TWI615874B - Keyswitch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The button structure comprises a key cap, a guiding mechanism disposed on the keycap, an actuating member movably connecting the guiding mechanism, a circuit unit, an elastic member and a returning unit. When the keycap is subjected to the pressing force, the keycap moves downward from the high position through the trigger position to the low position. When the key cap moves to the trigger position, the circuit unit is abutted by the actuator to generate a trigger signal, and the elastic member maintains the preset length, and there is no relative movement between the actuator and the key cap. When the keycap moves from the trigger position to the low position, the actuator stops moving downward, and the elastic member is compressed to move the actuator relative to the guiding mechanism. When the pressing force is released, the elastic member and the returning unit respectively provide the elastic force and the restoring force to return the actuating member and the key cap to the position before the pressing.

Description

Button structure

The present invention relates to a button structure, and more particularly, to a button structure that can be quickly triggered without affecting the stroke of the button.

A keyboard is a primary tool for entering commands into a computer and is widely used by computer users. Keyboards typically include a keycap, a circuit board with a switch, and an elastomer. When the keycap is pressed, the keycap will move downward from the initial position, compressing the underlying elastic body and triggering the switch of the circuit board. At this time, the elastic body will generate a restoring force due to compression, and then, as the keycap When the received pressing is released, the restoring force of the elastic body acts on the keycap, causing the keycap to return to the initial position, and the next pressing can be performed.

It should be noted that the speed at which the keycap returns to the initial position is proportional to the magnitude of the restoring force of the elastomer. For example, the greater the restoring force of the elastomer, the faster the keycap returns to the initial position. According to the current structural design of the keyboard, the movement stroke of the key cap is substantially the same every time the key cap is pressed, so that the restoring force generated by the elastic body after each pressing of the key cap is substantially the same, causing the key cap to return after each pressing. The speed principle of the initial position does not change.

However, computer users have different hand-feeling requirements for the use of the keyboard. For example, some people require the key cap to return to the initial position as soon as possible, but the slower the speed at which the keycap is pressed back to the initial position. The better. However, the speed at which the keyboard's keycap is returned to the initial position after pressing is not adjusted, so it cannot meet the requirements of all computer users.

Moreover, in order to provide an operational feel for the user to press the step, the keyboard is usually designed with a relatively long key stroke. After the key cap is pressed, the trigger signal is generally generated after the key cap moves downward to complete the entire key stroke, so that the length of the key stroke directly affects the speed of the trigger signal generation. However, in game operations where keyboard operation speed is high, the rapid generation of trigger signals is an important key.

Therefore, how to provide a keyboard can adjust the speed of returning to the initial position after the keycap is pressed, and can quickly generate a trigger signal without affecting the stroke of the button, so as to satisfy all computer users, which is now concerned by the keyboard industry. Technical issues.

In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides a keyboard comprising a circuit board, a first keycap, an adjustment member and a first supporting elastic body. The board has a first switch. The first keycap is disposed above the first switch, and the first keycap is movable between the high position and the low position along the Z-axis direction. When the first keycap moves to the low position, the first keycap can trigger the first switch. The adjusting member has a first abutting surface and a second abutting surface, and the adjusting member is movable between the first position and the second position along the X-axis direction, and the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction can be extended after the extension. The upper end of the first supporting elastic body abuts against the first keycap, and the lower end is abutting the adjusting member, and the first supporting elastic body can apply a force to the first keycap, so that the first keycap tends to move away from the low position toward the high position. . When the first abutting surface is directly below the first supporting elastic body, the first abutting surface abuts against the first supporting elastic body, and presses the first supporting elastic body to shorten the length of the first supporting elastic body to the first Length, while applying a first force to the first keycap. When the second abutting surface is located directly under the first supporting elastic body, the second abutting surface abuts against the first supporting elastic body, and presses the first supporting elastic body to shorten the length of the first supporting elastic body to the second a length, and applying a second force to the first keycap, wherein The second length is less than the first length such that the second force is greater than the first force.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a keyboard comprising a circuit board, a first keycap, an adjustment member, a first force transmitting member and a first supporting elastic body. The board has a first switch. The first keycap is disposed above the first switch, and the first keycap is movable between a high position and a low position along the Z-axis direction. The first keycap can trigger the first switch when the first keycap moves to a low position. The adjusting member has a first abutting surface and a second abutting surface, and the adjusting member is movable between the first position and the second position along the X-axis direction, and the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction can be extended after the extension. The first force transmitting member is disposed above the adjusting member. When the adjusting member is in the first position, the first abutting surface is located below the first force transmitting member, and when the adjusting member is in the second position, the second abutting surface is located below the first force transmitting member. The upper end of the first supporting elastic body abuts against the first keycap, and the lower end abuts against the first force transmitting member, and the first supporting elastic body can apply a force to the first keycap, so that the first keycap tends to move away from the low position. Move at a high position. When the first abutting surface is located directly below the first force transmitting member, the first abutting surface abuts against the first force transmitting member, and presses the first supporting elastic body to shorten the length of the first supporting elastic body to the first Length, while applying a first force to the first keycap. When the second abutting surface is located directly below the first force transmitting member, the second abutting surface abuts against the first force transmitting member, and presses the first supporting elastic body to shorten the length of the first supporting elastic body to the second The second force is applied to the first keycap, wherein the second length is less than the first length such that the second force is greater than the first force.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a button structure including a keycap, a guiding mechanism, an actuating member, a circuit unit, an elastic member, and a returning unit. The key cap can move up and down between the high position and the low position, and the trigger position is between the high position and the low position. The guiding mechanism is disposed on the lower surface of the keycap, and the guiding mechanism has a lower section mechanism and an upper section mechanism. The actuator is movably coupled to the guiding mechanism. The circuit unit is disposed below the actuator. The elastic member is disposed between the keycap and the actuating member, The elastic member provides an elastic force, and the elastic member has a preset length to have a predetermined distance between the actuating member and the key cap. The reply unit provides a restoring force to move the keycap toward a high position. When the keycap is subjected to the pressing force, the keycap moves downward from the high position to the low position, and when the keycap moves to the trigger position, the circuit unit is abutted by the actuator to generate a trigger signal, which is defined from the high position to the trigger position. For the first stroke, the self-trigger position is defined to be the second stroke. During the first stroke, the key cap moves downward through the elastic member with the action member, the elastic member maintains the preset length, and the actuating member is kept connected to the lower portion mechanism. There is no relative movement between the actuator and the keycap. During the second stroke, the actuator stops moving downward, the elastic member is compressed to move the actuator relative to the guiding mechanism, and the coupling of the actuator and the guiding mechanism moves from the lower mechanism toward the upper mechanism. When the pressing force is released, the recovery unit restores the force to return the keycap to the high position, and the elastic member provides an elastic force to return the preset distance between the actuating member and the keycap.

Compared with the prior art, the keyboard of the present invention is provided with a supporting elastic body and an adjusting member, and the adjusting member can adjust the restoring force generated by the supporting elastic body after the key cap is pressed each time, thereby changing the keycap and pressing back to the initial state. The speed of the position, and the amount of pressing force required to operate the keycap, can satisfy the hand-feeling requirements of most computer users for pressing the keycap. Moreover, the button structure of the present invention can increase the trigger speed without affecting the stroke of the button by generating a trigger signal during the button stroke, so that the trigger signal transmission path is more direct and fast.

1‧‧‧ keyboard

11‧‧‧ boards

111‧‧‧First switch

112‧‧‧Second switch

113‧‧‧Circuit board perforation

114‧‧‧Circuit board perforation

12‧‧‧Key Cap Group

121‧‧‧First key cap

1211‧‧‧First annular storage slot

1212‧‧‧First central storage slot

1213‧‧‧First guide wall

122‧‧‧Second keycap

1221‧‧‧Second annular storage slot

1222‧‧‧Second central storage trough

1223‧‧‧Second guiding wall

13‧‧‧Adjustment

131‧‧‧First abutment

132‧‧‧Second abutment

133‧‧‧ third abutment

134‧‧‧ fourth abutment

136‧‧‧Operation Department

137‧‧‧through hole

14‧‧‧Support Elastomer Group

141‧‧‧First Support Elastomer

142‧‧‧Second support elastomer

15‧‧‧transmitting force group

151‧‧‧First force piece

1511‧‧‧transmitting arm

1512‧‧‧镂空部

152‧‧‧Second force transmission parts

1521‧‧‧transmitting arm

1522‧‧‧镂空部

16‧‧‧Loading board

161‧‧‧Perforated plate piercing

162‧‧‧Perforated plate piercing

17‧‧‧ Trigger Elastomer Group

171‧‧‧First Trigger Elastomer

1711‧‧‧First contact pressure

172‧‧‧Second trigger elastomer

1721‧‧‧Second touch

18‧‧‧ Keyboard housing

21‧‧‧floor

211, 212‧‧‧ Linked institutions

213‧‧‧ Positioning parts

214‧‧‧ hole

22‧‧‧Key Cap

221, 222‧‧‧ coupling mechanism

23‧‧‧Guide

231‧‧‧The next institution

232‧‧‧The last institution

233‧‧ ‧ guide slot

234‧‧‧Segmentation slot

235‧‧‧ accommodating space

24, 24’ ‧ ‧ Actuators

241‧‧‧ Guide column

242‧‧‧ accommodating space

243‧‧‧ Conductive layer

244‧‧‧ bumps

25, 25'‧‧‧ circuit unit

251, 252‧‧‧ electrical contacts

253‧‧‧ Positioning parts

254‧‧‧ escaping holes

255‧‧‧Perforation

26‧‧‧Flexible parts

27‧‧‧Response unit

28‧‧‧Lighting elements

29‧‧‧Support unit

291‧‧‧First bracket

292‧‧‧second bracket

33‧‧‧Guiding agencies

331‧‧‧Flange

332‧‧‧ gap

34‧‧‧actuation

341‧‧‧ Guide column

342‧‧‧Perforation

35, 35’‧‧‧ circuit unit

351, 352‧‧‧ electrical contacts

354‧‧‧ escaping holes

355‧‧‧Insulation film

356, 356'‧‧‧ conductive lines

357‧‧‧ Press point

358‧‧‧Water gel

359‧‧‧ nodes

37‧‧‧Response unit

47‧‧‧Response unit

471‧‧‧through hole

50‧‧‧ Spring

56‧‧‧Flexible parts

57‧‧‧Response unit

D‧‧‧Preset distance

HP‧‧‧High position

LP‧‧‧low position

TP‧‧‧ trigger position

S‧‧‧Keystroke

S1‧‧‧First trip

S2‧‧‧Second itinerary

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a first structural example of the keyboard of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the keyboard of Figure 1.

Figure 3-1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the first state of the keyboard shown in Figure 1.

3-2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the second state of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1.

3-3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a third state of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a second structural example of the keyboard of the present invention.

5-1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a third structural example of the keyboard of the present invention.

Figure 5-2 is a schematic view of the adjustment member of the keyboard shown in Figure 5-1.

Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a fourth structural example of the keyboard of the present invention.

Fig. 7A is an exploded view showing a fifth structural example of the key structure of the present invention.

Fig. 7B is a combined perspective view of Fig. 7A.

Figure 8A is a schematic view showing the combination of the keycap, the guiding mechanism and the actuating member of Figure 7A.

Fig. 8B is a schematic view showing the combination of the keycap, the guiding mechanism and the actuating member of the modified embodiment of the fifth structural example of the present invention.

9A to 9C are schematic views showing the operation of the button structure of Fig. 7A.

10A to 10C are views showing the operation of a modified embodiment of the fifth structural example of the key structure of the present invention.

Fig. 11A is an exploded view showing a sixth structural example of the key structure of the present invention.

Figure 11B is a combined perspective view of Figure 11A.

Figure 12 is a schematic view showing the combination of the keycap, the guiding mechanism and the actuating member of Figure 11A.

13A to 13C are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the button structure of FIG. 11A.

14A to 14C are views showing the operation of a modified embodiment of the sixth structural example of the key structure of the present invention.

Fig. 15A is an exploded view showing a seventh structural example of the key structure of the present invention.

Figure 15B is a combined perspective view of Figure 15A.

Figure 16 is a schematic view showing the combination of the keycap, the guiding mechanism and the actuating member of Figure 15A.

17A to 17C are schematic views showing the operation of the key structure of Fig. 15A.

18A to 18C are views showing the operation of a modified embodiment of the seventh structural example of the key structure of the present invention.

Fig. 19A is an exploded view showing an eighth structural example of the key structure of the present invention.

Figure 19B is a combined perspective view of Figure 19A.

Figure 20 is a schematic view showing the combination of the keycap, the guiding mechanism and the actuating member of Figure 19A.

21A to 21C are schematic views showing the operation of the key structure of Fig. 19A.

22A to 22C are views showing the operation of a modified embodiment of the eighth structural example of the key structure of the present invention.

FIG. 23A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a circuit unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 23B is a schematic cross-sectional view of Figure 23A.

Figure 23C is a schematic view showing the configuration of a circuit unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The invention mainly provides a keyboard, and the provided keyboard is provided with an adjusting member, which can adjust the magnitude of the restoring force received by the key cap after being pressed every time, thereby changing the speed of returning to the initial position after the keycap is pressed, and can satisfy the large Most computer users have a feel for pressing the keycap.

The other aspects of the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from this disclosure. The invention may also be embodied or applied by other specific structural examples. The details in this specification can also be based on different opinions and applications without departing from the invention. In the spirit of the spirit, various modifications and changes are made. In particular, the relative relationship and relative positions of the various elements in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not representative of actual implementation of the invention.

In the following, in the following structural examples, the same or similar functions will be described with the same reference numerals, and the description of the same or equivalent features will be omitted.

The first structure example:

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3-3 together, as shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard 1 of the first structural example has a circuit board 11, a keycap group 12, an adjusting member 13, a supporting elastic body group 14, and a force transmitting member. The group 15, the carrier plate 16, the triggering elastomer group 17 and the keyboard housing 18. The force transmitting member group 15 has a first force transmitting member 151 and a second force transmitting member 152. The circuit board 11 is disposed on the carrier board 16 and has a first switch 111, a second switch 112, a pair of circuit board through holes 113 located beside the first switch 111, and a pair of circuit board through holes 114 located beside the second switch 112. The circuit board through holes 113, 114 are arc-shaped structures. Preferably, the arc-shaped extending angle of the arc-shaped structure is less than 180 degrees from a top view. The carrier plate 16 has a pair of carrier plate apertures 161 corresponding to the pair of circuit board apertures 113, and a pair of carrier plate apertures 162 corresponding to the pair of circuit board apertures 114. The keycap group 12 has a first keycap 121 and a second keycap 122.

As shown in FIG. 3-1, the first central receiving groove 1212 and the second central receiving groove 1222 are recessed below the first and second keycaps 121 and 122, respectively. The triggering elastomer set 17 has a first triggering elastomer 171 and a second triggering elastomer 172. The first and second triggering elastic bodies 171 and 172 are respectively disposed in the first and second central receiving grooves 1212 and 1222, and the first touch pressure portions are respectively disposed under the first and second triggering elastic bodies 171 and 172. 1711 and a second contact portion 1721.

The initial setting positions of the first and second keycaps 121, 122 are respectively located at the first, The high position HP above the second switch 111, 112. After the first and second keycaps 121, 122 are pressed in the direction along the Z axis, they will move from the initial high position HP shown in FIG. 3-1 to the low position LP shown in FIG. 3-2. During the movement, the first and second touch portions 1711, 1721 will first move downward to trigger the first and second switches 111, 112 respectively to generate corresponding trigger signals in the circuit board 11. Then, if the user continues to press the first and second keycaps 121 and 122 in the Z-axis direction, the first and second contact portions 1711 and 1721 are respectively received by the first and second switches 111 and 112. Blocking, and unable to continue downward movement with the first and second keycaps 121, 122, which will cause the first and second triggering elastic bodies 171, 172 to be pressed in the first and second central receiving slots 1212, 1222 The elastic contraction enables the first and second keycaps 121 and 122 to continue to move downward, and the rebounding force of the first and second triggering elastic bodies 171 and 172 is contracted, so that the user feels a slight pressing resistance. And lifting the first and second keycaps 121, 122 to press the hand.

Further, the aforementioned supporting elastic body group 14 has a first supporting elastic body 141 and a second supporting elastic body 142. In the present structural example, the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141 and 142 are hollow annular bodies. Correspondingly, the first annular storage slots 1211 and the recesses are recessed below the first and second keycaps 121 and 122. The two annular receiving grooves 1221 are for accommodating the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141 and 142, respectively. When the first and second keycaps 121, 122 move between the low position LP and the high position HP, the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 are respectively respectively available to the first and second annular receiving grooves 1211, 1221. The telescopic deformation is performed to provide a force to the first and second keycaps 121 and 122, respectively. The first and second keycaps 121, 122 further have a first guiding wall 1213 and a second guiding wall 1223 for guiding the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 to be telescopically deformed in the direction of the Z-axis, respectively.

The upper and lower ends of the first supporting elastic body 141 respectively abut the first keycap 121 and the first force transmitting member 151, and the upper and lower ends of the second supporting elastic body 142 respectively abut the second keycap 122 and the second force transmitting member 152, therefore, the first and second force transmitting members 151, 152 can be applied to the first and second keycaps 121, 122 by the first and second supporting elastic members 141, 142, respectively. The upward force causes the first and second keycaps 121, 122 to move away from the low position LP toward the high position HP.

More specifically, the first and second force transmitting members 151 and 152 respectively have hollow portions 1512 and 1522, and the first and second force transmitting members 151 and 152 have a pair of arcs respectively from a top view. The structural force transmitting arms 1511, 1521; the first and second force transmitting members 151, 152 have a "U" shaped cross section, respectively, from a horizontal side view. Preferably, the arcuate structure has an arcuate extension angle of less than 180 degrees. The force transmitting arms 1511, 1521 can pass through the pair of carrier plate through holes 161, 162 and the pair of circuit board through holes 113, 114, respectively, so that the carrier plate 16 and the circuit board 11 can respectively pass through the carrier plate through holes 161, The first and second force transmitting members 151 and 152 are respectively inserted into the hollow portions 1512 and 1522, and the first and second switches 111 and 112 are respectively located in the hollow portions 1512 and 1522.

The adjustment member 13 has a first abutting surface 131, a second abutting surface 132, a third abutting surface 133, a fourth abutting surface 134, and an operating portion 136. The operating portion 136 extends beyond the keyboard housing 18 and can be forced to move along the X-axis direction (the direction of the Z-axis can be extended after the extension) to move from the first position P1 shown in FIG. 3-1 to FIG. 3. The second position P2 shown by -3.

The first and second force transmitting members 151 and 152 are respectively disposed above the adjusting member 13. As shown in FIG. 3-1, when the operating portion 136 is located at the first position P1, the first and third abutting surfaces 131, 133 are respectively pressed against the lower portions of the first and second force transmitting members 151 and 152, and are respectively pressed. The first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 shorten the lengths of the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 to substantially the first length L1 and the third length L3, respectively, and to the first and second keys The caps 121, 122 respectively apply a first force F1 and a third force F3 that are substantially close. As shown in FIG. 3-3, when the operation unit 136 When the second position P2 is located, the second and fourth abutting surfaces 132 and 134 respectively press against the first and second force transmitting members 151 and 152 to press the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141 and 142, respectively. The lengths of the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 are respectively shortened to substantially the second length L2 and the fourth length L4, and the first and second keycaps 121, 122 are respectively applied with a second effect of substantial proximity. Force F2 and fourth force F4.

It should be noted that the second length L2 is smaller than the first length L1, so that the second force F2 is greater than the first force F1. Similarly, the fourth length L4 is smaller than the third length L3, so that the fourth force F4 The first force is greater than the third force F3. Therefore, when the operating portion 136 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 respectively respectively the first and second keycaps 121, 122 The applied force is increased, so that the speed at which the first and second keycaps 121, 122 return to the initial position is accelerated, that is, the position of the operating portion 136 affects the return of the first and second keycaps 121, 122 to the initial position. speed. In this way, with the user's finger pressing the release frequency of the keycap more densely, the number of times between the first position and the second keycap 121, 122 between the high position HP and the low position LP per unit time can be increased, and the first and the second are added. The number of times the two switches 111, 112 perform a "trigger release" cycle per unit time, thereby meeting the user's operational requirements for the keyboard.

In addition, since the pressing force applied by the user to the first and second keycaps 121 and 122 is greater than the force applied by the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141 and 142, respectively, the first and second keycaps 121 can be made. , 122 moves down. Therefore, when the operating portion 136 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the force applied by the user to the first and second keycaps 121, 122 is increased, thus overcoming the first and second supporting elastic bodies. The force applied by the 141 and 142 can move the first and second keycaps 121 and 122 downward, thereby smoothly triggering the first and second switches 111 and 112 respectively, so that the position of the operating portion 136 affects the first position. 1. The second key caps 121 and 122 are pressed by the user. Press the hand.

Second structural example:

Referring to FIG. 4 together, as shown in FIG. 4, the biggest difference between the second structural example and the first structural example is that the keyboard of the second structural example omits the setting of the triggering elastic group, and is directly formed by the first The touch structure under the second keycaps 121, 122 triggers the first and second switches 111, 112, thus simplifying the structure of the keyboard and saving manufacturing costs.

Third structure example:

Referring to FIG. 5-1 to FIG. 5-2 together, as shown in FIG. 5-1, the biggest difference between the third structural example and the first structural example is that the keyboard of the third structural example sets the adjusting component 13 to the trigger. Between the elastomer group 17 and the circuit board 11, that is, the adjusting member 13 is separated from the triggering elastic group 17 and the circuit board 11, and thus the adjusting member 13 is formed with a through hole 137 as shown in FIG. 5-2. The first and second contact portions 1711 and 1721 pass through, and the purpose of triggering the first and second switches 111 and 112 is achieved.

Fourth structure example:

Referring to FIG. 6 together, as shown in FIG. 6, the biggest difference between the fourth structural example and the first structural example is that the keyboard of the fourth structural example has the adjusting member 13 disposed above the circuit board 11, and the transmission is omitted. The force component group is disposed such that the upper ends of the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141 and 142 directly abut the first and second keycaps 121 and 122, respectively, and the lower ends directly abut the first and third abutments of the adjusting component 13 respectively. The joints 131, 133 or the second and fourth abutting surfaces 132, 134. In the fourth configuration example, the first and third abutting surfaces 131 and 133 are horizontal planes of the same height, and the second and fourth abutting surfaces 132 and 134 are horizontal planes of the same height, and the first and third abutments The heights of the joints 131, 133 are lower than the heights of the second and fourth abutting faces 132, 134.

Furthermore, the adjusting member 13 shown in FIG. 6 further has a guiding slope 135 for guiding the inclined surface 135. The system is disposed between the first and second abutting surfaces 131 and 132 and between the third and fourth abutting surfaces 133 and 134. The first supporting elastic body 141 can be smoothly moved between the first and second abutting faces 131, 132 by the guiding slope 135. Similarly, the second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 can also smoothly move between the third and fourth abutting faces 133, 134 by the guiding slope 135.

More specifically, when the first and third abutting surfaces 131 and 133 are located directly below the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141 and 142, the first and third abutting surfaces 131 and 133 can respectively be respectively abutted. Sustaining and pressing the first and second supporting elastic members 141, 142, respectively, and applying first and third forces substantially in proximity to the first and second keycaps 121, 122, respectively, so that the first and second keycaps 121, 122 tends to return to the initial position.

When the second and fourth abutting faces 132, 134 are located directly below the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142, respectively, the second and fourth abutting faces 131, 133 can respectively resist and press the first And the second supporting elastic bodies 141 and 142 respectively apply the second and fourth urging forces that are substantially close to the first and second keycaps 121 and 122, respectively, and the first and second keycaps 121 and 122 are inclined to return. initial position. However, since the heights of the first and third abutting surfaces 131, 133 are lower than the heights of the second and fourth abutting surfaces 132, 134, the second and fourth forces are greater than the first and third forces. .

Therefore, when the operating portion 136 is moved, the first and second supporting elastic members 141, 142 are moved to the second and fourth abutting positions by the positions against the first and third abutting surfaces 131, 133, respectively. When the positions of the faces 132 and 134 are located, the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141 and 142 respectively apply a force to the first and second keycaps 121 and 122 to increase the first and second keycaps 121 and 122. The speed at which the initial position is returned is increased, that is, the position of the operating portion 136 affects the speed at which the first and second keycaps 121, 122 return to the initial position. In this way, with the user's finger pressing the release frequency of the keycap more densely, the first and second keycaps 121, 122 can be raised in the high position HP per unit time. The number of round trips between the low position LPs and the number of times the first and second switches 111, 112 perform a "trigger release" cycle per unit time is provided to meet the user's operational requirements for the keyboard.

Since the pressing force applied by the user to the first and second keycaps 121, 122 is greater than the force applied by the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142, respectively, the first and second keycaps 121 can be moved downward. 122. Therefore, when the operating portion 136 is moved, the first and second supporting elastic members 141, 142 are moved to the second and fourth abutting positions by the positions against the first and third abutting surfaces 131, 133, respectively. When the positions of the faces 132, 134 are increased, the force applied to the first and second keycaps 121, 122 is increased, so that the force exerted by the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 is overcome to make the first, The second keycaps 121 and 122 are moved downward to respectively trigger the first and second switches 111 and 112, respectively, so that the position of the operating portion 136 affects the first and second keycaps 121 and 122 for the user. Press the feel.

In summary, the present invention provides a keyboard provided with a supporting elastic body and an adjusting member. The supporting elastic system can apply a force to the key cap, so that the key cap tends to move away from the low position toward the high position, so that the key cap can be made. After pressing, returning to the initial position, the adjusting member can adjust the magnitude of the force applied by the supporting elastic body to the keycap, and can adjust the restoring force generated by the elastic body after each time the keycap is pressed, thereby adjusting the keycap to press and return. The speed of the initial position, that is, the number of times the keycap can be pressed per unit time, can also adjust the amount of force required to press the keycap, and meet the hand-feeling requirements of most computer users for pressing the keycap.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 5, the key structure of the keyboard not only adjusts the amount of force required to press the keycap, but also rapidly generates a trigger signal without affecting the key stroke. Specifically, the first and second keycaps 121, 122 can move the button stroke defined by the high position HP and the low position LP up and down, and the trigger position is located at the high position HP and the low position LP. between. It should be noted here that the definition from the high position HP to the trigger position is the first stroke, and the self-trigger position to the low position LP is defined as the second stroke. The first and second guiding walls 1213 and 1223 disposed under the first and second keycaps 121 and 122 are guiding mechanisms. The first and second contact portions 1711 and 1721 function as actuators and movably couple the guiding mechanisms of the first and second keycaps 121 and 122. When the first and second keycaps 121, 122 are subjected to the pressing force, the first and second keycaps 121, 122 are moved downward from the high position HP to the low position LP when the first and second keycaps 121, 122 are When moving to the trigger position, the first and second switches 111, 112 of the circuit board 11 are contacted by the corresponding first and second contact portions 1711, 1721 to generate a trigger signal. During the first stroke, the first and second keycaps 121, 122 compress the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 and drive the first and second contact pressure portions through the first and second triggering elastic bodies 171, 172. 1711, 1721 move down. During this period, the first and second triggering elastic bodies 171, 172 are maintained at a predetermined length to keep the first and second contact portions 1711, 1721 and the first and second keycaps 121, 122 at the high position HP. The preset distance (ie, the distance between the front keycap and the contact portion is not pressed). That is, the first and second contact portions 1711, 1721 remain connected to the lower mechanism of the first and second guiding walls 1213, 1223, and the first and second contact portions 1711, 1721 and the first and second keys There is no relative movement between the caps 121, 122. During the second stroke, the first and second supporting elastic members 141, 142 continue to be compressed, and the first and second contact portions 1711, 1721 stop moving downward, and the first and second triggering elastic bodies 171, 172 is compressed, causing the first and second contact portions 1711, 1721 to move relative to the first and second guiding walls 1213, 1223 in the first and second central receiving grooves 1212, 1222, thereby making the first and second The joint between the contact portions 1711 and 1721 and the first and second guide walls 1213 and 1223 is moved from the lower mechanism to the upper mechanism. That is, during the second stroke, the first and second triggering elastic bodies 171, 172 are pressed to shorten the length, so that the first and second contact portions 1711, 1721 and the first and second keycaps 121, 122 are The distance between them is shortened. In other words, the first 1. The shortened distance between the second contact portions 1711, 1721 and the first and second keycaps 121, 122 is substantially equivalent to the length of the second stroke. When the pressing force is released, the first and second triggering elastic bodies 171, 172 and the first and second supporting elastic bodies 141, 142 as the returning unit respectively provide an elastic force and a restoring force (also an elastic force) to make the first, The second contact portions 1711, 1721 and the first and second keycaps 121, 122 return a predetermined distance, and the first and second keycaps 121, 122 move upward to return to the high position HP. Thereby, the keyboard and the button structure of the invention can generate the trigger signal during the button stroke to increase the trigger speed without affecting the button stroke, so that the trigger signal transmission path is more direct and fast.

It should be noted here that the key structure of the present invention can have different configurations, and the trigger can also occur faster without affecting the stroke of the key. Other structural examples of the present invention and their modified embodiments will be described later.

Fifth structural example:

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the key structure includes a keycap 22, a guiding mechanism 23, an actuating member 24, a circuit unit 25, an elastic member 26, and a returning unit 27. The guiding mechanism 23 is disposed on the lower surface of the keycap 22, and the actuating member 24 is movably coupled to the guiding mechanism 23. The circuit unit 25 is disposed under the actuator 24 and can be implemented as a film off or a circuit board having electrical contacts depending on the design of the button structure. In this embodiment, the circuit unit 25 is exemplified by a film off. The elastic member 26 is disposed between the keycap 22 and the actuating member 24. The elastic member 26 has an original length that exceeds the gap between the key cap 22 and the actuating member 24, causing the elastic member 26 to be compressed to a predetermined length after assembly, such that the elastic member 26 can provide a pre-pressure to actuate the actuating member 24 and the key cap 22 are as far apart as possible from each other and have a preset distance D (as shown in Fig. 9A). The reply unit 27 can provide a restoring force to cause the button structure to move back up to a higher position before pressing. According to the design requirements, the recovery unit 27 can be implemented as a spring, an elastomer or a magnetic unit. So that the keycap can be restored to the position before pressing by elastic force or magnetic force. The resilient member 26 can be implemented as a spring or an elastomer. In this embodiment, the elastic member 26 and the return unit 27 are described by a spring.

Furthermore, the button structure can optionally include other components to enhance button strength, movement stability or other functions. For example, the button structure may further include the bottom plate 21, the supporting unit 29, the light-emitting element 28, and the like, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the support unit 29 can be a scissor-type support unit that is pivotally connected to the first bracket 291 and the second bracket 292, but is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the support unit can be a butterfly support unit as disclosed in the new patent of the Republic of China M447535, wherein the two bracket pivots are below the center of the keycap and near the bottom plate. The bottom plate 21 may be disposed under the circuit unit 25 and has a coupling mechanism 211, 212 to couple the lower end of the support unit 29. Correspondingly, the keycap 22 has coupling mechanisms 221, 222 to couple the upper ends of the support unit 29. In other words, the support unit 29 is disposed under the keycap 22, and the coupling mechanisms 221 and 222 of the keycap 22 are respectively rotatably and slidably coupled to the upper ends of the first bracket 291 and the second bracket 292, and the bottom plate 21 is connected. The mechanisms 211 and 212 are slidably and rotatably coupled to the lower ends of the first bracket 291 and the second bracket 292 respectively to support the movement of the keycap 22 relative to the bottom plate 21. The light emitting unit 28 is disposed below the keycap 22. The light unit 28 provides light and the light is emitted from the keycap 22. The light emitting unit 28 can be implemented as a light emitting diode, and the power supply circuit of the light emitting unit 28 can be integrated in the same layer structure as the circuit unit 25, or can be disposed in a different layer structure separately from the circuit unit 25. It should be noted that when the button structure includes the light-emitting element 28, the support unit 29 is preferably made of a light-transmitting material, and the key cap 22 can also be made of a light-permeable material or have a light-transmitting portion, so that the light can be The key cap 22 is transmitted through.

As shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 8A, in an embodiment, the guiding mechanism 23 can be disposed on the lower surface of the keycap 22 in any manner (eg, adhesively, integrally formed, etc.), and the guiding mechanism 23 has a lower section mechanism 231 and an upper section mechanism 232. . In this embodiment, the guiding mechanism 23 and the keycap 22 are preferably formed by injection molding. The manner is integrated and implemented as a circular duct that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the keycap 22. In other words, the lower section mechanism 231 is the lower section of the circular duct and the upper section mechanism 232 is the upper section of the circular duct connection keycap 22. The guiding mechanism 23 has a guide groove 233 for connecting the actuating member 24. The direction in which the guide grooves 233 extend is parallel to the moving direction of the keycap 22. In this embodiment, the plurality of guide grooves 233 are preferably uniformly disposed in the circumferential direction and extend perpendicularly to the guiding mechanism 23. For example, the three guide grooves 233 are circumferentially disposed at an angle of 120 degrees. The guiding groove 233 preferably extends from the lower stage mechanism 231 to the upper stage mechanism 232, and the guiding groove 233 preferably does not extend beyond the lower end of the guiding mechanism 23, that is, the guiding groove 233 is a closed narrow channel, so that the guiding groove The bottom of 233 is higher than the bottom of the guiding mechanism 23 (i.e., the end of the lower end mechanism 231) to restrict the actuator 24 from coming out of the guide groove 233. In other words, the end portion of the lower mechanism 231 that blocks the bottom of the guide groove 233 serves as a locking mechanism to restrict the detachment of the actuator 24 from the guiding mechanism 23. In addition, the guiding mechanism 23 further has a plurality of dividing grooves 234 for cutting the lower end of the guiding mechanism 23 into a plurality of segments in the axial direction to increase the elastic deformation amount of the guiding mechanism 23 outward (ie, radial) expansion, so as to facilitate the deformation. The assembly actuator 24 enters the guide mechanism 23. In this embodiment, one or more dividing grooves 234 are preferably provided between the adjacent guiding grooves 233.

The actuator 24 has a guide post 241 corresponding to the guide groove 233 of the guide mechanism 23. The guide post 241 is movably inserted into the guide groove 233, and the guide post 241 relatively moves in the guide groove 233 when the movable member 24 and the guiding mechanism 23 are relatively moved. In this embodiment, the actuating member 24 is in the form of a sleeve, and the guide post 241 projects radially from the upper edge of the sleeve to correspond to the guide groove 233 of the insertion guide mechanism 23. It should be noted here that the positions of the guide groove and the guide post are interchangeable, and are not limited to the drawings. That is, in another embodiment (not shown), the guiding mechanism may have a guide post, and the actuating member may have a corresponding guiding groove, and the actuating member may also be movably coupled to the guiding mechanism. Furthermore, the sleeve-type actuating member 24 can have an accommodating space 242 on the inner side thereof for providing the elastic member 26. In other words, as the moving member 24 is sleeved on the guiding machine When the structure 23 is formed, the elastic member 26 is restricted from being compressed in the accommodating space 242, and the two ends of the elastic member 26 respectively correspond to the upper surface of the actuating member 24 facing the accommodating space 242 and the lower surface of the key cap 22.

In this embodiment, the spring-type return unit 27 is disposed between the keycap 22 and the circuit unit 25, and the spring-type return unit 27 has a spring ring diameter larger than the sleeve-type actuator 24 and the catheter-type guiding mechanism 23. The diameter can be sleeved outside the guiding mechanism 23 and the actuating member 24 to allow the guiding mechanism 23 and the actuating member 24 to be relatively displaced in the hollow region of the spring-type return unit 27. That is, the spring ring diameter of the spring type return unit 27 is larger than the spring ring diameter of the spring type elastic member 26. In this embodiment, the circuit unit 25 is implemented as a membrane switch that is separated by upper and lower layers, and the circuit unit 25 may have a through hole 255. Correspondingly, the bottom plate 21 can have a positioning member 213, wherein the positioning member 213 projects from the upper surface of the bottom plate 21 through the through hole 255 to define the position of the spring-type recovery unit 27. In addition, in another embodiment, one end of the spring-type return unit 27 can be further connected to the positioning member 213, thereby preventing the weight of the spring-type return unit 27 itself from erroneously triggering the membrane-switching circuit unit 25. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8A, the center of the lower surface of the sleeve-type actuator 24 further has a bump 244 for pressing the circuit unit 25 of the trigger membrane switch type.

The operation of the key structure of the present invention will be described later with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9C, and the support unit 29 is not illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 9C in order to clearly explain the operation of the key structure. The key cap 22 can withstand the pressing force and can move up and down between the high position HP and the low position LP, and the trigger position TP is located between the high position HP and the low position LP, when the key cap moves down to the trigger position TP, The key cap just triggers the circuit unit 25. That is, from the high position HP to the trigger position TP is the first stroke S1, at which time the circuit unit 25 has not been triggered; the self-trigger position TP to the low position LP is the second stroke S2, at which time the circuit unit 25 remains triggered. The total key stroke S of the button structure is the sum of the first stroke S1 and the second stroke S2 (ie, S=S1+S2).

As shown in FIG. 9A, when the button structure is in an unpressed state, the return unit 27 provides an upward restoring force to position the keycap 22 at the high position HP, which is the starting point of the first stroke S1; in this state, the actuator 24 and the circuit The distance between the units 25 is substantially equal to the first stroke S1. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the keycap 22 is subjected to the pressing force, the keycap 22 is moved downward from the high position HP to the trigger position TP, which is the end point of the first stroke S1 and the starting point of the second stroke S2.

As shown in the first stroke S1 shown in FIGS. 9A to 9B, since the compressed elastic member 26 continues to provide the pre-pressure so that the keycap 22 and the actuating member 24 are separated as much as possible, the keycap 22 and the actuating member 24 are spaced apart. The preset distance D. That is, during the first stroke S1, the keycap 22 is moved downward by the elastic member 26 with the actuating member 24, the elastic member 26 is maintained at a predetermined length, and the actuating member 24 is kept coupled to the lower mechanism 231 of the guiding mechanism 23, and is actuated. There is no relative movement between the piece 24 and the keycap 22. In other words, when the keycap 22 is subjected to the pressing force, the spring-type returning unit 27 is first compressed and shortened, and the guiding mechanism 23, the elastic member 26 and the actuating member 24, which are connected to the keycap 22 by the keycap 22, are moved downward to The position TP is triggered to abut the actuator 24 against the circuit unit 25, thereby causing the upper circuit constituting the membrane switch to be deformed downwardly in contact with the lower layer circuit to be triggered to generate a trigger signal. At this time, the length of the spring-type recovery unit 27 is shortened substantially equal to the first stroke S1, and the elastic member 26 substantially remains the predetermined length, so that the distance between the actuator 24 and the keycap 22 remains substantially the same as that of FIG. 9A. The preset distance D.

As shown in the second stroke S2 shown in FIGS. 9B to 9C, when the keycap 22 is moved downward from the trigger position TP to the low position LP (ie, the state from FIG. 9B is changed to the state of FIG. 9C), the circuit unit 25 remains as the actuating member. 24 abuts and continues to generate trigger signals. That is, when the sum of the restoring force of the returning unit 27 and the elastic force of the elastic member 26 is less than the pressing force of the user's finger, the keycap 22 can be moved down all the keystrokes S. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the keycap 22 is moved to the trigger position TP, the spring type reply sheet The element 27 has not been compacted, so the keycap 22 will continue to move downward, further compressing the spring-type return unit 27 to the low position LP. Thus, during the second stroke S2, since the actuating member 24 has abutted on the circuit unit 25, the actuating member 24 cannot continue to move downward, but the key cap 22 continues to move downward to compress the elastic member 26, so that the actuating member 24 The relative movement with the guiding mechanism 23 is started, and the movement of the actuator 24 and the guiding mechanism 23 is moved from the lower stage mechanism 231 toward the upper stage mechanism 232. In other words, during the second stroke S2, since the actuating member 24 is pressed against the circuit unit 25, the key cap 22 is moved downward while compressing the spring-type returning unit 27 and the elastic member 26 such that the distance between the actuating member 24 and the keycap 22 It becomes shorter as the relative movement of the workpiece 24 and the guiding mechanism 23 is made. That is, the guide post 241 of the actuating member 24 is moved upward toward the key cap 22 along the guide groove 233 of the guiding mechanism 23, so that the guide post 241 is moved upward to the upper end of the guide groove 233 (i.e., closer to the lower surface of the key cap 22). ).

When released by the pressing force, the returning unit 27 provides a restoring force (here, an elastic force) to return the keycap 22 upward to return to the high position HP, and the elastic member 26 provides an elastic force to cause the actuating member 24 and the keycap 22 to be Revert to the preset distance D before pressing (as shown in Fig. 9A). Therefore, the button structure of the present invention generates a trigger signal after the first stroke S1 to shorten the time required for the trigger, and provides a faster trigger; and after the trigger signal is generated, the key cap 22 can continue to Moving the second stroke S2 downwards, so that the button structure still maintains a long total stroke and allows the user to have a comfortable pressing feel; otherwise, when the e-sports player repeatedly presses the button at a high speed, if there is no buffering of the second stroke S2, the finger will Feel the strong keycap and bottom plate impact and discomfort. The button structure of the present invention can adjust the position of the actuating member to the guiding mechanism to achieve the required signal triggering stroke (ie, the first stroke) without affecting the total stroke of the button, thereby satisfying the operation requirements of the user. . In other words, when the first stroke is shorter, the trigger signal is generated faster.

Variations of the fifth structural example:

As shown in Figs. 8B and 10A, the actuator 24' can be designed in the form of a plate, and is not limited to the above-described sleeve form. When the actuating member 24' is movably coupled to the guiding mechanism 23, the guide post 241 of the actuating member 24' is inserted into the guide groove 233 of the guiding mechanism 23 so that the actuating member 24' is opposite to the guiding mechanism 23 when the guide post The 241 moves along the guide groove 233. In this embodiment, the elastic member 26 is disposed in the accommodating space 235 surrounded by the catheter guide mechanism 23, and is disposed between the upper surface of the plate actuator 24' and the lower surface of the keycap 22. Furthermore, circuit unit 25' is implemented in the form of a circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts 251, 252. The circuit unit 25' is preferably a rigid circuit board, but is not limited thereto. Corresponding to the circuit board type circuit unit 25', the actuating member 24' has a conductive layer 243 on the lower surface. When the conductive layer 243 contacts the electrical contacts 251, 252, the plurality of electrical contacts 251, 252 are galvanically turned on to generate a trigger signal. In this embodiment, the actuator 24' may be made of a non-metal (e.g., rubber, plastic, or polymer) and adhered, plated, printed, or coated with a metal layer or a conductive non-metallic layer on its bottom surface to serve as the conductive layer 243. In another embodiment, the actuator 24' can be made of a metal plate and the lower surface of the metal plate serves as the conductive layer 243. Further, the circuit board type circuit unit 25' preferably has a relief hole 254 to provide a relief space when the guiding mechanism 23 is moved downward. Further, the circuit unit 25' may have a positioning member 253 to position the lower end of the return unit 27. It should be noted that the present embodiment may selectively have a bottom plate 21, a light-emitting unit 28, a supporting unit 29 and the like as shown in FIG. 7A, and the key cap 22, the guiding mechanism 23, the elastic member 26 and the returning unit 27 may have similarities. The structure shown in FIG. 7A is not described here.

As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, when the keycap 22 is subjected to the pressing force, the keycap 22 is moved downward from the high position HP through the trigger position TP to the low position LP. When the keycap 22 is moved to the trigger position TP, the circuit unit 25' is abutted by the actuator 24' to generate a trigger signal. In other words, when the keycap 22 is subjected to the pressing force, the keycap 22 first moves from the high position HP to the trigger position TP (ie, moves the first stroke S1), and the keycap 22 first compresses the spring-type returning unit 27 and acts through the elastic member 26. Piece 24' moves down The triggering signal is generated by electrically connecting the conductive layer 243 of the actuator 24' to the plurality of electrical contacts 251, 252 of the circuit unit 25'. During the first stroke S1, the elastic member 26 remains uncompressed, and the actuator 24' remains coupled to the lower mechanism 231 of the guiding mechanism 23 (ie, the guiding post 241 is located at the lower end of the guiding slot 233), and the actuating member 24 There is no relative movement between the keycap 22 and the keycap 22.

After the keycap 22 moves through the trigger position TP, since the pressing force is greater than the restoring force of the returning unit 27 and the elastic force of the elastic member 26, and the spring-type returning unit 27 is not compacted, the keycap 22 continues to move downward. Further, the spring-type return unit 27 is compressed to reach the low position LP. During the second stroke S2, the actuating member 24' is blocked by the circuit unit 25' and cannot continue to move downward, and the elastic member 26 is compressed to move the actuating member 24' relative to the guiding mechanism 23, so that the actuating member 24' The joint of the guiding mechanism 23 moves from the lower stage mechanism 231 toward the upper stage mechanism 232, that is, the guide post 241 is moved from the lower end of the guide groove 233 to the upper end of the guide groove 233 to approach the key cap 22. That is, during the second stroke S2, the actuator 24' is prevented from moving downward by the blocking of the circuit unit 25', and the compression elastic member 26 causes the guiding mechanism 23 to move downward into the escape hole 254 of the circuit unit 25'. When the pressing force is released, the returning unit 27 provides a restoring force to move the keycap 22 upward to return to the high position HP; and the elastic member 26 provides an elastic force to return the actuating member 24' and the keycap 22 by a predetermined distance. In the embodiment, by avoiding the design of the hole 254, the stroke of the button structure can be effectively increased without increasing the height of the button, thereby improving the user's pressing feel.

Sixth structural example:

As shown in FIGS. 11A to 11B and FIG. 12, the guide mechanism 33 is in the form of a guide bar, and the guide mechanism 33 has a flange 331 at the lower end, and a notch 332 is formed in the flange 331. Specifically, the flange 331 extends radially along the circumference of the guide guide mechanism 33 into a U-shaped flange having a notch 332. The actuating member 34 is in the form of an annular shape having a through hole 342, and the guide post 341 is formed in the annular actuating member 34. The edge is corresponding to the gap 332. The spring-type elastic member 26 has a original length greater than a predetermined length, and is compressed to a preset length and sleeved on the guide-type guiding mechanism 33 and extends between the keycap 22 and the actuating member 34, thus the key cap 22 and Actuator 34 applies a pre-pressure, respectively. The actuating member 34 is sleeved on the guiding mechanism 33 through the through hole 342 by the guide post 341 corresponding to the notch 332. After the actuating member 34 is sleeved on the guiding mechanism 33, the guiding post 341 and the notch 332 can be dislocated to prevent the actuating member 34 from being disengaged from the guiding mechanism 33, and the pre-stress of the spring-type elastic member 26 causes the actuating member 34 to be disengaged. The lower surface is adjacent to the flange 331. In other words, when the actuating member 34 is sleeved on the guiding mechanism 33, the flange 331 can serve as a locking mechanism of the guiding mechanism 33 to abut against the lower side of the actuating member 34 to prevent the actuating member 34 from being below the guiding mechanism 33. Get rid of. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the ring of the actuator 34 is preferably greater than the outer diameter of the flange 331. Thereby, the elastic member 26 is positioned between the actuating member 34 and the keycap 22, and a portion of the actuating member 34 protruding from the flange 331 can be used to contact the hair generating unit 35. The spring ring diameter of the spring-type elastic member 26 is preferably larger than the inner diameter of the annular actuating member 34 and smaller than the outer diameter of the annular actuating member 34, so that the spring-type elastic member 26 is tied to the annulus of the annular actuating member 34. . In this embodiment, the bottom plate 21 is disposed above the circuit unit 35, and the bottom plate 21 further has a hole 214 for allowing the actuator 34 and the guiding mechanism 33 to pass when moving. The circuit unit 35 is preferably in the form of a rigid circuit board having sufficient rigidity to carry the abutting force of the actuating member 34. The circuit unit 35 has a plurality of electrical contacts 351, 352, and the actuating member 34 is preferably a metal ring for the actuating member 34. The lower surface serves as a conductive layer for electrically connecting the plurality of electrical contacts 351, 352, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the actuator 34 can be a non-metallic ring having a conductive layer on the bottom surface. The circuit unit 35 may also have a relief hole 354, and the guiding mechanism 33 may extend into the escape hole 354 when moving. The relief aperture 354 can be implemented as a blind or through hole depending on design requirements.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13A, the spring-type return unit 37 is preferably disposed between the actuating member 34 and the circuit unit 35. For example, the two ends of the spring-type return unit 37 can be respectively connected to the actuating member. 34 and the bottom plate 21, and the spring-type returning unit 37 has a spring constant smaller than that of the spring-type elastic member 26, so that the spring-type returning unit 37 is more easily deformed than the spring-type elastic member 26. As shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C, when the keycap 22 is subjected to the pressing force, the keycap 22 is moved downward from the high position HP through the trigger position TP to the low position LP. When the keycap 22 is moved to the trigger position TP, the circuit unit 35 is abutted by the actuator 34 to generate a trigger signal. In other words, during the first stroke S1, since the spring coefficient of the spring-type returning unit 37 is smaller than the spring constant of the spring-type elastic member 26, the keycap 22 compresses the spring-type returning unit 37 when the pressing force is applied, so that the keycap 22 transmits the elastic force. The member 26 is moved downward with the actuating member 34, the elastic member 26 is substantially maintained at a predetermined length, and the actuating member 26 is held coupled to the lower mechanism of the guiding mechanism 33, and there is no relative movement between the actuating member 34 and the key cap 22. When the position TP is triggered, the plurality of electrical contacts 351 and 352 of the circuit unit 35 are connected by the conductive layer of the actuator 34 to generate a trigger signal, and the hole 214 of the bottom plate 21 communicates with the escape hole 354 of the circuit unit 35 to The guiding mechanism 33 is allowed to continue moving downward to complete the second stroke S2. Specifically, during the second stroke, the actuator 34 abuts against the circuit unit 35 to stop moving downward, and the elastic member 26 is compressed to cause the guiding mechanism 33 to continue to move downward into the escape hole 354 of the circuit unit 35, the actuating member. The guide post 341 of the 34 moves from the lower mechanism of the guiding mechanism 33 toward the upper mechanism. When the pressing force is released, the returning unit 37 provides a restoring force (ie, elastic force) to return the keycap 22 to the high position HP, and the elastic member 26 provides an elastic force to return the preset between the actuating member 34 and the keycap 22. distance.

Variations of the sixth structural example:

As shown in FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C, the circuit unit 35' is disposed above the bottom plate 21, and the bottom plate 21 is provided with a bearing capacity against the actuation of the actuator 34. Thus, the circuit unit 35' may be in the form of a membrane switch, without limitation. Hard board. The difference between this embodiment and the embodiment of FIG. 13A to FIG. 13C is that when the keycap 22 is moved to the trigger position TP, the actuating member 34 is a pressing circuit unit. 35', causing the membrane switch to be turned on to generate a trigger signal. When the keycap 22 continues to move the second stroke S2 toward the lower position LP, the guiding mechanism 33 projects from the through hole 342 of the actuator 34 into the through hole relief hole 354 of the circuit unit 35' to enter the hole 214 of the bottom plate 21. For the remaining components and operational details of the present embodiment, reference may be made to the description of FIG. 13A to FIG. 13C, and details are not described herein again.

Seventh structure example:

As shown in FIGS. 15A-15B and FIG. 16, the recovery unit 47 is implemented in the form of a rubber dome, and the remaining component details are similar to those described in FIGS. 11A-11B and FIG. In this embodiment, the elastic type recovery unit 47 has a through hole 471 through which the guiding mechanism 33 and the actuating member 34 and the elastic member 26 connected thereto are inserted and can be moved in the through hole 471. Hereinafter, only the differences from the operations of FIGS. 13A to 13C will be described. As shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C, when the keycap 22 is subjected to the pressing force, the key cap 22 is elastically deformed by the elastic type recovery unit 47, and is moved downward from the high position HP through the trigger position TP to the low position LP. When the keycap 22 moves to the trigger position TP, the plurality of electrical contacts 351, 352 of the circuit board circuit unit 35 abut against the conductive layer of the actuator 34 to generate a trigger signal, and the escape hole 354 of the circuit unit 35 provides guidance. The guiding mechanism 33 continues the space for moving downward, thereby completing the total stroke S of the button structure, which will not be described herein.

Variations of the seventh structural example:

As shown in FIG. 18A to FIG. 18C, the circuit unit 35' is disposed above the bottom plate 21, and the bottom plate 21 is provided with a bearing capacity against the actuation of the actuator 34. Thus, the circuit unit 35' can be in the form of a membrane switch without limitation It is a hard circuit board. The difference between the embodiment and the embodiment of FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C is that the recovery unit 47 is implemented as an elastic body disposed between the keycap 22 and the bottom plate 21 to provide a restoring force for the key cap 22 to return to the position before pressing. For the rest of the components and the operation details and the actuating relationship of the present embodiment, reference may be made to the description of the foregoing related embodiments, and details are not described herein again.

Eighth structure example:

As shown in FIGS. 19A to 19B and FIG. 20, the elastic member 56 and the return unit 57 are implemented as springs, in particular, a single spring 50 integrated into one body. The remaining component details are similar to those described in Figures 11A-11B and Figure 12. In this embodiment, the spring 50 includes a first spring portion having a small diameter of the coil as the elastic member 56 and a second spring portion having a larger diameter of the coil as the return unit 57, wherein the spring 50 is sleeved on the guide rod guide The mechanism 33 is such that the joint of the elastic member 56 and the return unit 57 approaches the actuating member 34, and the return unit 57 surrounds the actuating member 34 and extends downward. In other words, when the spring 50 is sleeved on the guide guiding mechanism 33, the first spring portion as the elastic member 56 abuts the actuating member 34, and the spring of the second spring as the returning unit 57 has a larger diameter than the spring of the first spring. The ring diameter is such as to permit relative displacement of the actuator 34 in the second spring. Moreover, the elastic coefficient of the second spring as the returning unit 57 is preferably smaller than the elastic coefficient of the first spring as the elastic member 56, so that the returning unit 57 is first compressed when the keycap 22 is subjected to the pressing force, and the elastic member 26 is The first stroke S1 is preferably substantially uncompressed during the first stroke S1. Hereinafter, the operation shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C is similar to the operation of FIGS. 13A to 13C, and details are not described herein again.

Variations of the eighth structural example:

As shown in FIG. 22A to FIG. 22C, the circuit unit 35' is disposed above the bottom plate 21, and the bottom plate 21 is provided with a bearing capacity against the actuation of the actuator 34. Thus, the circuit unit 35' can be in the form of a membrane switch without limitation It is a hard circuit board. The difference between this embodiment and the embodiment of FIGS. 14A to 14C is that the elastic member 56 and the returning unit 57 are integrated into a single spring 50, as shown in FIGS. 19A to 19B and FIG. For the rest of the components and the operation details and the actuating relationship of the present embodiment, reference may be made to the description of the foregoing related embodiments, and details are not described herein again.

It should be noted here that in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14A, 18A, and 22A, The accuracy of the trigger is improved by the design of the variable membrane switch circuit unit 35'. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 23A-23B, the lower layer circuit above the circuit unit 35' may be formed by printing a conductive line 356 by an insulating film layer 355, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A silver paste line is formed on the film, and a water gel 358 is applied around the annular conductive line 356 near the pressing point 357. Thereby, the first stroke S1 for generating the trigger signal can be further adjusted by adjusting the radius of the water gel 358 and by similar cantilever action, and the dustproof effect can be simultaneously achieved. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 23C, in another embodiment, the design of the annular conductive line 356' can be varied to ensure that the contact area of the upper and lower layers is sufficiently conductive to optimize the amount of silver paste used and to reduce production costs. For example, the annular conductive line 356' has a plurality of nodes 359 such that the nodes have a relatively large local area compared to the remaining annular areas, thereby ensuring contact area of the upper and lower layers of the circuit while reducing material costs.

In addition, although the above embodiment uses a spring or an elastic body as the embodiment of the recovery unit, it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments (not shown), the reply unit can be implemented as a magnetic unit to return the keycap to the position before pressing by magnetic attraction or magnetic repulsion. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11A, the return unit 37 can be replaced by a pair of polarity-repulsive magnetic components respectively disposed on the keycap 22 and the bottom plate 21 to cause the keycap 22 to recover by magnetic repulsion. To the position before the press. In another embodiment (not shown), the return unit can be replaced by a pair of polar-adsorbing magnetic components respectively disposed on the button frame and the keycap to return the keycap to the position before pressing by magnetic attraction. It should be noted that when the magnetic unit is used as the recovery unit to provide the restoring force, the position of the magnetic unit can be changed according to actual needs, and can be matched or integrated with other components of the button structure to provide a restoring force, It is limited to the examples.

The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Anyone who is familiar with the technology can do without violating the spirit and scope of the present invention. Modifications and changes are made to the above embodiments. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be as defined in the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

A button structure comprising: a key cap movable up and down between a high position and a low position, a trigger position being between the high position and the low position; a guiding mechanism, the guiding mechanism is disposed at the a lower surface of the key cap, the guiding mechanism has a lower section mechanism and an upper section mechanism; an actuating member is movably coupled to the guiding mechanism; a circuit unit is disposed under the actuating member; an elastic member is disposed on the Between the keycap and the actuating member, the elastic member provides an elastic force, the elastic member has a predetermined length to have a predetermined distance between the actuating member and the keycap; and a recovery unit provides a restoring force In order to move the keycap toward the high position, the elastic member is a first spring, the recovery unit is a second spring, and the second spring is integrated with the first spring as a single spring, the first spring Partially abutting the actuating member, the diameter of the coil of the second spring is larger than the diameter of the coil of the first spring to allow relative displacement of the actuating member in the second spring; wherein when the key cap is subjected to a pressing force, The key cap system The high position moves downward to the low position. When the key cap moves to the trigger position, the circuit unit is abutted by the actuator to generate a trigger signal, and the first position from the high position to the trigger position is first. The stroke is defined as a second stroke from the trigger position to the lower position. During the first stroke, the key cap drives the actuator to move downward through the elastic member, and the elastic member maintains the preset length. The piece remains attached to the lower stage mechanism, and there is no relative movement between the actuating member and the key cap. During the second stroke, the actuating member stops moving downward, the elastic member is compressed to move the actuating member relative to the guiding mechanism, and the actuating member and the guiding mechanism are coupled to the lower segment mechanism toward the The upper mechanism moves; and when the pressing force is released, the returning unit provides the restoring force to return the keycap to the high position, and the elastic member provides the elastic force to make the actuating member and the keycap Reply to the preset distance. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the circuit unit is a circuit board, the circuit board has a plurality of electrical contacts, and the actuating member has a conductive layer, when the key cap moves to the trigger position, The conductive layer electrically contacts the plurality of electrical contacts to generate the trigger signal. The button structure of claim 1, wherein the circuit unit is a membrane switch, and when the key cap moves to the trigger position, the actuator is pressed to trigger the membrane switch to generate the trigger signal. The button structure of claim 1, wherein the circuit unit has a escaping hole, the actuating member has a through hole, and when the key cap moves from the trigger position to the lower position to perform the second stroke, the guiding The mechanism protrudes from the perforation into the escape hole. The button structure of claim 4, further comprising a bottom plate disposed under the key cap, wherein the bottom plate has a broken hole, the broken hole correspondingly communicating with the escape hole to allow the guiding mechanism to enter the broken hole . The key structure of claim 1, wherein the circuit unit has a plurality of electrical contacts, the actuating member has a conductive layer, and the plurality of electrical contacts are actuated by the actuating member when the key cap is moved to the trigger position The conductive layer is overlapped to generate the trigger signal. The button structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit unit is a membrane switch when the key cap When moving to the trigger position, the actuating member presses the membrane switch to generate the trigger signal. The button structure of claim 1, wherein the guiding mechanism has a flange, and the flange is formed with a notch, the actuating member is a ring having a perforation, the actuating member has a guiding post, and the actuating member The piece is sleeved to the guiding mechanism through the perforation by the guide post corresponding to the notch. The button structure of claim 1, wherein the guiding mechanism has a locking mechanism that limits the detachment of the actuator from the guiding mechanism.