TW432414B - Key-switch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention is about a kind of key-switch structure that can realize the click feeling. The invention includes the followings: key-top, which accepts the finger pressure of user; linking rod, which is descended when accepting pressure from the key-top and knows key-switch action so as to push the key-top upwards after the pressure is eliminated; FPC (flexible printed circuit), which is disposed on top of the keyboard frame and is made to contact and know key-switch action by the added pressure stated above. For the key-switch structure, the linking rod stated above has the followings: the first pin, which is axially combined with the frame and is axially combined with the second pin; the second pin, which is axially combined with the first pin and is freely axially combined with frame through long hole; reposition flat plate spring, which provides reposition force for the key-top stated above; contact flat plate spring, which is contacted with FPC by the added pressure. The feature is described as follows. The key-top accepts pressure from the elastic force of the reposition flat plate spring and is descended such that the second pin and the frame perform the relative sliding movement through the long hole stated above. The relative movement is stopped at the end portion of long hole. The pressure load is descended continuously so as to make the reposition spring yield. Then, the pressure load is descended abruptly so as to provide click feeling. The key-switch of this invention has the technical effects such as simple structure of linking rod and adequate click feeling.

Description

432414 V. Description of the invention (l) [Technical field to which the present invention belongs] The present invention relates to a key switch structure of a keyboard to which an input device such as Kpc (Personal Computer) is applied, and particularly to the pursuit of miniaturization and thin plasticization of a keyboard And, to achieve a large key stroke (Key stroke) 'At the same time, with a simple structure to provide touch feel (C1 ick feel) when operating the keys, in order to achieve the key operation feeling, the key switch structure for correct key input. In addition, the key switch has a simple structure and can be easily combined and fixed. [Know-how] Recently, 'key-tops tend to be thin and flat due to the miniaturization of the keyboard' and 'in order to improve the operability of key turn-in and ensure the correctness of key input', there is a large demand for key operations. Key force and correct touch feel. For the requirements of this keypad, a variety of key switches have come out. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8_ 2 79 3 1 6 proposes a key switch such as: ^ A guide member that guides the key top to move up and down is composed of two link members, and the first, Sheng A A ^ < Fu Shiyi first guided the top of the key: The front joint is X-shaped, and the end of the spring is provided with a switch operating portion, and the beveled convex portion provided on the surface of the connecting member. X Bull: Set pressure load with inclined top on the support plate. When the spring structure slides to increase the key surface by sliding with the beveled bump portion, the pressure ^ slides down to the switch board through the beveled bump portion, and the switch operation of the spring member is lowered to provide a touch feeling. Complete the keystroke with. The pressure switch unit is pressurized to make contact with it. The rubber key is not used for the aforementioned key switch.

gPage 5 432414 V. Description of the invention ⑵ Instead of using a guide member with a link structure, the keyboard can be reduced in size and thickness. Furthermore, a beveled bump portion is provided on the support plate, so that the switch operating portion of the spring member slides over the beveled bump portion, and the pressure load is changed to provide a touch feeling. [Technical Issues to be Realized by the Present Invention] However, the guide members of these conventional link structures are made by assembling the two link structures with the first link and the second link as components. The combination requires 'unit of working time' and has the disadvantage of increasing manufacturing costs. In order to obtain a touch feeling, a supporting plate needs to be processed, for example, an inclined convex portion is provided on a supporting floor, and therefore, there is a disadvantage that the manufacturing cost is increased. Therefore, the present invention provides a guide member with a simple link structure to provide a small, thin, and inexpensive key switch. Moreover, the structure of k is a key switch capable of providing a touch feeling. [Structure and Function of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a key switch. The key switch structure of the present invention includes: the key top 'accepts the user's finger pressure; the connecting rod' party to the aforementioned key top pressure and decreases' recognizes the key switch action, pushes the key top upward after the aforementioned pressure is eliminated; FPC (may Flexible printed circuit board,

Flexible Printed Circuits) 'is arranged on the keyboard frame, and the key switch operation is recognized by the pressure contact of the aforementioned link; In this key switch structure, the aforementioned link has: a first leg, which is pivotally combined with the frame and a second leg The shaft is used as a shaft support; the second foot is used as a shaft support combined with the front ^ second foot, and the shaft is used as a free shaft support through a long hole: reset flat

4 432 V. Description of the invention (3)

The leaf spring 'provides a reset force to the key top; the contact flat pressurizes the contact; the heart spring' and the FPC are characterized in that: the key top is subjected to a pressure drop due to the elastic force of the reset flat spring, so the second foot and the frame Through the aforementioned = hole and then bisexual sliding movement, the relative movement is stopped at the end of the long hole, the pressure ^ Ai Fan continues to fall, so that the reset impulse yield (yieUing), and the pressure load = drops to provide the touch of the key Click feeling). It is good to arrange contact bumps under the flat spring. The woman can also farm two return plate springs' in which the device contacts the flat spring, or one return spring and one contact plate spring are separately installed. The first foot, the second foot, the reset plate spring f and the contact plate spring are made into one body to form a link, but the reset plate spring is made of steel, and it should be assembled on the link or inserted. Shaped to help ensure its durability. The connecting rod is made of mold, which is simple and cost-effective. The first leg of the connecting rod is characterized by an outwardly stretched and flexible design, which can be attached to and removed from the frame early. [Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The first diagram is a perspective view of the key switch of the present invention, and the second diagram is a diagram of the key switch in a non-stressed state when the user is not in the original state. The third diagram is a diagram showing that the key switch is pressed to the lowest state by being pressed by a user's finger or the like.

4 ^ 2414 V. Description of the invention (4) As shown in the first, second, and third figures, the key switch of the present invention generally includes a key top 1, a connecting rod 2, and an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit Board, Flexible Printed Circuits). ) 4, from top to bottom, from the keyboard surface to the bottom, with key top 1, connecting rod 2, FPC 4 'frame 3 arranged in order. The key top 1 is a member that moves up and down and is positioned on the surface of a keyboard or the like. On the key top surface, that is, numbers (0, 2, 3, ...), characters (a, b ... .. spoon 'female, door ..... a' 乂, LJ,!, @, # · '·) Or other functions (Esc, Ctrl, Alt ,,

PgUp, ...), the pressure is reduced by the contact of the user's finger, etc., for key input, and the pressure of the following link is restored to the original state. Its shape is similar to a square roof, usually made of plastic and other materials. . The connecting rod ^ is a member that guides the above-mentioned key top 丨 to move up and down, and is contracted by the pressure of the above-mentioned key top 1, and has the yield of the reset flat spring to provide a touch feeling. FPC 4 is a flexible printed circuit board (FlexiMe printed Circuits). Due to the drop of the key top 1 mentioned above, its contact point is short-circuited to recognize the circuit of each key top 1 character. It is usually composed of a matrix circuit. The third picture is a frame, which has a combination tool combined with the aforementioned link to support the link and the components of the key top. The following describes in detail the components of the coupling tool and the connecting rod that connect the various components described above. On the back of the key top 1, a pair of link fixing hooks 1 A and a pair of link fixing grooves 1B are formed to be combined with the link 2. The cup-fixing hook is hook-shaped and fixed to the front of the key top of the connecting rod 2

V. Description of the invention (5) Motion. Descending and ascending motion 'The key top front fixing rod 2C slides and is connected' to the key top rear fixing of the link 2 _ '= The key top rear cymbal fixing rod 2D rotates in the clockwise direction. & In the t embodiment, the aforementioned link fixing hook 1A is positioned on the back of the key top 1 and the ΠSi fixing groove 1B is positioned on the back of the key top 1. However, the position of the fixing rod is properly adjusted. Moreover, a hook or groove can be formed on the coupling, and a fixed rod can be formed on the key top. The dry " two racks 3 form two pairs & blocks " for combining with the connecting rod 2. That is, the inner foot hole 21 of the inner foot 21 of the seat connected to $ 2 is combined with :, even movement and sliding movement. The knife supports the inner foot hole 21 and the outer foot hole 2G as round candlesticks, which can also be formed on the connecting rod. That is, the link can be formed to protrude on the frame to correspond to the outer foot hole 2G, the inner foot hole and other structures. The fourth and first circles describe the link 2 and its various components, and the fourth figure is a detailed description of the structure of the link 2. Drawing, oblique view before other components are connected, (b ") «, Huang, connected ㈣. The plan view at the time of material connection is based on a 3-block structure, which is made by injection molding.平 二 ί2: Ϊ :: plate spring ’is connected to the wings of the connecting rod 2. Reset, is in the shape of a band-shaped arc and has elasticity. When the connecting rod 2 is pressed by 432414 V. Description of the invention (6), applying upward pressure 'becomes the energy source of force to reset the key top 1 to its original state. In the present embodiment, the pair of return plate springs 2A is a pair. However, when the area of the key top is small, as shown in Fig. 6 (a), there is no problem. 2 B is a pair of contact flat springs. Due to the pressure of the key top 1, it decreases when the connecting rod 2 is shortened ', which makes the contact surface of the FPC 4 that is the matrix key switch short-circuited. The contact plate spring 2B is approximately a band-shaped arc. In order to apply a correct contact force to the Fpc 4, a contact bump 2H is formed at the contact surface portion of the FPC 4. However, if the contact flat spring 2B is distorted into a circular arc shape, the non-contact bump π may be used. In this embodiment, the 'plate spring 2B is connected to only one wing, but may be connected to both wings. In this embodiment, the contact flat spring 2B is made integral with other members. However, in order to increase its strength, it can be made of a material such as steel, assembled on a connecting rod, or inserted into a shape. On the wings of the connecting rod 2, a pair of inside feet 2 are made toward the inside. A long hole-shaped inner foot hole is formed on the inner side of the foot 21 to connect the inner foot 21 and the frame 2. This inner foot hole 21 is combined with the inner foot projection 3A of the frame 3, so that the inner foot projection 3A can perform a sliding movement, and it can also stop the sliding movement to provide a touch feeling. That is, the inner leg 21 and the frame / through long hole are used as a shaft-support connection. This is not a fixed shaft-support connection, but a movable shaft connection. In the present invention, this connection is defined as a free shaft-support connection. An insole hole 2F is formed in the inner foot 21 ^ This ankle shaft hole 2F is combined with the anodized projection 2E of the outboard foot 22 described below to support the insole foot 21 and the outboard 22

Page 10 4 3 2 Λ 1 4 V. Scissor movement of invention description (7). On the other flank of the connecting rod 2, a pair of outside feet 22 are made facing inward. As shown in Fig. 4A, the outer legs 22 are stretched to the left and right and are elastic. The outer leg 22 'is provided with a shaft projection 2E for coupling with the shaft hole 2F of the aforementioned inner leg 21. The anodus projection 2E is combined with the aforementioned anodus hole 2F to support the anodus hole 2F, and at the same time, a rotation movement is performed due to the downward movement of the key top 1, so that the inner leg 21 and the outer leg perform scissor motion. Here, the arbor hole 2F and the arbor projection 2E can move their positions relative to each other. That is, 'the bump 21 may be formed in the inner leg 21, and the hole may be formed in the outer leg 22. The outer leg 22 has an outer leg hole 2G for engaging the outer leg projection 3B of the frame 3. The outer foot hole 2 is combined with the outer foot projection 3B to rotate the outer foot. A key top front fixing rod 2C is provided at the connecting rod 2 -wing end portion 'for coupling with the connecting rod fixing hook 1A of the key top 1. The connecting rod 2 is connected to the connecting rod fixing hook through the connecting rod fixing groove 13 'on the fixing rod 2C at the front of the key top. Moreover, with >

The key top rear fixing rod 2D is used to be combined with the link fixing groove 1B of the key top 1. The following describes the combination of the above key top structures. As shown in Fig. 4A, the outer foot of the connecting rod 2 made by injection molding is applied with pressure to the inner side by the palm or the lost son ', so that the foot shaft projection 2E is combined with the foot shaft hole. The plan view of this combined state is shown in Fig. 4 (b), and the side view is shown in Fig. 4 (c). From this, it can be seen that the inner feet 21 and the outer feet 22 are in a combined form. Take ^

Page 11 、 Explanation of the invention (8) __ In the case where the legs are combined into a scissor shape, the link 2 is coupled to the frame 3 having the Fpc 4 as shown in FIG. 1. That is, the inner foot hole 21 of the link 2 is coupled to the inner foot bump 3A, and the outer foot hole 2G of the outer foot 22 is coupled to the outer foot bump 3b. Then, the connecting rod fixing hook 1A of the key top 1 is fastened on the front fixing rod 2C of the key top, and the connecting cup 1B is connected to the rear fixing rod 2 d of the key top of the connecting rod 2 to fix the key top to the connecting rod. On the pole. The key switch thus completed is the second figure. The function of the key switch will be described below. In the state of the second figure, the key top 1 is pressed by a user's finger or the like, and the key top 1 is lowered due to the elasticity of the return plate spring 2A. At this time, the outer leg 22 of the link 2 is rotated counterclockwise around the outer leg bump 3β of the frame 3. Therefore, the ankle projection 2E of the outer leg 22 is also lowered. The inner side is centered on the foot shaft protrusion 2E, and is rotated in the clockwise direction, that is, as: the mouth is gradually lowered toward the shaft protrusion, so that the inner foot hole 3A is depressed downward and left. Therefore, the inner foot bumps [mu] of the frame 3, and the inclined surface 'of the long hole-shaped inner foot holes 21 are moved upward and to the right. (The dotted line state of the sixth graph is moved to a thin line state). When the key top 1 is lowered, the reset plate of the connecting rod 2 performs an arc-shaped pulling motion to cause the rising of the key top 丨 the force scene A ′ into the key top 1 continues to be pressed, and the inner foot bumps 3A, touching the right side of the inner side = (the thin line state in the sixth figure 'prevents the inner side) 2 1 The side foot 21 no longer drops. To move

432414 V. Description of the invention (9) Under heavy conditions, the inner foot 21 cannot be moved again by the inner foot bump 3A. In this case, the reset flat spring 2A loses the arc shape and yields in a straight line. The flat spring 2A rises the top of the key to greater force. Therefore, after the key top 1 receives a large force, it can be dropped sharply with less pressure, so that the user feels the touch of the key. At the same time, contact the flat spring 2B and the contact bump π, press the FPC 4 and contact it to complete the key switch input. After the load on the key top 1 is removed, the flat spring 2 A is reset, and the elasticity is restored to raise the key top 1 and return to the original state. The load on the key top j will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The horizontal axis in the drawing indicates the scale, that is, the distance that the key top 1 descends. The vertical axis indicates the pressure load on the key top 1 A area is a part where the key top 1 starts to gradually decrease in pressure due to the pressure in the initial state. Area B 'is an area where the inner bump 3A of the frame 3 starts to prevent the downward movement of the link 2, that is, the downward movement of the key top 1. In order for the key top 丨 to continue to descend, a large instantaneous load is required for the vehicle. Moreover, the point where the boundary between area B and area C meets the curve ί is the aforementioned critical pressure load point I. In the field c, the reset flat spring 28 loses its elasticity and becomes straight. In the field c, the lifting force of the reset flat spring 2A decreases sharply, so the pressure load also drops sharply. The D area exceeds the yield point of the reset plate spring 2 A, and the key top 1 continues to fall. The contact of the flat spring 2B or the bump 2Η presses the FPC 4 and contacts it to complete the key switch input area. After the D area, the load of the key top 1 is eliminated, and the flat spring 2 is restored.

Page 13 432414 V. Description of the invention (ίο) Elasticity, the hysteresis curve is formed by rising the key top 1. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the present invention, the connecting rod is integrally formed by injection molding, and a low-cost and simple product can be produced. In addition, it is easy to assemble the outer feet to the inside to assemble the frame. In the inner foot, a long hole is formed, which is combined with the frame bump, and the bump prevents the sliding movement of the hole. Therefore, the key top needs a larger load. Above the critical load, the reset plate spring of the connecting rod yields and loads. Sharp drop 'makes people feel the touch. That is, a simple structure such as a return plate spring and a long hole in a link or a frame can realize a touch feeling. [Brief description of the drawings] The first diagram is a perspective view of the key switch of the present invention; the second diagram is a diagram of the key switch of the present invention when it is in a non-stressed state, where (a) is a plan view '(b) (A) is a side view, (c) is a partial cross-section, and (b) is a side view, and (c) is a partial view of the key switch of the present invention when it is lowered under pressure. Sectional view; the fourth view shows the drawing of the connecting rod of the present invention, in which (a perspective view before the 'a' is a plan view at the time of assembly, (c) is a side view at the time of the group |, and the fifth view is the present invention Other embodiments, in which a reset spring is implemented, (b) is an embodiment in which a flat contact ^ 2 2 = double wings; a spring connected to the sixth figure is shown in one embodiment With medial footwell

IH1 432414 V. Description of the invention (11) The drawing of relative movement; and The seventh drawing is a drawing showing the relationship between the stroke and the load on the key top. [Symbol description] 1 ~ key top; 1A ~ link fixing hook; 1B ~ link fixing groove; 2 ~ link (i ink); 2 inside foot (second foot); 22 ~ outside foot (First leg); 2A ~ reset flat spring; 2B ~ contact flat spring; 20-key top front fixing rod; 2D ~ key top rear fixing rod; 2E ~ foot shaft bump; 2F ~ foot shaft hole; 2G ~ outside Foot hole; 2H ~ contact bump; 2 I ~ inside foot hole; 3 ~ frame; 3A ~ inside foot bump; 3B ~ outside foot bump; 4 ~ FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) 〇

Page 15

Claims (1)

4 3 241 4 VI. Application for Patent Scope 1. A key interlocking structure, including: key top 'accepts user's finger pressure, and the connecting rod is lowered by the aforementioned key top pressure. Ejection; and 3 'Switch action, FPCC Flexible Printed Circuits)-Above, the key switch is actuated by pressurized contact of the aforementioned link = in the keyboard frame. Here the key switch structure, the aforementioned link has:' First foot, and frame Combined as a shaft support and combined with the second foot and second foot, combined with the aforementioned first foot as a shaft support, and :. The frame is combined with free shaft support; through the long hole and the reset plate spring, the resetting force is provided to the aforementioned key top to contact the flat spring and pressurized contact with the j? PC; It is characterized in that the aforementioned key top is due to the elastic force of the reset flat spring "Due to pressure, the second foot and the frame" relative sliding movement through the long hole 'stops the relative movement at the end of the long hole, and the pressure load continues to fall', so that the return spring yields (yi elding) 'Pressure load drops sharply' to provide touch feel. 2. The key switch structure according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein a contact bump is formed on a back surface of the contact flat spring. 3. The key switch structure according to item 1 of the scope of the patent application, wherein two return flat springs are formed, and a contact flat spring is formed therebetween. 4. The key switch structure according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein each of the complex-valued flat spring and the contact flat spring has one. 6. Scope of patent application 5. The key switch structure according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first leg, the second leg, a compound plate spring and a contact plate spring are integrated to form a connecting rod. 6 · As described in item 1 of the scope of the patent application, the key switch has a reset plate spring, which is combined in the far ##, 7. As described in the scope of the patent application, stem or insert molding D it ^ ^ ^ ^ The key switch structure, the Gan return spring is made of metal. Furthermore, 8. In the key M M 4 described in item 5 or 6 of the scope of patent application, the connecting rod is made of a model. The key is closed, and the structure is removed. 9. As described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, the elasticity of the second leg from the first leg to the outside is extended.开关 结构 ’wherein, Page 17