TW201721691A - Keycap and keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

A keycap and a keyboard are disclosed. The keycap includes a body, a first magnetic element, a second magnetic element, a first positioning element and a second positioning element. The first magnetic element is disposed at a first side of the body. The second magnetic element and the first magnetic element are correspondingly disposed on the body. The second magnetic element is disposed at a second side of the body. The second side is parallel with the first side. The first positioning element is disposed at a third side of the body. The second positioning element and the first positioning element are correspondingly disposed on the body. The second positioning element is disposed at a fourth side of the body. The fourth side is parallel with the third side.

Description

Key cap and keyboard

The invention relates to a keycap and a keyboard. In particular, the present invention relates to a magnetic floating keyboard and a keycap for use in a magnetic floating keyboard.

With the development of technology, various electronic devices have played an important role in our daily lives. Notebook computers or personal desktop computers have become indispensable electronic devices for modern people. When using these electronic devices, users often need to use the keyboard to type commands or perform various operations. However, the keycaps of existing keyboards often have problems with poor edge triggering.

In view of this, the present disclosure proposes a keycap and a keyboard to solve the problems described in the prior art.

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a keycap. The key cap includes a body, a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component, a first limiting component and a second limiting component. The first magnetic element is disposed on the first side of the body. The second magnetic element is disposed opposite the first magnetic element to the body. The second magnetic element is disposed on the second side of the body. The second side is parallel to the first side. The first limiting element is disposed on the third side of the body. The second limiting element is disposed on the body opposite to the first limiting element. The second limiting element is disposed on the fourth side of the body. The fourth side is parallel to the third side.

In some embodiments, a region is formed between the first magnetic element, the second magnetic element, the first limiting element, and the second limiting element, and the region is rectangular.

In some embodiments, the key cap further includes a first receiving groove and a second receiving groove. The first receiving groove is disposed on the body. The second receiving groove is disposed on the body opposite to the first receiving groove. The first accommodating groove and the second accommodating groove are used for the magnetic components to be disposed therein.

In some embodiments, each of the limiting components includes a limiting slot, and a limiting hole is formed in the wall of the limiting slot.

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a keyboard. The keyboard includes a bottom plate and a keycap. The bottom plate includes a first snap element and a second snap element. The key cap includes a body, a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component, a first limiting component and a second limiting component. The first magnetic element is disposed on the first side of the body. The second magnetic element is disposed opposite the first magnetic element to the body. The second magnetic element is disposed on the second side of the body. The second side is parallel to the first side. The first limiting element is disposed on the third side of the body. The second limiting element is disposed on the body opposite to the first limiting element. The second limiting element is disposed on the fourth side of the body. The fourth side is parallel to the third side. The first limiting component and the second limiting component are respectively engaged with the first fastening component and the second fastening component.

In some embodiments, a region is formed between the first magnetic element, the second magnetic element, the first limiting element, and the second limiting element, and the region is rectangular.

In some embodiments, each of the limiting elements includes a limiting slot. The limiting slots are respectively configured to receive at least a portion of the first fastening component and the second fastening component.

In some embodiments, a limiting hole is formed in the wall of the limiting groove. Each of the snap elements includes a snap portion. The buckle portion is for receiving in the limiting hole.

In summary, the configuration of the magnetic element and the stop element maintains a better balance of the keycap. Compared with the prior art, the magnetic component and the limiting component in the above embodiments can avoid the problem of poor edge triggering, thereby improving the stability of the user's pressing operation.

The following examples are provided to illustrate the accompanying drawings in detail, but the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and the description of structural operation is not intended to limit the order of execution, any component recombination The structure, which produces equal devices, is within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn to the original dimensions. For the sake of understanding, the same or similar elements in the following description will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

The use of the terms "first", "second", etc., etc., as used herein, is not intended to mean the order or the order, and is not intended to limit the invention, only to distinguish between elements or operations described in the same technical terms. Only.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a keyboard 100 according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, keyboard 100 is a magnetic floating keyboard. Compared with the traditional mechanical keyboard, the magnetic floating keyboard is operated by magnetic force. The keyboard 100 can be applied to a personal desktop computer, a portable electronic device, and various other electronic devices that use a keyboard for command input. The disclosure is not limited.

As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard 100 includes a bottom plate 102 and at least one keycap 104. The keycap 104 is used in conjunction with the bottom plate 102. In detail, the keycap 104 is detachably mounted on the upper surface of the bottom plate 102, and the user can perform an instruction input operation on the keyboard 100 by pressing the keycap 104. In addition, in some embodiments, the keyboard 100 may include a plurality of keycaps 104, and the shape of the keycaps 104 may be the same or different. The size of the keycaps 104 may be the same or different.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing a region A of the keyboard 100 in Fig. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the keycap 104 includes a body 1040, a first magnetic element 1042, a second magnetic element 1044, a first limiting element 1046, and a second limiting element 1048.

The first magnetic element 1042 and the second magnetic element 1044 are oppositely disposed on the lower surface of the body 1040 , and the first limiting element 1046 and the second limiting element 1048 are also oppositely disposed on the lower surface of the body 1040 . The upper surface of the body 1040 is for a user to perform a pressing operation. The term "lower surface of the body 1040" as used herein refers to the surface of the body 1040 that faces the bottom plate 102 when the keycap 104 is mounted on the base plate 102. Conversely, "the upper surface of the body 1040" refers to the other surface of the body 1040 that is opposite the lower surface.

The body 1040 has a first side S1, a second side S2, a third side S3, and a fourth side S4. The second side S2 is parallel to the first side S1 and to the first side S1. Similarly, the fourth side S4 is parallel to the third side S3 and to the third side S3. In other words, the first side S1 is adjacent to the third side S3 and the fourth side S4, and the second side S2 is also adjacent to the third side S3 and the fourth side S4.

The first magnetic element 1042 is disposed on the first side S1, and the second magnetic element 1044 is disposed on the second side S2. In addition, the first limiting element 1046 is disposed on the third side S3, and the second limiting element 1048 is disposed on the fourth side S4. As used herein, "set" means that the distance between the two is preferably less than 5 mm.

In some embodiments, the first magnetic element 1042 and the second magnetic element 1044 can be elongated strips of magnetic strips. Compared to a round magnet, the strip-shaped magnetic strip can stabilize the movement between the keycap 104 and the bottom plate 102 to increase the stability of the user during operation.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the first magnetic element 1042 and the second magnetic element 1044 are oppositely disposed on the body 1040, and the first limiting element 1046 and the second limiting element 1048 are oppositely disposed on the body 1040. Therefore, a region F can be formed between the first magnetic element 1042, the second magnetic element 1044, the first limiting element 1046 and the second limiting element 1048. The area F is rectangular.

Since the first magnetic element 1042, the second magnetic element 1044, the first limiting element 1046 and the second limiting element 1048 are disposed around the area F, the force between the keycap 104 and the bottom plate 102 is distributed around. . As such, the keycap 104 can also effectively trigger the keyboard 100 when the position the user presses is not at the center of the keycap 104.

3 is a schematic view showing the separation of the bottom plate 102 and the key cap 104 in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the combination of the bottom plate 102 and the key cap 104 in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is the bottom plate 102 and the key cap in FIG. Schematic diagram of operation of 104.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the keycap 104 further includes a first accommodating groove P1 and a second accommodating groove P2. The first accommodating groove P1 and the second accommodating groove P2 are disposed on the lower surface of the body 1040. The first receiving groove P1 is disposed on the first side S1. The shape of the first accommodating groove P1 corresponds to the first magnetic element 1042, and the size of the first accommodating groove P1 is slightly larger than that of the first magnetic element 1042. The first accommodating groove P1 is for accommodating the first magnetic element 1042. Similarly, the second accommodating groove P2 is disposed on the second side S2. The shape of the second accommodating groove P2 corresponds to the second magnetic element 1044, and the size of the second accommodating groove P2 is slightly larger than that of the second magnetic element 1044. The second receiving groove P2 is for receiving the second magnetic element 1044.

In practice, the first accommodating groove P1 and the second accommodating groove P2 may extend downward from the lower surface of the keycap 104 and be integrally formed. In some other embodiments, the first accommodating groove P1 and the second accommodating groove P2 may be formed by injection molding, casting, or other molding. Then, the first accommodating groove P1 and the second accommodating groove P2 can be combined with the key cap 104 by re-adhesive bonding, gluing or other bonding.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 102 further includes a first snap element 1022 and a second snap element 1024. The first snap element 1022 is used in conjunction with the first stop element 1046, and the second snap element 1024 is used in conjunction with the second limit element 1048. In some embodiments, the first snap element 1022 and the second snap element 1024 are cylindrical and their ends extend to form a snap portion R1. It should be noted that the appearance shapes of the first snap element 1022 and the second snap element 1024 are not limited by the shape illustrated in the drawing.

The first fastening component 1022 and the second fastening component 1024 are disposed on the upper surface of the plate body 1020 of the bottom plate 102. The relative position and relative distance between the first snap element 1022 and the second snap element 1024 correspond to the relative position and relative distance between the first stop element 1046 and the second limit element 1048. The first snap element 1022 and the first stop element 1046 will be described in detail below. The second snap element 1024 has similar content to the first stop element 1048 and will not be described again.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first limiting element 1046 can be implemented in a manner of limiting the slot. A limiting hole O1 is formed in the wall of the first limiting member 1046. In some embodiments, the limiting hole O1 is a through hole. In some other embodiments, the limiting aperture O1 can be a blind aperture.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the keycap 104 is used in conjunction with the bottom plate 102, that is, when the keycap 104 is detachably mounted on the bottom plate 102, at least a portion of the first snap element 1022 is disposed at the first limit. The first latching element 1022 and the first limiting component 1046 are engaged with each other, and the latching portion R1 of the first latching component 1022 can be disposed in the limiting hole O1. The limiting hole O1 can be used to limit the range in which the buckle portion R1 can move up and down to further limit the range in which the keycap 104 can move up and down relative to the bottom plate 102.

The bottom plate 102 includes a third magnetic element and a fourth magnetic element 1026. The position of the third magnetic element corresponds to the first magnetic element 1042, and the position of the fourth magnetic element 1026 corresponds to the second magnetic element 1044. Taking the second magnetic element 1044 and the fourth magnetic element 1026 as an example, a magnetic pole (for example, an N pole) of the second magnetic element 1044 is adjacent to the same magnetic pole (N pole) of the fourth magnetic element 1026. The first magnetic element 1042 and the third magnetic element have similar contents and will not be described again.

As such, when the first snap element 1022 is disposed in the first stop element 1046, there is a magnetic repulsive force between the second magnetic element 1044 and the fourth magnetic element 1026. Since the snap portion R1 can limit the position of the keycap 104, the keycap 104 is not pushed away by the magnetic repulsion force, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first magnetic element 1042, the second magnetic element 1044, the first limiting element 1046, and the second limiting element 1048 are respectively disposed on four sides of the keycap 104. Thus, there is a force (magnetic force or snapping force) between the four sides of the keycap 104 and the bottom plate 102, so that the keycap 104 can maintain a better balance. In addition, the keycap 104 avoids the problem of poor edge triggering compared to other keyboard techniques that only trigger at a center point.

In addition, the bottom plate 102 further includes an insulating layer L1. Below the insulating layer L1 is a conductive layer L2. Below the conductive layer L2 is an insulating layer L3. Below the insulating layer L3 is a conductive layer L4. Below the conductive layer L4 is an insulating layer L5. In some embodiments, the insulating layer L1 and the insulating layer L5 may be a rubber film, and the material of the conductive layer L2 and the conductive layer L4 may be silver. Compared to other kinds of metals, silver has better conductivity and can be used to improve the zero sensitivity of the keyboard. However, the present disclosure is not limited by the above materials. In addition, the insulating layer L3 is used to electrically isolate the conductive layer L2 and the conductive layer L4 when the user has not pressed the key cap 104.

As shown in Fig. 4, a contact region Q is formed in the insulating layer L3. As shown in FIG. 5, when the user presses the keycap 104 downward, the second magnetic member 1044 moves downward with the keycap 104. At this time, since there is a magnetic repulsive force between the second magnetic element 1044 and the fourth magnetic element 1026, the magnetic repulsive force forces the fourth magnetic element 1026 to move downward, so that the fourth magnetic element 1026 presses the conductive layer L2 downward. Thus, the downwardly extruded conductive layer L2 will be in electrical contact with the conductive layer L4 through the contact region Q to transmit a signal corresponding to the key cap 104, as shown in FIG.

However, when the user releases the pressing keycap 104, the magnetic repulsion between the second magnetic element 1044 and the fourth magnetic element 1026 can push the keycap 104 up again to return the keycap 104 to FIG. The status shown.

It is important to note that in some embodiments, the keycap 104a may not be rectangular. As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a keycap 104a according to another embodiment. The key cap 104a shown in Fig. 6 is circular. However, in some other embodiments, the keycap 104a may also be of other geometries. Although the keycap 104a is not rectangular, a region F may be formed between the first magnetic element 1042, the second magnetic element 1044, the first limiting element 1046, and the second limiting element 1048. The area F is rectangular. Thus, since the first magnetic element 1042, the second magnetic element 1044, the first limiting element 1046, and the second limiting element 1048 are disposed around the region F, the force between the keycap 104a and the bottom plate 102 is also Assigned to all around. As such, the keycap 104a can also effectively trigger the keyboard 100 when the position the user presses is not at the center of the keycap 104a.

In summary, the configuration of the magnetic element and the stop element maintains a better balance of the keycap. Compared with the prior art, the magnetic component and the limiting component in the above embodiments can avoid the problem of poor edge triggering, thereby improving the stability of the user's pressing operation.

The present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, but it is not intended to limit the invention, and the present invention may be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of protection shall be subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application attached.

100‧‧‧ keyboard
102‧‧‧floor
1020‧‧‧ board
1022‧‧‧First snap element
1024‧‧‧Second snap element
1026‧‧‧4th magnetic element
104, 104a‧‧‧ key cap
1040‧‧‧ Ontology
1042‧‧‧First magnetic component
1044‧‧‧Second magnetic component
1046‧‧‧First limit element
1048‧‧‧Second limit element
A, F‧‧‧ area
L1, L3, L5‧‧‧ insulation
L2, L4‧‧‧ conductive layer
O1‧‧‧ Limit Hole
P1‧‧‧first accommodating slot
P2‧‧‧Second accommodating slot
Q‧‧‧Contact area
R1‧‧‧ buckle department
S1‧‧‧ first side
S2‧‧‧ second side
S3‧‧‧ third side
S4‧‧‧ fourth side

The above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become more <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the area A of the keyboard; Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the separation of the bottom plate and the keycap in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the combination of the bottom plate and the keycap in Fig. 3; A schematic diagram of the operation of the bottom plate and the key cap in the figure; and FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a key cap according to another embodiment.

102‧‧‧floor

104‧‧‧Key Cap

1040‧‧‧ Ontology

1042‧‧‧First magnetic component

1044‧‧‧Second magnetic component

1046‧‧‧First limit element

1048‧‧‧Second limit element

A, F‧‧‧ area

P1‧‧‧first accommodating slot

P2‧‧‧Second accommodating slot

S1‧‧‧ first side

S2‧‧‧ second side

S3‧‧‧ third side

S4‧‧‧ fourth side

Claims (8)

A key cap comprising: a body; a first magnetic component disposed on a first side of the body; a second magnetic component disposed opposite the first magnetic component on the body, and the second magnetic component a second side of the body, and the second side is parallel to the first side; a first limiting component disposed on a third side of the body; and a second limiting component, and the first A limiting member is oppositely disposed on the body, and the second limiting member is disposed on a fourth side of the body, and the fourth side is parallel to the third side. The keycap of claim 1, wherein a region is formed between the first magnetic component, the second magnetic component, the first limiting component, and the second limiting component, and the region is rectangular . The key cap of claim 1, further comprising: a first receiving groove disposed on the body; and a second receiving groove disposed on the body opposite to the first receiving groove The first accommodating groove and the second accommodating groove are used for the magnetic components to be disposed therein. The keycap of claim 1, wherein each of the limiting components comprises a limiting slot, and a limiting hole is formed in the wall of the limiting slot. A keyboard comprising: a bottom plate comprising a first snap element and a second snap element; and at least one key cap comprising: a body; a first magnetic element disposed on a first side of the body a second magnetic element disposed opposite the first magnetic element on the body, and the second magnetic element is disposed on a second side of the body, and the second side is parallel to the first side; a limiting component is disposed on a third side of the body; and a second limiting component is disposed on the body opposite to the first limiting component, and the second limiting component is disposed on the body The fourth side is parallel to the third side, and the first limiting component and the second limiting component are respectively engaged with the first fastening component and the second fastening component. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein a region is formed between the first magnetic component, the second magnetic component, the first limiting component, and the second limiting component, and the region is rectangular. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein each of the limiting components includes a limiting slot, and the limiting slots are respectively configured to receive the first fastening component and the second fastening component. At least part. The keyboard of claim 7 , wherein a limiting hole is formed in the wall of the limiting slot, and each of the fastening components includes a locking portion, and the locking portion is configured to be received by the limiting portion. In the bit hole.