CN220796543U - Key and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of electronic equipment, in particular to a key and electronic equipment, wherein the key comprises a key cap and a feedback unit, the key cap comprises a cap body and a trigger part, the feedback unit comprises a feedback part, and the cap body, the trigger part and the feedback part are sequentially connected along a first direction; the trigger part is used for transmitting the pressing force from the cap body to the feedback part, and when the numerical value of the pressing force is larger than a first set value, the feedback part vibrates. The cap body can receive the pressing force from a user; the cap body, the trigger part and the feedback part are sequentially connected along the first direction, so that the trigger part can transmit the pressing force from the cap body to the feedback part; when the value of the pressing force is larger than a first set value, the feedback part drives the trigger part and the cap body to vibrate and transmit the vibration to a user, so that the user can sense that the pressing operation is recognized.

Description

Key and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of electronic equipment, in particular to a key and electronic equipment.

Background

As a control electrical element, a key is often used to control on/off of a circuit or as an input device for a specific instruction, thereby realizing control of an electronic device.

In the related art, the key includes a cap body and a dome sheet, which is generally mounted on a circuit board. After a certain pressing force is applied to the dome sheet through the cap body, if the dome sheet deforms and forms a loop with the circuit board, the electronic equipment can recognize the pressing operation of a user and execute related instructions.

In the process of implementing the present application, the inventors found that the related art has at least the following problems: when the pressing force is too small, the dome sheet is deformed, but cannot form a loop with the circuit board. However, in the above process, the user may obviously perceive that the cap is sinking, and misunderstand that the electronic device executes the related instruction.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this, the present application provides a key to enable a user to perceive that a pressing operation is recognized.

Specifically, the method comprises the following technical scheme:

the first aspect of the application provides a key, the key comprises a key cap and a feedback unit, the key cap comprises a cap body and a triggering part, the feedback unit comprises a feedback part, wherein,

the cap body, the trigger part and the feedback part are sequentially connected along a first direction;

the trigger part is used for transmitting the pressing force from the cap body to the feedback part, and when the numerical value of the pressing force is larger than a first set value, the feedback part vibrates.

Optionally, the feedback portion includes a piezoelectric element and a first cymbal piece, the first cymbal piece is connected with the piezoelectric element, and forms a deformation cavity with between the piezoelectric element, the trigger portion is connected with one side of the first cymbal piece away from the deformation cavity.

Optionally, the front projection of the first cymbal piece on the projection plane is located in the front projection of the cap body on the projection plane, the front projection of the trigger part on the projection plane is located in the front projection of the first cymbal piece on the projection plane, and the projection plane is a plane perpendicular to the first direction.

Optionally, the feedback unit further includes a power supply member electrically connected to the piezoelectric member, for applying an electric field to the piezoelectric member when the value of the pressing force is greater than a first set value.

Optionally, the feedback part further includes a second cymbal piece, and the second cymbal piece and the first cymbal piece are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the piezoelectric element along the first direction.

Optionally, the key comprises a buffer medium and at least two key caps, wherein the cap bodies of the two key caps form a filling area along a second direction, the buffer medium is filled in the filling area, and the second direction intersects with the first direction.

Optionally, the key further includes a decoration, where the decoration is connected to the cap bodies of the two key caps, and encloses the filling area with the cap bodies of the two key caps.

Optionally, the buffer medium includes a first buffer medium and a second buffer medium, and the first buffer medium and the second buffer medium are staggered in the filling area along the second direction.

Optionally, the length of the cap body of one of the two key caps is greater than the length of the cap body of the other key cap.

A second aspect of the present application provides an electronic device, including a key as set forth in the above technical solution

The beneficial effects of the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application at least comprise: the cap body can receive the pressing force from a user; the cap body, the trigger part and the feedback part are sequentially connected along the first direction, so that the trigger part can transmit the pressing force from the cap body to the feedback part; when the value of the pressing force is larger than a first set value, the feedback part drives the trigger part and the cap body to vibrate and transmit the vibration to a user, so that the user can sense that the pressing operation is recognized.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that are needed in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and that other drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a key according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a key cap and a feedback unit of a key according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a key with two key caps according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a key with a filling area filled with a buffer medium according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a connection between a decoration and two key caps according to an embodiment of the present application.

Reference numerals in the drawings denote:

1. a key cap; 11. a cap body; 12. a trigger part;

2. a feedback unit; 21. a feedback section; 211. a piezoelectric member; 212. a first cymbal piece; 213. a second cymbal piece; 2101. a deformation cavity; 22. a power supply member;

31. a first buffer medium; 32. a second buffer medium;

4. a decoration piece;

5. waterproof rubber rings;

100. filling the region.

Specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in more detail. These drawings and the written description are not intended to limit the scope of the inventive concepts in any way, but to illustrate the concepts of the present application to those skilled in the art by reference to specific embodiments.

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present application will be made clearly and fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is evident that the embodiments described are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments, which can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue burden from the present disclosure, are within the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms of orientation, such as "upper," "lower," "side," and the like, in the embodiments of the present application are generally based on the relative relationships of orientations shown in fig. 1, and are used merely to more clearly describe structures and relationships between structures, and are not intended to describe absolute orientations. The orientation may change when the product is placed in different orientations, e.g. "up", "down" may be interchanged.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical terms used in the examples of the present application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In order to make the technical solution and advantages of the present application more apparent, the embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The first aspect of the present application provides a key, as shown in fig. 1, where the key includes a key cap 1 and a feedback unit 2, the key cap 1 includes a cap body 11 and a trigger portion 12, and the feedback unit 2 includes a feedback portion 21, where the cap body 11, the trigger portion 12 and the feedback portion 21 are sequentially connected along a first direction F; the trigger 12 transmits the pressing force from the cap 11 to the feedback 21, and when the pressing force is greater than the first set value, the feedback 21 vibrates. Wherein the first direction F is the direction of the arrow in fig. 1.

It will be appreciated that the cap 11 may receive a pressing force from a user; the cap 11, the trigger 12 and the feedback 21 are sequentially connected in the first direction F, so that the trigger 12 can transmit the pressing force from the cap 11 to the feedback 21; when the pressing force is greater than the first set value, the feedback part 21 drives the trigger part 12 and the cap 11 to vibrate and transmit the vibration to the user, so that the user can sense that the pressing operation is recognized.

It will be appreciated that the trigger 12 acts to transmit a compressive force. When the user applies a pressing force to the cap 11, the trigger section 12 may transmit it to the feedback section 21 as long as the pressing force has a component force in the first direction F.

In the embodiment of the present application, the triggering portion 12 may include a pressure sensor and a vibration mechanism, the vibration mechanism is connected with the triggering portion 12, and the pressure sensor is electrically connected with the vibration mechanism. When the pressing force applied by the user to the cap 11 is greater than the first set value, the vibration mechanism receives an electrical signal from the pressure sensor, and drives the trigger 12 to vibrate. Alternatively, the electrical signal may be a voltage signal, and may be a current signal. Alternatively, the vibration mechanism may be a vibration motor. It can be understood that the linkage between the pressure sensor and the vibration mechanism belongs to the prior art, and the key of the present application is not an improvement of the linkage, but is applied to the key and is matched with other structures of the key, so that the user can sense that the pressing operation has been identified.

In summary, the key of the present application feeds back the user's pressing by the vibration of the feedback unit 21, so that the user can perceive that the pressing operation has been recognized.

To enable the user to perceive that the pressing operation has been recognized, as shown in fig. 2, the feedback portion 21 may include a piezoelectric member 211 and a first cymbal piece 212, the first cymbal piece 212 being connected to the piezoelectric member 211 and forming a deformation chamber 2101 between the piezoelectric member 211, and the triggering portion 12 being connected to a side of the first cymbal piece 212 remote from the deformation chamber 2101.

It will be appreciated that the triggering portion 12 is connected to a side of the first cymbal piece 212 away from the deformation cavity 2101, so that the first cymbal piece 212 can transmit the pressing force from the triggering portion 12 to a position connected to the piezoelectric element 211, and the piezoelectric element 211 is pressed to deform and generate an electrical signal, and the electrical signal can enable the feedback unit 2 to drive the piezoelectric element 211 to vibrate, so that a user can sense that the pressing operation is recognized. The deformation chamber 2101 provides a deformable space between the first cymbal piece 212 and the trigger portion 12, thereby reducing interference between the first cymbal piece 212 and the trigger portion 12, facilitating the generation of an electrical signal by the piezoelectric element 211 through deformation. In some embodiments of the present application, the electrical signal is a voltage signal.

Specifically, the first cymbal piece 212 deforms when receiving the pressing force, and transmits the pressing force to the piezoelectric element 211, so that the piezoelectric element 211 deforms to generate an electric signal, and the deformation cavity 2101 is extruded to reduce the volume; when the pressing force is removed, the first cymbal piece 212 recovers from the deformation and drives the piezoelectric element 211 to recover from the deformation, and the deformation chamber 2101 recovers and the volume increases. By generating a restoring force in opposite directions to the piezoelectric member 211 at the time of restoration by the first cymbal piece 212 and the second cymbal piece 213, the piezoelectric member 211 can be restored to a shape before receiving the pressing force and can be deformed to generate an electric signal at the time of receiving the same magnitude of the pressing force.

Alternatively, the piezoelectric element 211 may have a rectangular, circular, or the like cross-sectional shape. The material of the piezoelectric member 211 may be ceramic.

Alternatively, the first cymbal piece 212 may be straw hat shaped in shape and the material may be stainless steel or titanium alloy.

Alternatively, the shape of the longitudinal section of the deformable cavity 2101 may be trapezoidal, with the piezoelectric element 211 being located at the lower base of the deformable cavity 2101 and the trigger section 12 being located at the upper base of the deformable cavity 2101.

Alternatively, the shape of the deformable cavity 2101 may be a segment, which refers to a portion of a sphere that is truncated by the plane of interception.

In the embodiment of the present application, in order to facilitate the cap 11 to receive the pressing force from the user while the triggering portion 12 can transmit the pressing force to the first cymbal piece 212, it is possible to set: the front projection of the first cymbal piece 212 on the projection plane is located in the front projection of the cap 11 on the projection plane, the front projection of the trigger part 12 on the projection plane is located in the front projection of the first cymbal piece 212 on the projection plane, and the projection plane is a plane perpendicular to the first direction F.

It will be appreciated that the cap 11 so provided has a relatively large area for the user to press. The front projection on the projection plane is located in the front projection of the first cymbal piece 212 on the projection plane, so that the triggering part 12 can accurately transmit the pressing force on the cap 11 to the first cymbal piece 212, thereby improving the pressing effect.

In this embodiment, the piezoelectric element 211 generates deformation or mechanical pressure when an electric field is applied, so the mode in which the feedback unit 2 drives the piezoelectric element 211 to vibrate may be: as shown in fig. 2, the feedback unit 2 further includes a power supply member 22, and the power supply member 22 is electrically connected to the piezoelectric member 211 for applying an electric field to the piezoelectric member 211 when the magnitude of the pressing force is greater than the first set value.

It will be appreciated that the power supply member 22 deforms and vibrates the piezoelectric member 211 by applying an electric field to the piezoelectric member 211. Since the first cymbal piece 212 is connected with the piezoelectric member 211, the deformation can be transmitted to the trigger 12 and the cap 11 via the first cymbal piece 212, and perceived by the user.

Alternatively, the power supply member 22 may be electrically connected to both sides of the piezoelectric member 211 to form a loop. Two electrodes may be led out on one side of the piezoelectric element 211 and electrically connected to the power feeding element 22 to form a circuit.

In one embodiment, an electrical signal is generated when the piezoelectric element 211 is pressed. When the power supply member 22 receives the electric signal, an electric field is applied to the piezoelectric member 211, and the piezoelectric member 211 vibrates. The manner in which the power supply member 22 applies the electric field to the piezoelectric member 211 according to the received electric signal belongs to the prior art, and the key of the present embodiment is not intended to improve the above manner, but rather is intended to apply the above manner to the key of the present embodiment and cooperate with other structures of the key so that the user can perceive that the pressing operation has been identified.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first cymbal piece 212 and the piezoelectric member 211 are deformed when pressed. Since the direction of the pressing force is generally along the first direction F, the first cymbal piece 212 generates an upward pulling force at a position where it meets the piezoelectric member 211 when it is recovered from the deformation, which causes the edge of the piezoelectric member 211 to warp upward. To solve the above problems: as shown in fig. 2, the feedback portion 21 further includes a second cymbal piece 213, and the second cymbal piece 213 and the first cymbal piece 212 are provided on opposite sides of the piezoelectric member 211 in the first direction F, respectively.

It will be appreciated that when the user presses the cap 11, the second cymbal piece 213 is compressed and deformed; when the pressing force is removed, the second cymbal piece 213 recovers from the deformation, and brings the piezoelectric element 211 to recover from the deformation. Since the pressing forces applied to the first cymbal piece 212 and the second cymbal piece 213 are substantially identical, and the second cymbal piece 213 and the first cymbal piece 212 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the piezoelectric member 211 along the first direction F, the directions of elastic forces generated when the first cymbal piece 212 and the second cymbal piece 213 recover from deformation are opposite, so that the piezoelectric member 211 does not warp due to the upward elastic force applied to only one position when recovering from deformation.

In the related art, in order to trigger a plurality of command operations, a key generally includes a plurality of key caps 1, and the sealing property of the key is poor due to a gap between the adjacent key caps 1. In order to solve the above problems, as shown in fig. 3, 4 and 5, the key comprises a buffer medium and at least two key caps 1, wherein the cap bodies 11 of two key caps 1 of the at least two key caps 1 form a filling area 100 along a second direction, the buffer medium is filled in the filling area 100, and the second direction intersects with the first direction F.

It will be appreciated that the buffer medium fills the filling area 100, so that the feedback portion 21 is prevented from being shorted by the liquid passing through the filling area 100 to contact the feedback portion 21. The buffer medium can also enable the two key caps 1 to move relatively, and when one key cap 1 is pressed down, the other key cap 1 is not pressed down so as to trigger instruction operation.

Alternatively, the buffer medium may be silica gel, plastic, or the like.

Optionally, a waterproof rubber ring 5 is sleeved on the triggering part 12 of the key cap 1. The waterproof rubber ring 5 is in interference fit with the surrounding structure design and is tightly sealed with the surrounding structure design, so that the waterproof effect is achieved;

in order to improve the sealing performance of the key, the following steps can be set: as shown in fig. 3, 4 and 5, the key further includes a decoration 4, where the decoration 4 connects the cap bodies 11 of the two key caps 1, and encloses a filling area 100 with the cap bodies 11 of the two key caps 1.

It can be understood that the decoration 4 is connected with the cap bodies 11 of the two key caps 1, and encloses a filling area 100 with the cap bodies 11 of the two key caps 1, so as to provide a mounting position for the buffer medium and facilitate the filling of the filling area 100 by the buffer medium.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, the decorative member 4 is located on the same side of the two caps 11, and the two key caps 1 may be integrated in appearance.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 5, the ornamental piece 4 is located on the cap 11 adjacent to the side on which the trigger portion 12 is located. The decorative member 4 at this position can be formed in a color consistent with the cap body 11 by spraying or the like, and the two key caps 1 can be integrated in appearance.

Alternatively, the decorative member 4 is bonded to the cap 11 by an adhesive such as glue or tape.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, the buffer medium includes the first buffer medium 31 and the second buffer medium 32, and the first buffer medium 31 and the second buffer medium 32 are staggered in the filling area 100 in the second direction.

It will be appreciated that the staggered filling of the filling areas 100 in the second direction with different buffer media may enable a better connection between the two caps 11 while allowing for mutual movement.

Alternatively, the material of the first buffer medium 31 may be silica gel, plastic, or the like. The material of the second buffer medium 32 may be the same as that of the cap 11, so that the two caps 11 have better connection performance.

In some of these embodiments, as shown in fig. 5, the length of the cap body 11 of one key cap 1 of the two key caps 1 is greater than the length of the cap body 11 of the other key cap 1.

It can be appreciated that the two caps 11 with different lengths are beneficial to the user to distinguish from each other in terms of appearance and touch, so that the user can know the operation instruction which can be triggered by the caps 11 through observation and touch.

A second aspect of the present application provides an electronic device comprising a key as in the above embodiments.

It can be understood that, due to the adoption of the key of the above embodiment, the electronic device of the present application has the same technical effects as the key of the above embodiment, and will not be described herein.

Optionally, the electronic device may be an electronic product such as a mobile phone, a tablet, a smart watch, a smart bracelet, or the like.

In this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. The term "plurality" refers to two or more, unless explicitly defined otherwise.

Other embodiments of the present application will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the present application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the application following, in general, the principles of the application and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the application pertains. The specification and examples are to be regarded in an illustrative manner only.

It is to be understood that the present application is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, which have been described above, and that various modifications and changes may be effected without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A key, characterized in that the key comprises a key cap (1) and a feedback unit (2), the key cap (1) comprises a cap body (11) and a triggering part (12), the feedback unit (2) comprises a feedback part (21), wherein,

the cap body (11), the triggering part (12) and the feedback part (21) are connected in sequence along a first direction;

the trigger part (12) is used for transmitting the pressing force from the cap body (11) to the feedback part (21), and when the pressing force is larger than a first set value, the feedback part (21) vibrates.

2. The key according to claim 1, wherein the feedback portion (21) includes a piezoelectric element (211) and a first cymbal piece (212), the first cymbal piece (212) is connected to the piezoelectric element (211) and forms a deformation cavity (2101) with the piezoelectric element (211), and the trigger portion (12) is connected to a side of the first cymbal piece (212) away from the deformation cavity (2101).

3. The key according to claim 2, wherein an orthographic projection of the first cymbal piece (212) on a projection plane is located in an orthographic projection of the cap body (11) on the projection plane, and an orthographic projection of the trigger portion (12) on the projection plane is located in an orthographic projection of the first cymbal piece (212) on the projection plane, the projection plane being a plane perpendicular to the first direction.

4. The key according to claim 2, wherein the feedback unit (2) further comprises a power supply member (22), the power supply member (22) being electrically connected to the piezoelectric member (211) for applying an electric field to the piezoelectric member (211) when the value of the pressing force is larger than a first set value.

5. The key according to claim 2, wherein the feedback portion (21) further includes a second cymbal piece (213), the second cymbal piece (213) and the first cymbal piece (212) being provided on opposite sides of the piezoelectric element (211) in the first direction, respectively.

6. The key according to claim 1, characterized in that the key comprises a buffer medium and at least two key caps (1), the caps (11) of two of the at least two key caps (1) forming a filling area (100) along a second direction, the buffer medium filling the filling area (100), the second direction intersecting the first direction.

7. The key according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises a decoration (4), said decoration (4) connecting the caps (11) of said two key caps (1) and enclosing said filling area (100) with the caps (11) of said two key caps (1).

8. The key according to claim 7, wherein the buffer media comprises a first buffer media (31) and a second buffer media (32), the first buffer media (31) and the second buffer media (32) being staggered in the filling area (100) along the second direction.

9. The key according to claim 6, wherein the length of the cap body (11) of one key cap (1) of the two key caps (1) is larger than the length of the cap body (11) of the other key cap (1).

10. An electronic device comprising a key as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.