TWI479366B - A thin press type key structure - Google Patents

Description

Thin pressure button structure

The present invention relates to a thin pressure type button structure, and more particularly to a thin pressure type button structure having a sensing button force.

Buttons have been widely used in input devices in the past, and consumer-grade electronic products that are in contact with everyday life or large-scale processing equipment used in industry require a button structure as an input device to operate the above-mentioned electronic products and processing equipment. . In response to the trend of thinning electronic products, buttons are increasingly thinner in design.

In general, in the design of the structure, the button must have a supporting structure and an elastic member. The supporting structure allows the button to be vertically raised and lowered when pressed by the user, thereby triggering the switch. Generally, the button is mostly made of the outer frame or the scissor structure of the keyboard. The support structure; the elastic element enables the button to return to the state when the button is not pressed by the elastic force of the elastic member after pressing the button. Generally, the button is mostly an elastic member with a bowl-shaped rubber elastic body or a metal elastic piece. However, because the support structure and the elastic member require a specific shape or structure to achieve the effect, the button is not designed to be thinned due to the shape or structural requirements.

In addition, the structure of the conventional button is prone to the problem of uneven force application, especially in the design of long keys, such as blank keys, when the user presses the edge of the button, the support structure may fail due to uneven force application. Balanced vertically and vertically, and the button signal cannot be triggered correctly.

In view of the above disadvantages, the present invention replaces a conventional support structure and an elastic member with a sheet-like conductor and a sheet-shaped spacer layer, and the sheet-like conductor or the sheet-like spacer layer provides the restoring force of the button by the elasticity of the material itself. Therefore, the specific structure is not required, and the sheet structure can support the button on average, which can effectively reduce the thickness of the button. In addition, the present invention utilizes the design of the sheet-shaped conductor having a plurality of protrusions on the lower surface to enable a single button to be multi-pointed. Triggering, even if pressed at the edge of the button, the signal can be effectively triggered. With the structure of the present invention, the lack of the conventional structure can be improved, thereby achieving the purpose of thinning the button.

In view of the above problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a thin pressure type button structure comprising a key cap, a sheet-like conductor, a sheet-shaped spacer layer and a conductive layer, and when a different force is applied to the key cap, the sheet-like conductive The body has a different contact area with the conductive layer via the sheet spacer layer, and the impedance (voltage) can be measured to determine the state of the button.

The thin pressure type button structure for achieving the above object comprises: a piece of electric conductor, the lower surface of the sheet-like electric conductor has a plurality of protrusions; a piece of spacer layer is disposed under the sheet-like conductor, the piece The spacer layer has a plurality of holes to correspond to the protrusions of the sheet-like conductors of the keycap; and a conductive layer is disposed under the sheet-shaped spacer layer, the conductive layer is provided with a conductive substance on the surface; The sheet-shaped spacer layer is configured to determine a set value, and applies a force value to the sheet-like conductor to generate a force value. When the force value does not reach the set value, the sheet-shaped conductor and the conductive layer fail to conduct. When the applied force value is greater than the set value, the sheet-like conductor and the conductive layer are electrically connected.

Preferably, when the applied force value does not reach the set value, the sheet conductor When the conductive layer is in contact with the conductive layer to form an open circuit, and the applied force value is greater than the set value, the sheet-shaped conductive body is in contact with the conductive layer to be electrically connected.

Preferably, the resistance of the sheet-like electrical conductor to the conductive layer is changed according to the magnitude of the applied force.

Preferably, the sheet-like conductive system is made of an elastic conductive material.

Preferably, the sheet-like conductive system is a carbon black rubber.

Preferably, the protruding portion of the sheet-like conductor has a square shape.

Preferably, a button cap is disposed above the sheet-like conductor.

Preferably, the sheet-like conductor and the keycap are formed by two-mode injection or in-mold injection molding.

Preferably, the conductive layer may be a printed circuit board or composed of a polyester film and the conductive material, and the conductive material may be printed on the surface of the polyester film by a printing method, and the conductive material may be silver paste or carbon. membrane.

Preferably, the conductive material of the conductive layer has two or more independent patterns.

Preferably, the holes of the sheet-like spacer layer have a square shape.

Preferably, the height of the sheet spacer layer is greater than the height of the protrusion of the sheet-like conductor, and the sheet spacer layer is used for controlling the distance between the key cap and the conductive layer and controlling the magnitude of the triggering force.

Preferably, the sheet-like spacer layer is made of an elastic material.

The technical features, contents, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof, can be understood by the present inventors, and the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Subject only The use of the present invention for the purpose of illustrating and assisting the specification is not necessarily the true proportion and precise configuration of the present invention. Therefore, the scope and configuration relationship of the attached drawings should not be interpreted or limited. Narration.

Referring to the first and second figures, respectively, a perspective exploded view and a bottom exploded perspective view of the thin pressure type button structure of the present invention are shown. In this embodiment, the thin pressure type button structure 1 of the present invention comprises: a keycap 2; a sheet-like conductor 3 disposed under the keycap 2, the lower surface of the sheet-like conductor 3 having a plurality of protrusions a portion 4; and a sheet-like spacer layer 5 disposed under the sheet-like conductor 3, the sheet-like spacer layer 5 having a plurality of holes 6 corresponding to the protrusions 4 of the sheet-like conductor 3; a conductive layer 7, disposed under the sheet-like spacer layer 5, the conductive layer 7 is provided with a conductive material 8 on the upper surface thereof.

In the present invention, the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 are isolated by the sheet-like spacer layer 5 so as to be in an open state when not pressed. One of the sheet-like conductor 3 and the sheet-like spacer layer 5 may be made of an elastic material, and the elasticity of the material itself is used to provide a restoring force of the button. When the button is pressed, since one of the sheet-like conductor 3 and the sheet-like spacer layer 5 is made of an elastic material, when an external force is applied, the two are pressed against each other to obtain the sheet-like conductor. The lower surface has a plurality of projections 4 to increase the contact area with the conductive layer 7, thereby triggering the button.

In the embodiment, the key cap 2 and the sheet-like conductor 3 can be two independent components, which are connected to each other by fitting, bonding, or the like, or can be formed by in-mold injection, two-mode injection, and the like. Manufacturing.

In the present embodiment, the sheet-like conductor 3 is made of an elastic conductive material, and the sheet-like spacer layer 5 is also made of an elastic material. In practical applications, it is also possible to use a sheet-like conductor 3 made of a non-elastic material. The sheet-like spacer layer 5 made of an elastic material, or a sheet-like conductor 3 made of an elastic material is provided with a sheet-like spacer layer 5 made of a non-elastic material to realize the present invention. The sheet-like conductor 3 and the material of the sheet-like spacer layer 5 should be adjusted according to actual application requirements.

In the embodiment, the sheet-like conductor 3 is an elastic carbon black rubber, and the protruding portion 4 of the sheet-like conductor 3 has a square shape, and may be circular or other geometric shapes in practical applications. . The hole 6 of the sheet-like spacer layer 5 has a square shape corresponding to the projection 4 of the sheet-like conductor 3, and the hole 6 can be used for accommodating the projection 4 of the sheet-like conductor 3. The height of the sheet-like spacer layer 5 is greater than the height of the protrusions 4 of the sheet-like conductor 3, and the sheet-like spacer layer 5 is used to control the distance between the keycap 2 and the conductive layer 7 and to control the magnitude of the triggering force. The conductive layer 7 can be a printed circuit board (PCB) or composed of a polyester film (PET) and the conductive material 8, and the conductive material 8 can be printed on the surface of the polyester film by printing. The conductive material 8 It can be a silver paste or a carbon film. The conductive material 8 has two or more independent patterns, which are a pattern 9 and a pattern 10, respectively, which is similar to an E shape, and the pattern 10 is formed by two horizontal words perpendicular to one word.

Referring to the third and fourth figures, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectional view of the thin pressure type button structure of the present invention are shown. In the fourth drawing, in order to make the component numbers clear and the drawing clear, all the hatching lines are omitted. A parameter determining set value is set for the sheet-shaped spacer layer 5, and the key cap 2 is pressed to apply a force value to the sheet-like conductor 3 to generate a force application value (F). When the force application value does not reach the set value When the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 are not conductive, and the applied force is greater than the set value, the sheet-like conductor 3 is electrically connected to the conductive layer 7, and the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 are The resistance value of the conduction is the same as the application The magnitude of the force changes. For example, when the user does not press the keycap 2, the sheet-like conductor 3 does not press down the sheet-like spacer layer 5. In this embodiment, the sheet-like spacer layer 5 is in this case. Although the conductive material 8 is abutted on the conductive layer 4, since the sheet-shaped spacer layer 5 has no conductive property, and the sheet-like spacer layer 5 isolates the sheet-like conductor 3 from the conductive layer 7, Therefore, the pattern 9 of the conductive material 8 is not in communication with the pattern 10, so the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 are not turned on. In practical applications, the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 may abut each other when they are not pressed, but the resistance between the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 fails to The pattern 9 of the conductive material 8 is electrically connected to the pattern 10, so that the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 are not turned on.

When the keycap 2 is pressed to generate another force application value (the applied force value is less than the set value), the sheet-shaped conductor 3 is pressed against the sheet-shaped spacer layer 5, and the sheet-like conductor 3 is in this case. It will move downward, but since the applied force is not enough to make the sheet-like conductor 3 contact the conductive substance 8 on the conductive layer 7, or the applied force does not make the sheet-like conductor 3 contact at the same time. The pattern 9 and the pattern 10, or the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 abut each other, but the resistance of the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 is not able to make the conductive substance 8 The pattern 9 is electrically connected to the pattern 10, so that the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 are not turned on.

When the keycap 2 is pressed to generate another larger force application value (the applied force value is greater than the set value), the sheet-like conductor 3 is pressed against the sheet-shaped spacer layer 5, and the sheet-shaped conductive layer is in this case. The body 3 will move downward and contact the conductive substance 8 on the conductive layer 7, that is, the pattern 9 and the pattern 10 will be simultaneously contacted, so that the sheet-like conductor 3 and the conductive layer 7 It will be turned on. When a different force is applied to the keycap 2, the sheet-like conductor 3 has a different contact area with the conductive material 8 of the conductive layer 7 via the sheet-like spacer layer 5, that is, the pattern 9 and the pattern 10 Different impedances are generated between them, and the state of the keycap 2 can be judged by measuring the impedance (voltage). Preferably, the sheet-like spacer layer 5 is made of an elastic material to provide a better pressing touch and restoring force.

In addition to the above functions, another advantage of the present invention is that the button can be averaged. When the button structure is used for a long button (such as a blank button or a SHIFT button), the user does not need to deliberately apply force to the button. In the center, even if pressed in the corner of the button, the button can correctly trigger the signal. The above is intended to be illustrative only and not limiting. Any equivalent modifications or alterations to the spirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included in the scope of the appended claims.

1‧‧‧Thin pressure button structure

2‧‧‧Key Cap

3‧‧‧Sheet conductor

4‧‧‧ protruding parts

5‧‧‧Piece spacer

6‧‧‧ holes

7‧‧‧ Conductive layer

8‧‧‧Conducting materials

9, 10‧‧‧ graphics

The first figure shows an exploded perspective view of the thin pressure type button structure of the present invention.

The second figure shows a perspective exploded view of the thin pressure type button structure of the present invention.

The third figure shows a side view of the thin pressure type button structure of the present invention.

The fourth figure shows a cross-sectional view of the thin pressure type button structure of the present invention.

1‧‧‧Thin pressure button structure

2‧‧‧Key Cap

5‧‧‧Piece spacer

6‧‧‧ holes

7‧‧‧ Conductive layer

8‧‧‧Conducting materials

9, 10‧‧‧ graphics

Claims (13)

A thin pressure type button structure comprises: a key cap; a piece of electric conductor is disposed under the key cap, the sheet-shaped conductive external surface has a plurality of protrusions; a piece of spacer layer is disposed on the piece The sheet-shaped spacer layer has a plurality of holes to correspondingly receive the protrusions of the sheet-like conductor; and a conductive layer is disposed under the sheet-shaped spacer layer, and the surface of the conductive layer is provided with a surface a conductive material; wherein a parameter is determined for the sheet-shaped spacer layer, and a force value is applied to the sheet-like conductor to generate a force value, and when the force value does not reach the set value, the sheet-shaped conductor and the When the conductive layer is not turned on, and the applied force is greater than the set value, the sheet-like conductor and the conductive layer are turned on, and the resistance of the sheet-shaped conductive body and the conductive layer is changed according to the magnitude of the applied force. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein when the applied force value does not reach the set value, the sheet-shaped conductor is in contact with the conductive layer to form an open circuit, and the applied force value is greater than the set value. When the sheet-like conductor is in contact with the conductive layer, it is turned on. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein when the applied force value does not reach the set value, the resistance between the sheet-like conductor and the conductive layer fails to be conducted. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-shaped conductive system is made of an elastic conductive material. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-shaped conductive system is a carbon black rubber. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion of the sheet-like conductive system has a square shape. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer may be a printed circuit board or a polyester film and the conductive material, and the conductive material may be printed on the poly On the surface of the ester film, the conductive material may be a silver paste or a carbon film. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material of the conductive layer has two or more independent patterns. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the hole of the sheet-shaped spacer layer has a square shape. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the sheet spacer layer has a height greater than a height of the protrusion of the sheet-like conductor, and the sheet spacer layer is used for controlling the key cap and the conductive layer. The spacing of the layers and the size of the control trigger force. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-shaped spacer layer is made of an elastic material. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-shaped conductive system is made of a non-elastic conductive material, and the sheet-shaped spacer layer is made of an elastic material. The thin pressure type button structure according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like conductor and the keycap are formed by two-mode injection or in-mold injection molding.