so that a gap is formed between the key cap 12 and the plate element 11. In the embodiment, the material of the elastic colloid 141 is, for example, silicone or rubber, but the invention is not limited thereto.

In summary, in the keyboard apparatus of the embodiment of the invention, the buffer member is configured on the board assembly of the key structure, when the key cap of the key structure is pressed, the key cap descends and moves towards the direction close to the board assembly through the connection member to enable the at least one hook member to abut against the buffer member, so that a gap is formed between the key cap and the board assembly, and with such a structural design, the key cap is effectively prevented from directly impacting the board assembly, noise generated in the process of pressing the key structure is reduced, and the effect of reducing noise is achieved.

However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited thereby, and all the simple equivalent changes and modifications made by the claims and the description of the present invention are still within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, not all objects or advantages or features disclosed herein are necessarily achieved by any one embodiment or claim of the invention. In addition, the abstract section and the title are provided for assisting the search of patent documents and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like in the description or in the claims are used only for naming elements (elements) or distinguishing different embodiments or ranges, and are not used for limiting the upper limit or the lower limit on the number of elements.

Claims (10)

1. A keyboard apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of key structures, each key structure comprising:

a plate assembly having a through region;

the key cap is arranged above the plate component and comprises at least one clamping hook piece;

the connecting component is arranged between the keycap and the plate component, and the keycap is connected with the connecting component through the at least one clamping hook piece so that the keycap can move up and down relative to the plate component through the connecting component; and

the buffer piece is arranged on the plate component, extends towards the direction close to the keycap and penetrates through the penetrating area of the plate component;

when the keycap descends towards the direction close to the plate assembly to enable the at least one clamping hook piece to abut against the buffer piece, a gap is formed between the keycap and the plate assembly.

2. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one hook of the keycap abuts against the buffer to generate a deformation of the buffer, the deformation being between 0.05 mm and 1 mm.

3. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the sheet assembly comprises:

a supporting plate having a first through hole; and

and the thin film circuit board is arranged between the keycap and the supporting plate, and is provided with a second through hole which is communicated with the first through hole to form the through area.

4. The keyboard apparatus of claim 3, wherein the key cap further comprises a top portion and a skirt extending from the top portion in a direction close to the board assembly, wherein the skirt has the gap with the thin film circuit board of the board assembly when the at least one hook of the key cap contacts the buffer.

5. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a waterproof sheet disposed under the board assembly, wherein the waterproof sheet and the buffer are integrally formed.

6. The keyboard device of claim 5, wherein the waterproof sheet comprises polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate.

7. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a waterproof sheet disposed below the board assembly, and the buffer member is disposed on the waterproof sheet.

8. The keyboard apparatus of claim 7, wherein the waterproof sheet comprises polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate, and the buffer comprises silicone and rubber.

9. The keyboard apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer comprises a surface facing the key cap and an elastic gel disposed on the surface, and the gap is formed between the key cap and the plate member when the key cap moves downward toward the plate member to abut the at least one hook member against the elastic gel.

10. A key structure comprising:

a plate assembly having a through region;

a key cap, which is arranged above the plate component and is provided with at least one clamping hook piece;

the connecting component is arranged between the keycap and the plate component, and the keycap is connected with the connecting component through the at least one clamping hook piece so that the keycap can move up and down relative to the plate component through the connecting component; and

the buffer piece is arranged on the plate component, extends towards the direction close to the keycap and penetrates through the penetrating area of the plate component;

when the keycap descends towards the direction close to the plate assembly to enable the at least one clamping hook piece to abut against the buffer piece, a gap is formed between the keycap and the plate assembly.

Images