CN114429877B

CN114429877B - Key structure and keyboard

Info

Publication number: CN114429877B
Application number: CN202011174433.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赖政宏; 许志和; 詹金龙
Original assignee: Chongqing Dafang Electronics Co ltd; Darfon Electronics Corp
Current assignee: Chongqing Dafang Electronics Co ltd; Darfon Electronics Corp
Priority date: 2020-10-28
Filing date: 2020-10-28
Publication date: 2023-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-28
Also published as: CN114429877A

Abstract

The invention relates to a key structure, which comprises a switch and a multi-layer structure arranged on the switch. The multi-layer structure comprises a flexible inner layer, a hard transparent cover sheet and a flexible transparent layer. The flexible inner layer has a key cap portion and a connecting portion extending outwardly from the key cap portion. The key cap part is positioned on the switch and forms a three-dimensional character structure. The hard transparent cover plate is arranged on the key cap part and covers the three-dimensional character structure. The flexible transparent layer covers the flexible inner layer and the hard transparent cover plate. A keyboard comprises a key structure and a device shell for bearing the key structure. The multi-layer structure is secured to the device housing. The hard transparent cover plate is harder than the flexible transparent layer, can protect the three-dimensional character structure and avoid damaging the three-dimensional character structure after long-term pressing of the flexible transparent layer.

Description

Key structure and keyboard

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a key structure and a keyboard, and more particularly, to a key structure with a protective outer layer and a keyboard with the same.

Background

A typical keyboard has a plurality of key caps that can be pressed by a user to effect input. The key cap typically has some characters (including text, symbols, etc.) thereon that can be recognized by a user to enable the user to quickly press the correct key cap. The characters can be formed into a three-dimensional structure by printing, engraving, a hollow layered structure and the like. When a finger touches and presses the key cap, the finger may rub against the character. Through long-term rubbing, the character may be damaged or even disappear. Some keyboards have a protective outer layer that covers all of the keycaps. However, when a finger touches and presses the protective outer layer against the key cap to be pressed, the part of the protective outer layer may still rub against the character on the key cap, and similarly, the character may still be damaged or even disappear after long-term rubbing.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the foregoing problems in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a key structure, which uses a hard transparent cover sheet to cover a character structure to protect the character structure.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a key structure is provided, including:

a first switch; and

a multilayer structure disposed over the first switch, the multilayer structure comprising:

a flexible inner layer having a first key cap portion and a connecting portion extending outwardly from the first key cap portion, the first key cap portion being located over the first switch and forming a first three-dimensional character structure;

a first hard transparent cover plate disposed on the first key cap portion and covering the first three-dimensional character structure; and

the flexible light-transmitting layer covers the flexible inner layer and the first hard light-transmitting cover plate.

As an optional technical solution, the portable electronic device further comprises a first keycap, the first keycap is arranged above the first switch, and the first keycap is located below the multi-layer structure, wherein the first keycap partially covers the first keycap, and the first keycap can move towards the first switch along the vertical direction to trigger the first switch.

As an optional technical scheme, the first keycap has a horizontal key surface, the first keycap portion is fixedly disposed on the horizontal key surface, and a projection of the first hard transparent cover plate on the first keycap in the vertical direction falls in the horizontal key surface.

Alternatively, the first key cap has a key skirt bent downward from the horizontal key surface and extending, and the multi-layer structure is separable from the key skirt.

Alternatively, when the first key cap is not pressed, a gap is formed between the first key cap portion and the key skirt in a horizontal direction.

Alternatively, the multi-layered structure includes a protrusion protruding toward the first switch, and a portion of the multi-layered structure corresponding to the first key cap portion may be pressed to move the protrusion downward and trigger the first switch.

As an optional technical solution, the portable electronic device further comprises a first elastic reset element, wherein the first elastic reset element is arranged between the first keycap part and the first switch, and a part of the multi-layer structure corresponding to the first keycap part can be pressed so that the multi-layer structure contacts with and presses the first elastic reset element to trigger the first switch.

As an alternative solution, the connecting portion surrounds the first key cap portion.

As an alternative technical scheme, the multi-layer structure comprises a hard frame sheet, the hard frame sheet is provided with a first through hole, the connecting part is fixedly arranged on the hard frame sheet, and the projection of the first keycap part on the hard frame sheet in the vertical direction falls into the first through hole.

The flexible inner layer is provided with a second key cap part, the connecting part is connected with the first key cap part and the second key cap part, the second key cap part is positioned on the second switch and forms a second three-dimensional character structure, the multilayer structure comprises a second hard light-transmitting cover plate, the second hard light-transmitting cover plate is arranged on the second key cap part and covers the second three-dimensional character structure, the flexible light-transmitting layer covers the second hard light-transmitting cover plate, the hard frame plate is provided with a second through hole, and the projection of the second key cap part on the hard frame plate in the vertical direction falls into the second through hole.

As an alternative solution, the display device further comprises a structural frame, wherein the structural frame has a first window, the multi-layer structure is fixed to the structural frame, and a projection of the first keycap portion on the structural frame in a vertical direction falls in the first window.

The flexible inner layer is provided with a second key cap part, the connecting part is connected with the first key cap part and the second key cap part, the second key cap part is positioned on the second switch and forms a second three-dimensional character structure, the multilayer structure comprises a second hard light-transmitting cover plate, the second hard light-transmitting cover plate is arranged on the second key cap part and covers the second three-dimensional character structure, the flexible light-transmitting layer covers the second hard light-transmitting cover plate, the structural frame is provided with a second window, and the projection of the second key cap part on the structural frame in the vertical direction is positioned in the second window.

Alternatively, the flexible inner layer is made of a light-impermeable material.

As an optional technical solution, the first three-dimensional character structure is an open-pore structure.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a keyboard, which includes the above-mentioned key structure, so that the hard transparent cover sheet can be used to protect the character structure.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a keyboard, comprising:

the key structure described above; and

the device housing carries the key structure, and the multi-layer structure is fixed to the device housing.

As an alternative technical scheme, the device shell comprises an upper shell and a lower shell, the upper shell is connected with the lower shell to form a containing space, the first switch is arranged in the containing space, the upper shell is provided with a first window, the projection of the first keycap part on the upper shell in the vertical direction falls in the first window, and the multilayer structure is fixed on the outer surface of the upper shell.

As an alternative solution, the device further comprises a lower flexible layer, wherein the multi-layer structure is located above the upper shell, the lower flexible layer is located below the lower shell, and the multi-layer structure is combined with the lower flexible layer to cover the device housing.

As an alternative technical scheme, the device shell comprises an upper shell and a lower shell, the upper shell is connected with the lower shell to form a containing space, the first switch is arranged in the containing space, the upper shell is provided with a first window, the projection of the first key cap part on the upper shell in the vertical direction falls in the first window, and the multilayer structure is fixed on the inner surface of the upper shell.

In summary, when the user presses the key cap, the finger actually contacts the portion of the multi-layer structure (or the flexible light-transmitting layer) corresponding to the key cap. Even if the finger possibly rubs the multi-layer structure in the pressing process, the three-dimensional character structure is protected by the hard transparent cover plate, so that the three-dimensional character structure cannot be affected by the finger rubbing, and at least the structural damage (including structural deformation of the three-dimensional character structure) caused by the finger rubbing can be greatly reduced.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings and specific examples, which are not intended to limit the invention thereto.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a keyboard according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the keyboard of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the multi-layer structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard of FIG. 1 taken along line X-X;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard of FIG. 4 after the first key cap is pressed;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a keyboard according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard of FIG. 6 taken along line Y-Y;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the key structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the key structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a laminate structure constituting the multilayer structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another laminate structure constituting the multilayer structure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the laminated structure of FIGS. 10 and 11 after bonding;

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the bonded laminate structure of FIG. 12 after being formed.

Detailed Description

Please refer to fig. 1 to 4. The keyboard 1 of the first embodiment includes a keyboard body 12, a multi-layer structure 14, and a lower flexible layer 16. The multi-layer structure 14 and the lower flexible layer 16 are respectively disposed on the upper and lower sides of the keyboard body 12 and are combined with each other to completely cover the keyboard body 12, thereby producing waterproof and dustproof effects. The multi-layer structure 14 is flexible, and a user can perform an input operation to the keyboard body 12 by pressing the multi-layer structure 14.

The keyboard body 12 includes a device housing 122, a bottom plate 124 supported by the device housing 122, a plurality of key caps (including a first key cap 126a and a second key cap 126 b), a plurality of lifting mechanisms (including a first lifting mechanism 128a and a second lifting mechanism 128 b), a switch circuit board 130, and a plurality of elastic restoring members (including a first elastic restoring member 132a and a second elastic restoring member 132 b). The device housing 122 includes an upper case 1222 and a lower case 1224, where the upper case 1222 and the lower case 1224 are connected to form a receiving space 122a. The bottom plate 124 is disposed on the lower case 1224 and is located in the accommodating space 122a. A plurality of key caps are disposed on the bottom plate 124 and are exposed from the upper case 1222. A plurality of elevating mechanisms are connected between the base plate 124 and the plurality of key caps so that the plurality of key caps can be moved up and down in a vertical direction Dv (shown in the figure as double-headed arrows) with respect to the base plate 124. Each keycap corresponds to a lifting mechanism, such as a scissor bracket, a butterfly bracket or other mechanism capable of providing up-and-down movement of the corresponding keycap; in practical operation, the lifting mechanism of the key cap with longer length (such as space bar, input key, backspace key, shift key, etc.) can be composed of a plurality of scissor supports, butterfly supports or a combination thereof. The switch circuit board 130 is disposed on the bottom plate 124 and located in the accommodating space 122a, and has a plurality of switches (including a first switch 130a and a second switch 130 b), each corresponding to a key cap; in actual operation, the key cap with a longer length can correspond to a plurality of switches. The plurality of elastic restoring members are disposed between the bottom plate 124 and the plurality of key caps, and the plurality of elastic restoring members are disposed in the accommodating space 122a. Each elastic reset piece corresponds to one keycap; in actual operation, the key cap with a longer length can correspond to a plurality of elastic resetting pieces. The elastic restoring member can be pressed to elastically deform (for example, pressed by the corresponding key cap moving downwards), and the elastic force generated by the elastic restoring member can drive the corresponding key cap to move upwards to restore to the original position.

The upper case 1222 is a structural frame, the first key cap 126a is located above the first switch 130a and is exposed from the first window 1222a of the upper case 1222, the first lifting mechanism 128a is connected between the first key cap 126a and the bottom plate 124, and the first elastic restoring element 132a is located between the first key cap 126a and the first switch 130a. When the first key cap 126a moves toward the first switch 130a along the vertical direction Dv (e.g., the user presses the first key cap 126a via the multi-layer structure 14), the first key cap 126a presses the first elastic reset member 132a to trigger the first switch 130a. When the first key cap 126a is no longer pressed, the resilient first resilient return 132a urges the first key cap 126a upward to return to the original position. Similarly, the second key cap 126b is located above the second switch 130b and exposed from the second window 1222b of the upper case 1222, the second elevating mechanism 128b is connected between the second key cap 126b and the bottom plate 124, and the second elastic restoring element 132b is located between the second key cap 126b and the second switch 130b. When the second key cap 126b moves toward the second switch 130b along the vertical direction Dv, the second key cap 126b presses the second elastic restoring member 132b to trigger the second switch 130b. When the second key cap 126b is no longer pressed, the resilient second elastic restoring member 132b urges the second key cap 126b upward to return to its original position. In addition, in the first embodiment, the projection of the first keycap portion 1422 of the multi-layer structure 14 (wherein the first keycap portion 1422 is the portion of the flexible inner layer 142 corresponding to the first keycap 126a, and the flexible inner layer 142 is one of the structural layers of the multi-layer structure 14) onto the upper case 1222 in the vertical direction Dv falls within the first window 1222a, and the projection of the second keycap portion 1424 of the multi-layer structure 14 (wherein the second keycap portion 1424 is the portion of the flexible inner layer 142 corresponding to the second keycap 126 b) onto the upper case 1222 in the vertical direction Dv falls within the second window 1222 b.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the switch circuit board 130 is formed by a thin film circuit board, and includes an upper circuit carrier, a lower circuit carrier, and an intermediate insulating board disposed between the upper circuit carrier and the lower circuit carrier, and the switch is formed by contacts oppositely disposed on the upper circuit carrier and the lower circuit carrier, and for simplifying the drawing, the switch is shown in a single block. In practice, the switch circuit board 130 may be implemented in other structures, such as a printed circuit board or a flexible circuit board with a touch switch. For another example, a corresponding switch contact is formed on the circuit board, and the elastic restoring member has a conductive portion, so that the conductive portion can conduct the switch contact when the elastic restoring member is pressed downward. In addition, in actual operation, the switch may be triggered by other structures. For example, from the perspective of fig. 4, the first switch 130a is disposed off-center (so as not to be covered by the first elastic restoring member 132a any more), and the first key cap 126a has a protrusion protruding downward corresponding to the first switch 130a, so that the protrusion can trigger the first switch 130a when the first key cap 126a moves downward. For another example, in the previous example, the protrusion is disposed on the first lifting mechanism 128a (for example, on one of the supports of the scissor leg), so that when the first keycap 126a moves downward, the first keycap 126a drives the first lifting mechanism 128a to overlap so that the protrusion triggers the first switch 130a.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the multi-layer structure 14 includes a flexible inner layer 142, a flexible light-transmitting layer 144 overlying the flexible inner layer 142, and first and second rigid light-transmitting cover sheets 146 and 148 sandwiched therebetween. The first rigid light transmissive cover sheet 146 and the second rigid light transmissive cover sheet 148 are stiffer than the flexible inner layer 142. The flexible inner layer 142 has a first key cap portion 1422, a second key cap portion 1424, and a connecting portion 1426 that directly connects the first key cap portion 1422 and the second key cap portion 1424. Structurally and logically, the connecting portion 1426 can be considered to extend outwardly from the first key cap portion 1422 (relative to the first key cap portion 1422) and can also be considered to extend outwardly from the second key cap portion 1424 (relative to the second key cap portion 1424); also, in the first embodiment, the connection portion 1426 surrounds the first and second key cap portions 1422 and 1424 (as shown in fig. 3). The first key cap portion 1422 covers the first key cap 126a (i.e., over the first switch 130 a) and forms a first three-dimensional character structure 1422a, and the second key cap portion 1424 covers the second key cap 126b (i.e., over the second switch 130 b) and forms a second three-dimensional character structure 1424a; the first stereo character structure 1422a and the second stereo character structure 1424a are shown as circular holes to simplify the drawing. The first hard transparent cover 146 is disposed on the first key cap portion 1422 and covers the first stereo character structure 1422a. The second hard transparent cover 148 is disposed on the second key cap portion 1424 and covers the second stereo character structure 1424a. The flexible light transmissive layer 144 covers the flexible inner layer 142, the first rigid light transmissive cover sheet 146 and the second rigid light transmissive cover sheet 148.

Thus, when the user presses the first key cap 126a, the finger actually contacts the portion of the multilayer structure 14 (or the flexible light-transmitting layer 144) corresponding to the first key cap 126 a. Even if the finger may rub the multi-layer structure 14 during the pressing process, the first three-dimensional character structure 1422a is protected by the first hard transparent cover 146, so that the finger rubbing is not affected, at least the structural damage of the finger rubbing to the first three-dimensional character structure 1422a (including the structural deformation of the first three-dimensional character structure 1422 a) can be greatly reduced. Similarly, the second hard transparent cover 148 has the same protection function for the second three-dimensional character structure 1424a, and is not described in detail. In addition, for simplicity of illustration and description, the first embodiment is exemplified by the first keycap 126a and the second keycap 126b having the first stereo character structure 1422a and the second stereo character structure 1424a, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the multi-layer structure 14 may also have a three-dimensional character structure and a corresponding hard transparent cover plate corresponding to each key cap, which is not described in detail.

In addition, as shown in fig. 2 to 5, in the first embodiment, the first key cap 126a has a horizontal key surface 1262a, the first key cap portion 1422 is fixedly disposed on the horizontal key surface 1262a, and the projection of the first hard transparent cover sheet 146 on the first key cap 126a in the vertical direction Dv falls within the horizontal key surface 1262a, that is, the first hard transparent cover sheet 146 is smaller than the horizontal key surface 1262a; in practical applications, the outer diameter of the first hard transparent cover plate 146 may be designed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the horizontal key surface 1262a by about 0.4mm, i.e. 0.2mm on one side, which can meet most assembly tolerance requirements, so that after the multi-layer structure 14 is assembled to the keyboard body 12, the first hard transparent cover plate 146 can effectively fall into the horizontal key surface 1262a, so as to prevent the first hard transparent cover plate 146 from protruding out of the horizontal key surface 1262a in a horizontal direction Dh (shown by double-headed arrow, which is perpendicular to the vertical direction Dv), and affect the pressing feeling of the user. First key cap 126a also has a key skirt 1264a that curves and extends downwardly from horizontal key surface 1262 a. The multi-layer structure 14 (or the flexible inner layer 142 thereof) and the key skirt 1264a can be separated, so that when the first key cap 126a is pressed, the multi-layer structure 14 can be smoothly and elastically deformed, and the first key cap 126a is not excessively pulled to influence the up-and-down movement of the first key cap 126a, as shown in fig. 5. In addition, in the first embodiment, when the first key cap 126a is not pressed, a gap G1 exists between the first key cap portion 1422 and the key skirt 1264a in the horizontal direction Dh.

In addition, as shown in fig. 2 to 4, the multilayer structure 14 is located above the upper case 1222 and is fixed to the outer surface 1222c of the upper case 1222. Lower flex layer 16 is positioned below lower shell 1224. The perimeter 14a of the multi-layer structure 14 is bonded (e.g., without limitation, by adhesive) with the perimeter 16a of the lower flex layer 16 to encase the device housing 122. In the first embodiment, the multi-layer structure 14 further includes a hard frame 150, and the flexible inner layer 142 is stacked on the hard frame 150, for example, but not limited to, by an adhesive layer 151a (only shown in fig. 4 and 5 to simplify the drawing). The multi-layer structure 14 is secured to the upper surface 1222 via the rigid frame sheet 150 (e.g., without limitation, by an adhesive layer 151b, shown only in fig. 4 and 5 to simplify the drawing). The hard frame 150 has a first through hole 150a and a second through hole 150b, and the connecting portion 1426 is fixedly disposed on the hard frame 150. The rigid frame sheet 150 has a greater rigidity than the flexible inner layer 142 and the flexible light-transmitting layer 144, so that the structural rigidity of the multi-layer structure 14 can be increased. The projection of the first keycap portion 1422 onto the hard frame 150 in the vertical direction Dv falls within the first through hole 150a, and the projection of the second keycap portion 1424 onto the hard frame 150 in the vertical direction Dv falls within the second through hole 150 b. Thereby, when the first key cap 126a is pressed, the multilayer structure 14 can be smoothly and elastically deformed; the second key cap 126b is also the same and will not be described in detail.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the flexible inner layer 142 is made of an opaque material such as, but not limited to, braid, thermoplastic Polyurethane (Thermoplastic polyurethanes, TPU), polyurethane (PU), and the like. The first three-dimensional character structure 1422a is an open-cell structure. The first key cap 126a may be transparent, for example, made of a transparent material, or may be transparent only at a portion corresponding to the open structure. The keyboard body 12 includes a light source 134a (or first light source 134 a) corresponding to the first stereo character structure 1422a, and is disposed below the first keycap 126 a. Light emitted from the light source 134a may pass upwardly through the first key cap 126a, the first three-dimensional character structure 1422a, the first hard transparent cover 146 and the flexible transparent layer 144, and then be emitted out of the multi-layer structure 14, so as to provide visual effects for a user. Similarly, the second stereo character structure 1424a may also be an open structure. The second key cap 126b is transparent to light. The keyboard body 12 includes another light source 134b (or second light source 134 b) corresponding to the second stereo character structure 1424a, and is disposed below the second keycap 126 b. Light emitted from the light source 134b may pass upwardly through the second key cap 126b, the second three-dimensional character structure 1424a, the second hard transparent cover 148 and the flexible transparent layer 144, and then be emitted out of the multi-layer structure 14, thereby providing visual effects for the user. The first light source 134a and the second light source 134b (such as but not limited to light emitting diodes) are disposed on a printed circuit board or a flexible circuit board under the bottom plate 124; wherein, in order to make the light emitted by the first light source 134a and the second light source 134b travel upwards, openings are formed at the positions of the bottom plate 124 corresponding to the light sources 134a and 134 b. In practice, the light sources 134a, 134b may also be integrated onto the switch circuit board 130. In addition, if the first elastic restoring member 132a and the second elastic restoring member 132b cover the first light source 134a and the second light source 134b, the first elastic restoring member 132a and the second elastic restoring member 132b may be made of a light-transmitting material, such as but not limited to a light-transmitting rubber dome.

In addition, in actual operation, the outline of the first stereo character structure 1422a may be text, symbol, number, graphic, etc.; the second three-dimensional character structure 1424a is also the same and is not described in detail. In addition, in practical operation, the first stereo character structure 1422a does not transmit light to provide visual effect to the user. For example, the first stereo character structure 1422a is implemented by a groove, and the groove accommodates the reflective material, where the first key cap 126a does not need to be transparent to light; wherein, this groove may be formed by the first key cap portion 1422 alone (e.g., by stamping the first key cap portion 1422), or may be formed by an aperture formed by the first key cap portion 1422 in conjunction with (the horizontal key surface 1262a of) the first key cap 126 a. In addition, the flexible inner layer 142 is opaque, and thus also serves as a light shielding layer, which shields light (from the first light source 134a, the second light source 134 b) escaping from the peripheral edges of the first key cap 126a and the second key cap 126 b.

In the first embodiment, the first key cap portion 1422 is fixedly disposed on the horizontal key surface 1262a in an adhesive manner (such as but not limited to the adhesive layer 143), the connecting portion 1426 is also fixedly disposed on the hard frame plate 150 in an adhesive manner (i.e. via the adhesive layer 151 a), and the first hard transparent cover plate 146 is also fixedly disposed on the first key cap portion 1422 in an adhesive manner (such as but not limited to the adhesive layer 147); the adhesive layers 143, 147, 151a, 151b are shown only in fig. 4 and 5 to simplify the drawing. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first rigid light transmissive cover sheet 146 (and the second rigid light transmissive cover sheet 148) may be effectively secured, for example, by bonding between the flexible light transmissive layer 144 and the flexible inner layer 142. The flexible light transmissive layer 144 may be, but is not limited to, a light transmissive silicone (silicone). The first rigid light transmitting cover sheet 146, the second rigid light transmitting cover sheet 148, and the rigid frame sheet 150 may be, but are not limited to, polyethylene terephthalate (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), polycarbonate (PC), FR4 epoxy fiberglass, and the like. The adhesive layers 143, 147 are also made of a suitable material as needed (e.g., to allow light transmission).

In addition, in the first embodiment, the keyboard 1 includes a plurality of key caps, so the key structure is a multi-key structure. Logically, a single key cap and corresponding structure can be regarded as a single key structure, such as the single key structures 10a, 10b shown in fig. 4 in dashed boxes. The combination of the two can be regarded as a key structure with a double bond. In practical applications, the single key structures 10a, 10b or the double key structures are also applicable to other applications, such as a button switch, a button or a button on a control panel of a device, and so on. The description of the modification of the keyboard 1 is also applicable to this, and is not repeated here. In the above description of the keyboard 1, the structural frame is directly used as the upper case 1222, and the structural frame is contained in the device case 122 of the keyboard 1 and becomes a part of the device case 122. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in actual operation, the structural frame may be included in the key structures 10a and 10b as described above, instead of being included in the device case 122, as part of the key structures 10a and 10b. Accordingly, the multi-layered structure 14 is secured to the structural frame having a first window within which the projection of the first key cap portion 1422 onto the structural frame in the vertical direction Dv falls and a second window within which the projection of the second key cap portion 1424 onto the structural frame in the vertical direction Dv falls. Whether the structural frame is not part of the key structures 10a, 10b, in practice the structural frame may not be included in the device housing 122 and not be part of the elements that make up the device housing 122, i.e., the portion of the upper case 1222 within the dashed box in fig. 4 is not part of the device housing 122.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the multi-layer structure 14 covers the upper case 1222, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, the keyboard 3 of the second embodiment is similar to the keyboard 1 of the first embodiment in structure, so the keyboard 3 basically uses the reference numerals of the keyboard 1. In the keyboard 3, the multi-layer structure 34 covers a plurality of key caps, but is fixed to the inner surface 1222d of the upper case 1222; that is, the multi-layer structure 34 is disposed in the device housing 122, and a portion corresponding to the key cap is exposed or protrudes from the upper case 1222, for example, the first key cap portion 1422 protrudes from the first window 1222a, the second key cap portion 1424 protrudes from the second window 1222b, and the connection portion 1426 is located below the upper case 1222. The multi-layer structure 34 is adhered to the inner surface 1222d through the adhesive layer 145 on the flexible transparent layer 144, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the portion of the multi-layer structure 34 located in the accommodating space 122a may be clamped by the upper case 1222 and the lower case 1224 (e.g. the lower case 1224 is provided with an upwardly protruding structure to support the multi-layer structure 34), which can also achieve the fixing effect of the multi-layer structure 34 and the device case 122. For another example, in the multilayer structure 34, the hard frame sheet 150 is disposed on the flexible light-transmitting layer 144, and the modified multilayer structure 34 may be fixed to the inner surface 1222d (again, but not limited to, by gluing) via the hard frame sheet 150.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the key cap (e.g. the first key cap 126 a) is supported by the lifting mechanism (e.g. the first lifting mechanism 128 a) and the elastic restoring member (e.g. the first elastic restoring member 132 a), but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first key cap 126a is supported only by the first elastic restoring member 132 a. For another example, if the multi-layer structure 14 itself is sufficient to maintain the shape of the key cap (e.g., the first hard transparent cover 146 can increase the structural rigidity), the first key cap 126a can be omitted, and the first elastic restoring member 132a can be directly abutted against the first key cap portion 1422, as shown in fig. 8. For another example, if the multi-layer structure 14 can provide sufficient structural elasticity, the first elastic restoring member 132a can be further omitted as shown in fig. 9; the multi-layer structure 14' is a variation of the multi-layer structure 14 in the keyboard 1. The multilayer structure 14' also includes a protrusion 152, relative to the multilayer structure 14, protruding toward the first switch 130a. When the portion of the multi-layer structure 14' corresponding to the first key cap portion 1422 is pressed, the protrusion 152 can move downward to activate the first switch 130a. In practice, the protrusions 152 may be fixed to the lower surface of the flexible inner layer 142 by gluing, or the protrusions 152 may be integrally formed with the flexible inner layer 142, for example, by hot-pressing the flexible inner layer 142 to form the protrusions 152.

In addition, in the keyboard 1, the multi-layer structure 14 may be formed by, but not limited to, shaping laminated sheet materials in actual operation. For example, as shown in fig. 10 (which is not shown with a cut line to simplify the drawing), a transfer film 1400 is prepared on which a light-transmitting film 1402 for forming the first hard light-transmitting cover sheet 146 and the second hard light-transmitting cover sheet 148 is carried. Then, an adhesive layer 1404 (e.g., a hot melt adhesive, a double sided adhesive tape, or other adhesive) for forming the adhesive layer 147 is formed on the light-transmitting film 1402. The light transmissive film 1402 (and the adhesive layer 1404 thereon, the processed adhesive layer 1404 forming the adhesive layer 147) is processed to form the first hard light transmissive cover sheet 146 and the second hard light transmissive cover sheet 148, for example, by removing unwanted portions (shown in phantom) by a laser.

As shown in fig. 11 (which is not shown with a cut line to simplify the drawing), a film 1406 for forming the hard frame sheet 150 is prepared, on which an adhesive layer 1408 (e.g., hot melt adhesive, double sided adhesive or other adhesive) for forming the adhesive layer 151a is formed. The membrane 1410 used to form the flexible inner layer 142 is adhered to the adhesive layer 1408. Wherein the membrane 1406 (along with the adhesive layer 1408) may be first processed to form the rigid frame sheet 150 (e.g., by die cutting to remove unwanted portions, shown in phantom), and then the membrane 1410 may be adhered to the adhesive layer 1408. Alternatively, after the membrane 1410 is adhered to the adhesive layer 1408, processing is performed to form the rigid frame sheet 150 (e.g., unwanted portions are removed by a laser, shown in phantom).

As shown in fig. 12 (which is not shown with a cut line to simplify the drawing), the transfer film 1400 is removed after the laminated structures of fig. 10 and 11 are bonded by the adhesive layer 1404; then, a layer of glue 1412 is coated on (the first hard transparent cover sheet 146 and the second hard transparent cover sheet 148) of the laminated structure after bonding. As shown in fig. 13, the structure shown in fig. 12 is placed in a molding die 4, and pressurized and heated (e.g., 120 degrees celsius for 120 seconds) to form a flexible light-transmitting layer 144. At this time, the laminated structure after molding has achieved a large part of the multilayer structure 14. Next, laser engraving (as the dashed box in fig. 13) is performed on the first keycap portion 1422 and the second keycap portion 1424 (formed by the membrane 1410) of the molded laminated structure to form a first three-dimensional character structure 1422a and a second three-dimensional character structure 1424a. In practice, the glue 1412 may be formed on the bonded laminated structure shown in fig. 12 by injection, for example, the molding die 4 may be manufactured by injection. In addition, in the keyboard 1, the multi-layer structure 14 is fixed on the outer surface 1222c of the upper case 1222, so that the adhesive layer 151b can be formed on the hard frame 150 of the multi-layer structure 14 formed by the forming mold 4 so as to adhere to the outer surface 1222 c; alternatively, the adhesive layer 151b is formed on the outer surface 1222c for adhering the hard frame plate 150 thereon. Similarly, the flexible inner layer 142 of the multi-layer structure 14 molded by the molding die 4 forms an adhesive layer 143 on the surface facing the key cap so as to adhere to the first key cap 126a and the second key cap 126 b; alternatively, the adhesive layer 143 is formed on the first key cap 126a and the second key cap 126b for adhering the flexible inner layer 142 thereto. In addition, the multi-layer structures 14', 34 can be fabricated in a similar manner, and the description thereof is omitted.

The foregoing description is only of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and all changes and modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A key structure, comprising:

a hard first key cap;

the first switch is positioned below the first keycap; and

a multi-layer structure disposed over the first key cap, the multi-layer structure comprising:

a light-tight flexible inner layer, wherein the flexible inner layer is provided with a first key cap part and a connecting part extending outwards from the first key cap part, the first key cap part is positioned on the first key cap and forms a first three-dimensional character structure corresponding to the first key cap;

a first hard transparent cover plate arranged on the first key cap part and covering the first three-dimensional character structure, so that the first three-dimensional character structure is maintained between the first hard transparent cover plate and the first key cap; and

2. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the first key cap is movable in a vertical direction toward the first switch to activate the first switch.

3. The key structure of claim 2, wherein the first key cap has a horizontal key surface, the first key cap portion is fixedly disposed on the horizontal key surface, and a projection of the first hard transparent cover plate on the first key cap in the vertical direction falls in the horizontal key surface.

4. A key structure according to claim 3, wherein the first key cap has a key skirt bent downward from the horizontal key surface and extending therefrom, the multi-layer structure being separable from the key skirt.

5. The key structure of claim 4, wherein when the first key cap is not pressed, a gap is formed between the first key cap portion and the key skirt in a horizontal direction.

6. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the multi-layered structure comprises a protrusion protruding toward the first switch, a portion of the multi-layered structure corresponding to the first key cap portion being depressible to cause the protrusion to move downward and activate the first switch.

7. The key structure of claim 1, further comprising a first elastic restoring member disposed between the first key cap portion and the first switch, wherein a portion of the multi-layer structure corresponding to the first key cap portion is depressible to cause the multi-layer structure to contact and compress the first elastic restoring member to trigger the first switch.

8. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion surrounds the first key cap portion.

9. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the multi-layer structure comprises a hard frame sheet, the hard frame sheet has a first through hole, the connecting portion is fixedly disposed on the hard frame sheet, and a projection of the first key cap portion on the hard frame sheet in a vertical direction falls into the first through hole.

10. The key structure of claim 9, further comprising a second switch, wherein the flexible inner layer has a second key cap portion, the connecting portion connects the first key cap portion and the second key cap portion, the second key cap portion is located above the second switch and forms a second three-dimensional character structure, the multi-layer structure comprises a second hard transparent cover plate, the second hard transparent cover plate is disposed on the second key cap portion and covers the second three-dimensional character structure, the flexible transparent layer covers the second hard transparent cover plate, the hard frame plate has a second through hole, and a projection of the second key cap portion onto the hard frame plate in the vertical direction falls into the second through hole.

11. The key structure of claim 1, further comprising a structural frame, wherein the structural frame has a first window, the multi-layer structure is secured to the structural frame, and a projection of the first key cap portion onto the structural frame in a vertical direction falls within the first window.

12. The key structure of claim 11, further comprising a second switch, wherein the flexible inner layer has a second key cap portion, the connecting portion connects the first key cap portion and the second key cap portion, the second key cap portion is located above the second switch and forms a second three-dimensional character structure, the multi-layer structure comprises a second hard transparent cover sheet disposed on the second key cap portion and covering the second three-dimensional character structure, the flexible transparent layer covers the second hard transparent cover sheet, the structural frame has a second window, and a projection of the second key cap portion onto the structural frame in the vertical direction falls within the second window.

13. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the first three-dimensional character structure is an open-cell structure.

14. A keyboard, comprising:

a key structure as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10 and 13; and

15. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein the device housing comprises an upper shell and a lower shell, the upper shell and the lower shell are connected to form a receiving space, the first switch is disposed in the receiving space, the upper shell has a first window, a projection of the first keycap portion on the upper shell in a vertical direction falls in the first window, and the multi-layer structure is fixed on an outer surface of the upper shell.

16. The keyboard of claim 15, further comprising a lower flex layer, wherein the multi-layer structure is located above the upper case, the lower flex layer is located below the lower case, and the multi-layer structure is combined with the lower flex layer to encase the device housing.

17. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein the device housing comprises an upper shell and a lower shell, the upper shell and the lower shell are connected to form a receiving space, the first switch is disposed in the receiving space, the upper shell has a first window, a projection of the first keycap portion on the upper shell in a vertical direction falls in the first window, and the multi-layer structure is fixed on an inner surface of the upper shell.