EP3602596B1 - Key module - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a key module according to the main claim. The key module can be used in a computer keyboard, for example.

Most available key modules (which can also be called key modules) are relatively high and can only be integrated into flat keyboards or notebooks with problems. In the case of conventional modules, a “clicking” variant based on the two-part tappet is also implemented in order to output a message to a user of the key module that a key has been actuated. In the case of flat key modules, due to the lack of installation space, the clicking noise is implemented using an additional mechanism. As a result, an electrical switching process is decoupled from the process of generating the clicking sound and is thus not synchronous with the generation of the clicking sound. LED illumination is also designed on one side in most known key modules, so that uniform illumination of a surface facing the user of the key module with an LED (in particular keys with two or three symbols) is not possible. Furthermore, most key modules are designed to be relatively leaky for cost reasons, so that damage to the keyboards occurs relatively quickly if water or aqueous liquids are poured over them, for example. The weak points in the button module with regard to damage caused by liquids are specifically the electrical switching mechanism and a guide for the plunger. On the part of the user, there is still often a need for different key modules, for example with a linear force curve during actuation, with a pressure point for actuation, with a clicking noise when actuated and with different force-displacement curves. Such a variety, however, requires the button manufacturers to keep available an enormous number of variants of button modules, which usually have to be produced in different ways and are therefore expensive to produce. In the case of low modules, the guidance of the plunger when such a key module is actuated is also shortened, which increases the risk of the key jamming. A so-called "silent" version of a key module is a complex two-component one Plunger used, which significantly increases the overall cost of the module. A reduced overall height also makes it difficult or impossible to mount electronic components (especially when using components based on SMDs) on the top side of a printed circuit board, especially in connection with frame mounting. Finally, mounting on the underside of the key modules is just as problematic, since certain components should be attached directly to the modules. This results in considerable difficulties in the subsequent module soldering process (especially when using a soldering wave), since all components would have to be covered. There is also a risk of destroying the electronic components due to electrostatic discharge (up to 8 KV).

The document CN 283 339 829 U discloses a keyboard switch with a full-color luminescent center that includes a base, a static contact, a movable contact, a top cover with a rectangular opening, and a button.

Against this background, the present invention provides an improved key module according to the main claim. Advantageous configurations result from the dependent claims and the following description.

• einem Deckelelement,
• einem Stößel, der eine Mitnehmernase aufweist, wobei der Stößel entlang einer Bewegungsachse beweglich durch das Deckelelement geführt und/oder gelagert ist, wobei der Stößel in einem Durchtrittsbereich, in dem er durch das Deckelelement ragt, einen zylinderförmigen Tastkappenträgerabschnitt aufweist und an einem an den Tastkappenträgerabschnitt angrenzenden Führungsabschnitt an einer Außenseite zumindest eine Rippe aufweist;
• eine Kontaktgebereinheit, die ausgebildet und angeordnet ist, um von der Mitnehmernase mitgenommen zu werden;
• ein Kontaktstück, das zum elektrischen Kontaktschluss mit der Kontaktnase ausgebildet und angeordnet ist; und
• einem Gehäuseelement zur Aufnahme des Kontaktstücks, der Kontaktgebereinheit und des Stößels, wobei das Gehäuseelement zur Aufnahme des Führungsabschnitts des Stößels zumindest einen Aufnahmebecher mit zumindest einer Ausnehmung zur Aufnahme der Rippe des Stößels aufweist.

The approach presented here creates a button module with the following features:

• a cover element,
• a plunger which has a driver lug, the plunger being guided and/or supported by the cover element so that it can move along an axis of movement, the plunger having a cylindrical key cap carrier section in a passage region in which it protrudes through the cover element and on a part attached to the key cap carrier section adjoining guide section has at least one rib on an outer side;
• a contactor assembly constructed and arranged to be entrained by the tang;
• a contact piece which is designed and arranged for electrical contact closure with the contact lug; and
• a housing element for accommodating the contact piece, the contactor unit and the plunger, the housing element for accommodating the guide section of the ram having at least one receiving cup with at least one recess for accommodating the rib of the ram.

The driver lug can be understood, for example, as a projection of the plunger, which is a further element during a movement in the direction of the movement axis how the contact nose reaches behind and takes it with it. A movement axis can be understood as an axis along which the plunger is moved or is movable in relation to the cover element and/or the housing element. A contact piece can be understood to mean an element which consists at least partially of an electrically conductive material and is fixed, for example, at a predetermined position in the housing element. A contactor unit can be understood as an element. The contact piece can, for example, serve as a counterpart to the contactor unit in order to close an electrical contact in the form of a switch. A key cap carrier section can be understood, for example, as a section of the plunger onto which a key cap can be attached, which, for example, carries a symbol to indicate to a user which key to press if he wants to enter a desired symbol. A guide section can be understood to mean a section of the ram which is pressed into the housing element when the ram is pressed down. A rib can be understood as meaning a wall or wing protruding laterally from the guide section, which is guided in a recess or a slot-shaped opening of a receiving cup of the housing element when the guide section is inserted into the receiving cup of the housing element when the plunger is pressed down.

The approach proposed here is based on the finding that the cylindrical key cap carrier section, which is advantageously guided through a circular opening in the cover element, and at the same time the design of the guide section with the rib or ribs, which are located in a corresponding recess or one recess each in the Receiving cup of the housing element is performed a very smooth and snag-free operation of the plunger along the axis of movement can be made possible. Here it can be ensured that both an upper area of the plunger is guided safely and reliably by the key cap carrier section and a lower area of the plunger is guided safely and reliably by the configuration of the guide section mentioned. Furthermore, the special configurations can also be produced using technically simple means.

An advantageous embodiment of the approach proposed here is one in which the tappet has at least a plurality of ribs on its outside, in particular arranged in a cross shape, with the receiving cup of the housing element having a plurality of recesses, each designed to accommodate one of the ribs of the tappet are. Such an embodiment of the approach proposed here offers the advantage of particularly favorable torsion security through the use of the plurality of ribs which extend from the outside of the plunger into corresponding extensions of the receiving cup and are supported on the side walls of this recess.

An embodiment of the approach proposed here is particularly favorable in which the plunger has an at least partially hollow-cylindrical section in the area of the guide section, in particular the at least one rib being formed on an outside of the hollow-cylindrical section. Such an embodiment of the approach proposed here offers the possibility of keeping the height of the at least one rib low, so that bending or breaking off of the rib can be prevented. At the same time, such a hollow-cylindrical shaped section offers advantages with regard to the stability of the guide section of the tappet.

In order to further reduce tilting of the ram when it is pressed down along the movement axis, according to a further embodiment of the approach proposed here, a guide plunger of the housing element can engage in the hollow-cylindrical area of the guide section of the ram.

The thinner the wall thickness of the at least one rib, the narrower the recess in the receiving cup can be, so that the plunger can be guided very well and without tilting when pressed down along the movement axis. For this reason, a further embodiment of the approach presented here is very advantageous, in which the rib of the plunger has a wall thickness which has at most half the diameter of the key cap carrier section, in particular at most one third of the diameter of the key cap carrier section.

According to a further embodiment of the approach proposed here, the contactor unit can have a contact lug that can be moved in the direction of the movement axis and transversely to the direction of the movement axis, with the housing element having a guide wall that is oriented at an angle to the direction of the movement axis and is designed to surround the contact lug from a rest position adjacent to it to the contact piece in the direction longitudinal and/or transverse to the movement axis when the contact lug is carried along by the driver lug when the plunger is pressed down.

The contact maker unit can have a contact lug that can be moved in different directions, wherein the contact lug can be understood as an area of the contact maker unit in which an electrical contact can be closed with a corresponding counterpart. A baffle can be understood, for example, as a strut or surface that is designed to deflect the contact lug in a direction along and/or transverse to the axis of movement when the contact lug is carried along by the driver lug during a movement of the plunger along the axis of movement and on the Guide wall is deflected.

Such an embodiment of the approach presented here is based on the knowledge that by using the driver lug on the ram when the ram moves along the movement axis, i.e. when the ram is pressed down, the contact lug is taken along as the area of the contactor unit that is designed to be most mobile and is guided along the guide wall until the contact lug is laterally expanded by sliding along the guide wall to such an extent that it slides past the driver lug laterally and is thereby released in order to snap back into its original position, ie the rest position. On the one hand, this allows a clicking noise to be generated which is very close in time to electrical contact between the contact lug and the contact piece, so that the user of the button module can also hear the clicking noise promptly as confirmation of electrical contact between two electrical contact points. The approach presented here offers the advantage that by deflecting and snapping back the contact lug of the contactor unit as part of an electrical contact switch, a constructive Effort can be avoided to equip the key module with a unit for generating the clicking sound. In this way, a key module can be created that is inexpensive and easy to produce, which nevertheless has the advantages that are most valued by users.

According to a special embodiment of the approach presented here, the housing element can be designed to guide the contact lug around the driver lug when the plunger is pressed down. Such a moving around can be understood, for example, as meaning that the contact lug is at the greatest distance from the movement axis at the time of this moving around. In this way, the contact lug can be released very easily and over a defined distance, in order to generate the clicking sound after snapping back on the one hand and to ensure the electrical connection is reversibly repeatable after the plunger has been pressed down a certain distance.

An embodiment of the approach presented here is also advantageous, in which the contactor unit is designed to strike the contact nose against the cover element after it has been deflected on the baffle. Such an embodiment offers the advantage of forming a defined stop surface on the cover element, which on the one hand can be correspondingly reinforced and on the other hand structured accordingly and connected to other areas of the cover element to form a specific sound.

An embodiment of the approach presented here is also favorable in which the contactor unit at least partially has a U-shaped section, in particular where the contact lug is arranged at one end of the U-shaped section of the contactor unit and/or where a U-shape of the contactor unit in a plane that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement. Such an embodiment of the approach proposed here offers the advantage of a contactor unit that is technically very easy to implement, in which the contact lug nevertheless has the desired mobility in different directions of movement. For example, the contactor unit can be designed as a correspondingly shaped or bent metal strip.

An embodiment of the approach presented here is also conceivable, in which the contactor unit has a greater (mechanical) rigidity in relation to a movement of the contact lug in the direction of the movement axis than a (mechanical) rigidity in the direction transverse to the movement axis. Such an embodiment of the approach proposed here offers the advantage that the contact lug moves significantly faster in the direction of the movement axis than transversely to the movement axis when moving back after being guided around via the driver lug. In this way it is ensured that the clicking sound is essentially caused by a movement in the direction of the movement axis, which is designed to be clearly repeatable and offers a sufficient snapping path for the contact lug in order to generate the clicking sound clearly perceptible to the user.

According to a further embodiment of the approach proposed here, the contactor unit can have a surface section in the area of the contact lug, the surface of which is oriented obliquely to the direction of the movement axis, in particular the surface of which is oriented no longer, i.e. at a maximum, at an acute angle to the guide wall, in particular its Surface is aligned parallel to the baffle. This surface portion may be constructed and arranged to slide along the baffle. Such an embodiment of the approach presented here offers the advantage of a particularly low-friction sliding of the surface section along the baffle. In this way, the key module can be actuated with as little force and as reliably as possible.

An embodiment of the approach proposed here is particularly reliable and durable, in which the contactor unit has a stop section in the area of the contact lug, which is designed to butt against the cover element. In particular, the stop section can have a surface which is aligned essentially parallel to the cover element or a part of the cover element and/or the stop section being formed by an angled part of the contactor unit or the contact lug and/or the stop section being longer than the cover element has directed surface as a thickness.

In order to ensure rapid and repeated actuation of the button module, the return movement of the plunger along the axis of movement should be able to take place as unhindered as possible or only with minor obstacles. An embodiment of the approach proposed here is particularly advantageous in which the driver lug of the tappet has at least one reset surface section, which has a surface that is oriented obliquely in relation to the direction of the axis of movement, in particular wherein the reset surface section is designed so that when the tappet is reset to guide the contact lug around the driver lug. In this way it can be ensured that when the plunger is moved back into the rest position, the contact lug or the contact point can be guided around easily and without increased effort and the driver lug. At the same time, there is the possibility of again generating a clicking noise when resetting the plunger, in this case, for example, when the contact nose is lifted from the contact piece and, after being guided around the driver nose, is returned to the contact piece.

One embodiment of the approach proposed here is particularly advantageous, in which the cover element has a cover flank in the area of an opening through which the plunger is guided, with a surface that is inclined to the direction of the movement axis and/or the plunger in a passage area that passes through the Cover element is surrounded, has a plunger flank with a surface oblique to the direction of the movement axis. In particular, the cover flank can be arranged circumferentially around the opening in the cover element. Alternatively or additionally, the ram flank can also be arranged circumferentially around the ram in the passage area. Such an embodiment offers the advantage of a particularly tight seal between the cover element and the plunger, in particular to prevent liquids from entering the key module.

A key module according to an embodiment of the approach presented here is particularly well protected against the ingress of liquids, in which a sealing element is provided which is arranged between the cover element and the housing element, in particular wherein the sealing element is in a groove of the cover element and/or a groove of the housing element is arranged or pressed.

In particular, a capillary effect can be used in such an embodiment in order to prevent the liquid from penetrating into the key module.

In one embodiment of the approach proposed here, which offers a particularly high level of protection against the ingress of liquids into the key module, the sealing element can enclose the area of the plunger, the contactor unit and the contact piece in a fluid-tight manner, in particular with the sealing element in the form of a labyrinth seal or as a Labyrinth seal is formed. In this way, a hermetic sealing of the components that are most important for the function of the key module can be achieved with a low expenditure on material.

According to a further embodiment of the approach proposed here, the cover element can have at least one light-guiding element, in particular the light-guiding element being at least partially ring-shaped around an area in which the plunger is guided through the cover element. Such an embodiment offers the advantage of a particularly good possibility of illuminating a key cap to be placed on the key module, so that the user can quickly, clearly and reliably grasp the meaning of the symbols on the key cap.

In order to ensure the greatest possible protection against tilting of the plunger when it is pressed down, according to a further embodiment, the plunger can have protruding ribs or wings on at least a partial section of its outer surface, which are in particular designed crosswise, and the cover element and/or the housing element can have recesses for receiving of the ribs or wings of the ram.

According to a further embodiment, a key module can be configured particularly quietly by providing a shock absorber element which is arranged between the plunger and the housing element, in particular the shock absorber element being cylindrical or ring-shaped. Such an embodiment of the approach proposed here offers the advantage of using standardized conventional components such as rubber stoppers, which means that a cost-effective variant of the low-noise key module can be produced.

Figur 1

eine Explosionsdarstellung eines Tastenmodules gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Figur 2

eine Querschnittdarstellung einer Modulvariante eines Tastenmoduls 100 mit linearem Kraft-Weg-Verlauf; und

Figur 3

eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung als Tastenmodul;

Figur 4

zeigt eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung als Tastenmodul;

Figur 5

eine Querschnittdarstellung eines Tastenmoduls gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel des hier vorgestellten Ansatzes;

Figur 6

eine Querschnittsdarstellung des in der Figur 5 dargestellen Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung als Tastenmodul;

Figur 7

eine Querschnittsdarstellung des in der Figur 6 dargestellen Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung als Tastenmodul;

Figur 8

eine Querschnittsdarstellung des in der Figur 7 dargestellen Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung als Tastenmodul;

Figur 9

eine Aufsichtdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung als Tastenmodul;

Figur 10

eine Seitenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung als Tastenmodul in zusammengesetzter Form;

Figur 11

eine Schnittansicht durch das Tastenmodul entsprechend dem Schnitt A-A aus der Darstellung gemäß Figur 10;

Figur 12

eine Schnittansicht durch das Tastenmodul entsprechend dem Schnitt B-B aus der Darstellung gemäß Figur 10;

Figur 13

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Deckelelementes mit den darin integierten Lichtleitelement;

Figur 14

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Stößels zur Verwendung in einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Figur 15

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Gehäuseelementes;

Figur 16

eine Seitenansicht eines Tastenmoduls, welches auf einer Leiterplatte verbaut ist;

Figur 17

eine Seitenansicht eines weiteren Tastenmoduls, welches ebenfalls auf einer Leiterplatte verbaut wurde; und

Figur 18

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf ein Tastenmodul auf das Gehäuseelement.

The invention is explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

figure 1

an exploded view of a button module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

figure 2

a cross-sectional view of a module variant of a button module 100 with a linear force-displacement curve; and

figure 3

a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention as a key module;

figure 4

shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention as a key module;

figure 5

a cross-sectional view of a button module according to an embodiment of the approach presented here;

figure 6

a cross-sectional view of in the figure 5 illustrated embodiment of the present invention as a key module;

figure 7

a cross-sectional view of in the figure 6 illustrated embodiment of the present invention as a key module;

figure 8

a cross-sectional view of in the figure 7 illustrated embodiment of the present invention as a key module;

figure 9

a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention as a key module;

figure 10

a side view of an embodiment of the present invention as a key module in assembled form;

figure 11

a sectional view through the key module according to the section AA from the illustration figure 10 ;

figure 12

a sectional view through the button module corresponding to the section BB from the illustration figure 10 ;

figure 13

a perspective view of the cover element with the light-guiding element integrated therein;

figure 14

a perspective view of the plunger for use in an embodiment of the present invention;

figure 15

a perspective view of a housing element;

figure 16

a side view of a button module, which is installed on a circuit board;

figure 17

a side view of another button module, which was also installed on a circuit board; and

figure 18

a perspective view of a button module on the housing element.

In the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference symbols are used for the elements which are shown in the various figures and have a similar effect, with a repeated description of these elements being dispensed with.

1 shows an exploded view of a button module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The button module or the button module 100 can be constructed as a modular construction kit and essentially comprises the components plunger 105, cover element 110, contactor unit 115, contact piece 120, compression spring 125 and housing unit 130. The plunger 105 comprises a driving lug 135 which, As will be explained in more detail in the following description, take a contact lug 140 of the contactor unit 115 and deflect it from a rest position. In the present case, the contactor unit 115 is designed as a U-shaped metal element and is therefore electrically conductive. The contact lug 140 is arranged in one end of the contactor unit 115 and, in addition to a contacting tip 145, via which an electrical contact of the contactor unit 115 can be closed with the contact piece 120, also includes other components which are described in more detail below. Furthermore, it can be seen that the figure 1 The button module 100 illustrated comprises a sealing element 150, which is placed on the housing unit 130 and thus enables a fluid-tight seal or enclosure of the contactor unit 115, the lower part of the plunger 105, in particular including the driver lug 135, in order to thereby protect the functionality of the button module 100 as best as possible against to protect or secure externally acting liquids. The sealing element 150 can, for example, be configured circumferentially and/or have a triangular cross-sectional profile, for example in order to figure 1 groove not shown engage in the cover member 110 and thereby a to achieve the best possible sealing effect. The compression spring 115 is in the in the figure 1 illustrated embodiment as a spiral coil spring, for example made of metal; however, it is also conceivable to use an alternative spring element, such as a plastic spring or a cushion filled with fluid, in order to return the plunger 115 to its original position after it has been pressed down.

Functionally, the key module 100 can be implemented cost-effectively in three design variants. The main changes are specifically the actuating nose on the plunger 105, which is also referred to here as the driver nose 135, and in part a contour wall in the housing element 130, which is also referred to below as the guide wall.

The plunger 105 also has a cylindrical keycap support portion 160 (on which a figure 1 not shown symbol-carrying button cap is clipped) in a passage area in which it protrudes through the cover element 110. In addition, the plunger 105 has at least one rib 170 on an outer side 167 of a guide section 165 adjoining the key cap carrier section 160 . For example, a wall thickness of the wing or wings 170 can be at most half, advantageously at most one third, of a diameter of the cylindrical key cap carrier section 160 .

In the assembled state of the key module 100, the guide section 165 is received in a receiving cup 175 of the housing element 130, the receiving cup, as will be described in more detail below, in the figure 1 not shown recesses for receiving a wing 170 of the guide portion 165 of the plunger 105 has. At the same time, the guide section 165 can be designed as a hollow-cylindrical section 180, on the outer sides 167 of which the wing or wings 170 are arranged. When the key module 100 is in the assembled state, a guide plunger in the receiving cup 175, for example, then engages in this hollow-cylindrical section 180, so that the guide section 165 can be guided very robustly when the plunger 105 is moved or pressed down.

By using the plunger 105 with the key cap carrier section 160, which protrudes through an advantageously circular opening in the cover element 110, the plunger 105 can be guided with as little canting as possible when the plunger 105 is pressed down. This low-tilting guidance of the plunger 105 when it is pressed down can be further improved if the wing(s) 170 of the guide section 165 of the plunger 105 also engage in the recess(es) of the receiving cup 175 and thus, on the one hand, guide the plunger 105 in the direction of movement during depression and, on the other hand, can ensure guidance against twisting. This ensures that the plunger 105 of the key module 100 can be actuated with very little tilting.

figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a module variant of a button module 100 with a linear force-displacement curve. The force-displacement curve can be implemented as desired by adapting or selecting a suitable compression spring 125. From the figure 2 It can also be seen that the plunger 105 can be moved in the direction of a movement axis 200 in relation to the housing element 130 . This movement can be effected, for example, by depressing the plunger 105, after a button is pressed on the plunger 105 by the restoring force of the compression spring 125 of the plunger back into its in the figure 2 shown initial position or rest position is returned.

Furthermore, in the figure 2 recognizable that the plunger 105 has a plunger flank 220 in a passage region 210, in which it is passed through an opening 215 of the cover element 110, which comprises a surface which is aligned obliquely to the movement axis 200. In addition, the cover element 110 also has a cover flank 225 in the region of the opening 215, which includes a surface that is oriented obliquely to the movement axis 200. Specifically, the surface of the plunger flank 220 and the surface of the cover flank 225 can be aligned essentially parallel and in the in the figure 2 illustrated rest position of the key module 100 develop a sealing effect in order to prevent the ingress of liquids into an interior of the key module 100 as effectively as possible. Furthermore, the button 100 includes a shock absorber element 230 which is mounted or inserted, for example, on a guide plunger 235 of the housing element 130 and which cushions an impact of the ram 105 on this part of the housing element 130 . A noise-reduced variant of a key module 100 can be produced in this way. It is particularly favorable if, for example, a rubber stopper is used as the shock absorber element 230, which is cut from round bar stock and inserted into the guide stamp 230, since such an exemplary embodiment can be produced very inexpensively. The guide plunger 235 can also engage in the hollow-cylindrical section 180 of the guide section 180 when the button module 100 is in a mounted state, in order to achieve additional guide stability of the plunger 105 when it is pressed down into the housing element 130 .

At the same time, it can be seen that when the plunger 105 is pressed down, the driver lug 135 presses on the contact lug 140 by means of a sloping flank and deflects it laterally, ie transversely or perpendicularly to a direction of extension of the movement axis 200 . In this exemplary embodiment, the base 240 can prevent a deflection of the contact lug 140 in a direction along the direction in which the movement axis 200 extends.

3 10 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention as a key module 100, in which embodiment a solution for implementing a pressure point is used. In this case, a tactile sensing of the exceeding of a specific path length of the plunger when the button module 100 is pressed down by the user can take place. This tactile sensing can be implemented, for example, in that the driver lug 135 has a projection in the direction of the contact lug 140, so that when the plunger is pressed down, the user of the button module has to apply increased pressure if the contact lug 140 is to slide around the driver lug 135 . The user of the button module 100 feels this increased depression pressure and from this recognizes a certain distance by which the plunger 105 has already been depressed. In this exemplary embodiment, the base 240 can in turn prevent a deflection of the contact lug 140 in a direction along the direction in which the movement axis 200 extends, so that the tactile effect of the projection of the driver lug 135 can develop optimally.

figure 4 FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention as a button module 100 using an approach to implementing a press and click point. As a result, the advantages mentioned above are achieved very efficiently. The actuation of the button module 100 is described in more detail below using the in FIG figure 4 illustrated embodiment described in more detail, it being obvious that in the Figures 2 and 3 illustrated embodiments can be used according to the following description.

Particular attention is paid to the click variant described with reference to the following figures as an exemplary embodiment of a button module 100. In contrast to most of the world-wide known solutions, in which a clicking noise is generated with a part or additional mechanism that is additional to the electrical switching mechanism, according to In the approach presented here, the clicking noise is induced directly by one of the electrical switching contacts, for example by a part of the contactor unit 115 impacting the cover element 110 or plunger 105 . Thus, only the components of the electrical switching contacts are required as a part or component to provide the click and switching function.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the approach presented here, the contactor unit 115 is designed in such a way that at least part of the contactor unit 115, such as the contact nose 140 here, can be deflected (actuated) three-dimensionally. The contactor unit 115 is installed in a prestressed state in the switching module or the key module 100 such that, for example, gold crosspoint contacts of the contactor unit 115 (which form the contact tip 145, for example) and the fixed contact or the contact piece 120 are pressed onto one another. With a defined preload, a defined contact force is set in the switched (ie in the electrically connected) state, which remains almost unchanged over the entire service life. This prestressing or actuation movement takes place in the horizontal plane, i.e. in a direction transverse or perpendicular to movement axis 200. This applies in particular to the linear and pressure point variants of key module 100 mentioned here.

In the clicker variant according to an exemplary embodiment presented here, in which a clicking noise is also generated in addition to the electrical switching, the contactor unit 115 or the contact lug 140 as part of the contactor unit 115 is activated by means of the actuating lug (i.e. the central lug 135) also in the direction of actuation or in the direction of the movement axis 200, ie according to the illustration in FIG figure 4 vertical, deflected. As a result, the contact nose 140 is taken along in the direction of the movement axis 200 by the driving nose 135, the contact nose 140 being opposite that in FIG figure 4 rest position shown is tensioned. After a defined actuation or movement path, the control contour of contactor unit 115, i.e. contact lug 140, strikes a guide wall 400 in housing element 130, which is inclined relative to movement axis 200, and upon further actuation, in addition to a vertical movement, is also moved transversely to the direction of the driver lug 140 Movement axis 200, ie, in the representation of figure 4 in the horizontal direction to the right, deflected.

In order to cause as little friction as possible when contact lug 140 slides along guide wall 400 and at the same time to avoid tilting and thus malfunction of key module 100, contact lug 140 also has a surface section 500 that is oriented obliquely to the direction of movement axis 200. In particular, the surface of the surface section 500 can be aligned at most at an acute angle to the guide wall 400, with a particularly low sliding resistance when the contact nose 140 slides along the guide wall 400 being able to be achieved if the surface of the surface section 500 is aligned parallel to the guide wall 400.

figure 5 shows a cross-sectional representation of a key module 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the approach presented here, in which the contact lug 140 is now deflected in a maximum deflection in relation to the movement axis 200. This means that the distance between the contact nose 140 and the movement axis 200 is greatest in this position. In this in the figure 5 position shown, the contact lug 140 of the contactor unit 115 will disengage in relation to the driving lug 135 and be guided around the driving lug 135. The better clarity is in the following figures often on the representation of Compression spring 125 has been omitted, it being obvious that this compression spring 125 can be used in the illustrated embodiments of the key module 100 or is.

From the point at which the contact lug 140 disengages, the contactor unit 115 or the contact lug 140 is free again and can be both in the vertical (ie in a longitudinal direction of the movement axis 200) and in the horizontal direction in the figure 5 (ie in a direction transverse to the movement axis 200), return to the original position or resting position.

figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of in the figure 5 illustrated exemplary embodiment of the present invention as a key module 100, the contact lug 140 now striking a stop wall 600 of the cover element 110 after disengaging and thereby generating a clicking noise. However, since, according to the exemplary embodiment presented here, the (mechanical) rigidity of the contactor unit 115 was designed to be significantly higher in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, the contact lug 140 of the contactor unit 115 strikes with a surface defined for this purpose (which is referred to here as the stop section 610) against the stop wall 600 of the cover element 110 first and generates a desired defined clicking sound. The stop section 610 can have a surface, for example, which is aligned essentially parallel to the cover element 110 or the stop wall 600 of the cover element 110 . The stop section 610 can also be formed by an angled part of the contactor unit 110 or the contact lug 140 and, alternatively or additionally, can have a longer length of a surface aligned towards the cover element 110 than a thickness.

After the contactor unit or the contact lug 140 has struck the cover element 110 or the stop wall 610, the contactor unit 110 or the contact lug 140 moves in the horizontal plane, ie towards the plunger 105 or the contact piece 120 and the electrical contact is closed with a predefined force.

figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of in the figure 6 shown exemplary embodiment of the present invention as a key module 100, with the contact lug 140 now being guided back into the rest position after striking the cover element 110 and thus electrical contact between the contact tip 145 of the contactor element 115 and the contact piece 120 is closed.

After releasing the plunger 105, due to the restoring force of the compression spring 125 in the Figures 5 to 9 as mentioned above is not shown for reasons of clarity, the provision of the plunger 105 takes place in the in the figure 4 shown original position. Here, the contactor unit 115 and the contact lug 140 by a reset surface portion 700 of the driving lug 135, which is as a slope of the plunger 105 in the right direction from the figure 7 , ie deflected horizontally or transversely to the direction of the movement axis 200 . Here, the contact lug 140 slips over the actuating lug or the driver lug 135, strikes again, but against the plunger 105 and generates a second clicking sound, which can be less intense, for example, than the first clicking sound, which is caused by hitting the contact lug 140 on the Lid member 110 will be.

figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of in the figure 7 shown exemplary embodiment of the present invention as a key module 100, with the contact lug 140 now being deflected by the reset surface section 700 from to the right, ie transversely to the direction in which the movement axis 200 extends, in order to bring the plunger 105 back into the starting position or original position or rest position.

The sound and the intensity of the clicking noise can be set as desired by the deflection path, material properties of the contactor unit 115, distance from the stop surface 610, rigidity and weight of the contactor unit or the contact lug 140.

Due to the small size of the exemplary embodiment of the key module 100 presented here, it is useful to ensure that the actuation guide for the actuation or the pressing down of the plunger 105 in the key module 100 cannot tilt improve. In order to achieve this with a limited length of a guide device for guiding the movement of the ram along the movement axis 200, the lower guide, ie a guide device in the area of the housing element 130, should be as narrow as possible (for example approx. 1 mm) and the upper guide, ie a guide device in the area of the cover element 110 or the plunger 105, should be as wide as possible (to a certain extent). This poses a technical challenge, since a guide pin (usual design) with a diameter of 1 mm does not offer sufficient strength (for example if a version made of plastic material is provided) and would have to be produced from special materials at great expense. For this reason, the pusher 105 according to the exemplary embodiment presented here has been designed in such a way that the upper guide in the area of the pusher 105 assumes a cylindrical shape with a large diameter (which is easy to manufacture).

figure 9 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention as a button module 100, wherein the figure 9 represents a top view of an open housing element 130 without a clipped-in cover element 110, but with a plunger 105 inserted. In addition to housing element 130, contact piece 120, contactor unit 115 including contact lug 140 and contact tip 145, stop section 610, guide wall 400, sealing element 150 and shock absorber element 230 can also be seen cross-shaped key cap carrier ribs 900 can be seen, which ensure a secure and non-rotatable fastening of the key caps to be clipped or pushed onto the plunger 105 (which are shown in figure 9 are not shown).

figure 10 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as a key module 100 in assembled form, ie with a clipped-together cover element 110 and housing element 130 and with further components arranged therein in accordance with the above statements. The button module 100 is shown here in the depressed state, ie in the actuated state. Also shown are the positions of a first section AA and a second section BB through the button module 100, the sectional views of which are described in more detail in the following explanations.

figure 11 shows a sectional view through the button module 100 corresponding to section AA from the illustration in accordance with FIG figure 10 . Since wings 170 are placed on a stable cylinder sleeve or the outside 167 of the guide section 165 of the ram 105, which engage in at least one (or more) recesses 1100 of the receiving cup 175 of the housing element 130, the overall rigidity of the ram 105 is also given in the usual material versions. In addition, the ram 105 is prevented from twisting by the cross guide of the wings 170 engaging in the recesses 1100. The lower guide was thus designed in the guide section 165 in the housing element 130 as recesses 1100 for ribs (which can also be referred to as wings 170) of the ram 105 1 mm. The ram 105 is guided on the side surfaces of the wings 170 arranged crosswise in the recesses 1100 of this guide section 165. The guide thus applies in the two main load directions The widths are equal to the thickness of the wings 170 arranged crosswise, for example about 1 mm.

figure 12 shows a sectional view through the button module 100 corresponding to the section BB from the illustration in accordance with FIG figure 10 . In addition to the cover element 110, the plunger 105 can also be seen, with the key cap carrier ribs 900 also being shown in the form of ribs arranged crosswise, on which a figure 12 not shown key cap can be attached. Furthermore, a light guide element 1210 of the cover element 110 can also be seen, which is arranged at least partially in a ring shape around an opening 215 through which the plunger 105 is guided. This light guide element 1210 serves to improve the illumination of the key cap. In this case, the light guide element 1210 is designed in such a way that it protrudes from the cover element 110 (for example according to the illustration in FIG figure 12 out of the plane of the drawing) and is made of a transparent material. In particular, the light-guiding element 1210 can protrude through the cover element 110 on the opposite side of the light source and can be made transparent, so that on the back of the in the figure 12 illustrated cover element 110 also has the light guide element 1210 as an at least partially round design around the plunger 105 Light-guiding element 1210 is integrated inexpensively in order to be able to emit light as evenly as possible onto a keycap clipped onto the plunger 105. In order to transport the light to a side opposite the cover element 110, the preferably at least partially ring-shaped light guide was therefore inexpensively integrated into the cover element 110 as the light-guiding element 1210.

figure 13 shows a perspective view of the cover element 110 with the light-guiding element 1210 integrated therein. The uniform emission of the light can be achieved in different areas of the cover element 110 by introducing reflective structures or surfaces with different diffusion values on/in the light-guiding element 1210 or different positions of the light-guiding element 1210 to be designed.

figure 14 shows a perspective view of the ram 105 with the wings 1100, the driver lug 135, the reset surface section 700 and the ram flank 220.

The interface between the cover element 110 with the cover flank 225 and the plunger 105 with the plunger flank 220, which forms a conical ring stop, ensures a relatively good form-fitting seal of the key module 100, at least in the non-actuated state. In addition, in contrast to most known pushbutton modules, the upper guide is designed as a cylindrical hole sleeve, ie a cylindrical guide section 160 of the plunger 105, which can be guided in the opening 215. This embodiment prevents the ingress of foreign particles and liquids in large quantities even during the entire actuation path, as is already the case with reference to FIGS Figures 4 to 6 is revealed.

Since aqueous liquids are repeatedly spilled over the life of a keyboard, a certain resistance of the key module 100 to the ingress of liquids should be ensured, at least in the rest position. The switching mechanism, i.e. the electrical contacts such as the present contact unit 115 and the contact piece 120, as well as the components for guiding the Plunger 105, in particular the compression spring 125 and the wings 110 and the recesses 900, which would lead to the inoperability of the key module 100 if they were stuck together. The robustness of the button module 100 is significantly improved, for example, by introducing a labyrinth seal as a sealing element 150 between the cover element 110 and the housing element 130 acting as a base. The labyrinth seal as a sealing element 150 protects the entire rear derailleur, ie the contactor unit 115 and the contact piece 120, and the components for guiding the plunger 105, as is already the case with reference to FIG figures 1 and 9 as already described, against ingress of liquids such as water or sugary drinks and dust in harmful quantities. The aqueous liquids are stopped by the capillary action in the labyrinth seal as the sealing element 150 so that they do not penetrate into the action module 100 .

In certain customer applications, it is desired that the keyboards have reduced noise levels. A complex two-component technology is currently used, for example, in the applicant's MX-Silent modules. Soft damping elements are injected at certain points in order to reduce the noise generated when components hit these parts. The production of such a key module 100 is therefore very cost-intensive, limited in the choice of materials and requires special tools and processes.

In the approach presented here, a key module 100 is presented in which this problem is provided by, for example, an additional installation of a rubber profile as a shock absorber element 230 (for example in a round, square, etc ... shape) as a damping element in the centering pin as a guide stamp 235.

figure 15 shows a perspective view of a housing element 130 with the sealing element 150, the shock absorber element 230, the guide stamp 235 and other components mentioned above. The shock absorber element 230 can be designed as a rubber damper and can be prefabricated as an endless profile, for example, and cut to the desired length and mounted in the guide stamp 235 . Optionally, the damping element or shock absorber element 230 can be fitted as a disk or ring in the guide stamp 235 between the plunger 105 and housing member 130 are installed. This approach has several advantages, for example, installation can be done as required and no additional tools are required. Also, a wide range of materials are available for the shock absorber element 230 and the overall cost of protruding such an optional shock absorber element 230 is low. Furthermore, an interior view of the housing element 130 with the receiving cup 175 and the recesses 1100 arranged in the receiving cup 175 can also be seen, with these recesses 1100 being provided here as complete lateral slot-shaped openings in the receiving cup 175.

figure 16 shows a side view of a key module 100, which is installed on a printed circuit board 1600, as can be used, for example, as a printed circuit board for a keyboard.

figure 17 shows a side view of another key module 100, which was also installed on a printed circuit board 1600, the key module 100 also being inserted through another printed circuit board as a mounting frame 1700 or being held by this mounting frame 1700 during production. The mounting frame 170 can be used, for example, as a holding circuit board to ensure stable alignment of the button module 100 during the process of fastening the button module 100 to the circuit board 1600 . In this case, the mounting frame 1700 can be arranged at a small distance above the printed circuit board 1600 .

A reduced overall height of the key modules 100 makes it difficult or impossible to assemble electronic components that are often required (for example based on SMDs) on the top side of a printed circuit board as a carrier for the key modules 100, particularly in connection with frame assembly. Mounting the required components on the underside of such a printed circuit board is also problematic, since certain components should be attached directly to the action modules 100. This results in considerable difficulties in the subsequent button module soldering process (especially when using a wave of solder), since all components would have to be covered. There is also a risk of destroying electronic components due to electrostatic discharges (up to 8 KV). As According to an exemplary embodiment of the approach presented here, the problem can be solved by placing SMD components (for example LEDs, diodes; resistors) underneath the key module 100 on the upper side of the printed circuit board.

figure 18 shows a perspective view of a key module 100 on the housing element 130. Evident are the electronic components 1800 of the key module 100, which are mechanically protected by the housing element 130 of the key module 100 and against electrical discharges. A subsequent soldering process can be designed cost-effectively, since no components have to be placed on the underside of the circuit board. The key module 100 can be placed directly on the mounting frame 1700, as can be seen from the illustration figure 16 can be seen or held by means of additional mounting frame 1700, as is evident from the figure 17 is recognizable. In both cases, additional discharge protection can be provided by electrically connecting a protective structure on the upper side of the printed circuit board 1600 or mounting frame 1700 to a ground line directly or by means of a discharge resistor (for example 100-300 ohms).

If an embodiment includes an "and/or" link between a first feature and a second feature, this can be read in such a way that the embodiment according to one embodiment includes both the first feature and the second feature and according to a further embodiment either only the first Feature or has only the second feature.

Reference sign

100

button module

105

pestle

110

cover element

115

contactor unit

120

contact piece

125

compression spring

130

housing element

135

driving nose

140

contact nose

145

contact tip

150

sealing element

160

keycap support section

165

guide section

167

outside

170

wing, rib

175

receiving cup

180

hollow cylindrical section

200

motion axis

210

passage area

215

opening

220

ram side

225

lid edge

230

shock absorber element

235

guide stamp

240

base

400

guide wall

500

surface section

600

bulletin board

610

stop section

700

reset surface section

900

Keycap support ribs

1100

recess

1210

light guide element

1600

circuit board

1700

mounting frame

1800

electronic component

Claims (15)

1. Key module (100) comprising:

   - a cover element (110) with a circular opening,

   - a tappet (105) comprising a cam nose (135), wherein the tappet (105) is supported to be movable along a movement axis (200) by the cover element (110), wherein the tappet (105) comprises a cylindrical keycap supporting portion (160) in a passage area (210) in which it projects through the circular opening of the cover element (110) and comprises at least one rib (170) on a guiding portion (165) adjacent to the an keycap supporting portion (160) on an outside (167);

   - a contactor unit (115) formed and arranged to be taken along by the cam nose (135);

   - a contact piece (120) formed and arranged for establishing electric contact with the contact nose (140); and

   - a housing element (130) for accommodating the contact piece (120), the contactor unit (115) and the tappet (105), wherein the housing element (130) comprises, for accommodating the guiding portion (165) of the tappet (105), at least one accommodating bowl (175) with at least one recess (1100) for accommodating the at least one rib (170) of the tappet (105).
2. Key module (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the tappet comprises at least a plurality of ribs (170) on its outside (167), which are arranged in particular in a cruciform manner, wherein the accommodating bowl (175) of the housing element (130) comprises a plurality of recesses (1100), which are each formed to accommodate one of the ribs (170) of the tappet (105).
3. Key module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tappet (105) comprises an at least partially hollow-cylindrical portion (180) in the region of the guiding portion (165), in particular wherein the at least one rib (170) is formed on an outside (167) of the hollow-cylindrical portion (180).
4. Key module (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that a guiding piston (235) of the housing element (130) engages the hollow-cylindrical portion (180) of the guiding portion (165) of the tappet (105).
5. Key module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one rib (171) of the tappet (105) has a wall thickness which at most is half of a diameter of the keycap supporting portion (160).
6. Key module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (110) has a cover slope (225) with a surface oblique with respect to the direction of the movement axis (200) in the region of an opening (215) through which the tappet (105) is guided, and/or wherein the tappet (105) has a tappet slope (220) with a surface oblique with respect to the direction of the movement axis (200) in a passage area (210) surrounded by the cover element (110).
7. Key module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one sealing element (150), which is arranged between the cover element (110) and the housing element (130), in particular wherein the sealing element (150) is arranged in a groove of the cover element (110) and/or in a groove of the housing element (130).
8. Key module (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the sealing element (150) encloses the region of the tappet (105), the contactor unit (115) and the contact piece (120) in a fluid-tight manner, in particular wherein the sealing element (150) is formed in the shape of a labyrinth seal or as a labyrinth seal.
9. Key module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a shock absorber element (230), which is arranged between the tappet (105) and the housing element (130), in particular wherein the shock absorber element (230) is formed to be cylindrical or annular.
10. Key module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contactor unit (115) comprises a contact nose (140) movable in the direction of the movement axis (200) and transverse to the direction of the movement axis (200), wherein the housing element (130) comprises a guiding wall (400) oriented obliquely with respect to the direction of the movement axis (200) and formed to deflect the contact nose (140) from a rest position adjacent to the contact piece (120) in the direction along and/or transverse to the movement axis (200), when the contact nose (140) is taken along by the cam nose (135) when the tappet (105) is being depressed.
11. Key module (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that the housing element (130) is formed to guide the contact nose (140) around the cam nose (135) when the tappet (105) is being depressed, and/or wherein the contactor unit (115) is formed to hit the contact nose (140) on the cover element (110) after a deflection on the guiding wall (400).
12. Key module (100) according to one of claims 10 to 11, characterized in that the contactor unit (115) comprises an at least partially U-shaped portion, in particular wherein the contact nose (140) is arranged on one end of the U-shaped portion of the contactor unit (115) and/or wherein a U-shape of the contactor unit (115) is formed in a plane substantially perpendicular with respect to the movement axis (200).
13. Key module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contactor unit (115) has a stiffness greater with respect to movement of the contact nose (140) in the direction of the movement axis (200) than in the direction transverse to the movement axis (200).
14. Key module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contactor unit (115) has, in the region of the contact nose (140), a surface portion (500), the surface of which is oriented obliquely with respect to the direction of the movement axis (200), in particular the surface of which at most is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the guiding wall (400), in particular the surface of which is aligned in parallel with the guiding wall (400).
15. Key module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (110) comprises at least one light guiding element (1210), in particular wherein the light guiding element (1210) is formed at least partially annularly around a region in which the tappet (105) is guided through the cover element (110).

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