TWI665701B - Keyswitch - Google Patents

Abstract

A key comprises a circuit board with a trigger switch, a base plate provided on the circuit board, a key cap provided above the base plate, a support device, a base provided on the circuit board, a cover connected to the base, a spring, and an elastic structure. The supporting device is disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap and includes first and second support members. The first and second support members are movably connected to the keycap and the bottom plate and are pivotally crossed with each other so that the keycap follows the first and The cross pivot of the two supports moves up and down between the pressed position and the unpressed position. A spring is inserted into the first and second support members and abuts the keycap, and is used to drive the keycap back to the unpressed position. The elastic structure is disposed at a position corresponding to the trigger switch, and is used to depress the trigger switch when the keycap is pressed to the pressing position.

Description

button

The invention relates to a key, in particular to a key that uses an elastic structure to press down and turn on a trigger switch and uses a spring to drive a keycap to return.

In terms of current personal computer usage habits, the keyboard is one of the indispensable input devices for entering text, symbols or numbers. Not only that, for example, all consumer electronics products or large-scale processing equipment used in industry need to be provided with a key structure as an input device to operate the above-mentioned electronic products and processing equipment.

Traditional mechanical button press trigger design uses a metal spring sheet as the switch conducting element, which usually has problems of higher manufacturing cost and larger space required for the configuration of the spring sheet element. However, if other trigger designs (such as rubber washers ( rubber dome) trigger membrane switch (membrane switch design), then the operation of the buttons will feel poor. Therefore, how to take into account the key operation feel and the thin design of the keys is one of the important issues in the current design of the triggering of the keys.

Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a push-down trigger switch using an elastic structure and a key that uses a spring to drive the key cap to return to solve the above problems.

According to an embodiment, the key of the present invention includes a circuit board, a bottom plate, a keycap, a supporting device, a base, an upper cover, a spring, and an elastic structure. The circuit board has a trigger switch. The bottom plate is disposed on the circuit board. The keycap is disposed above the bottom plate. The supporting device is disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap and includes a first supporting member and a second supporting member. The support member and the second support member are movably connected to the keycap and the bottom plate and are pivotally crossed with each other, so that the keycap is pivoted relative to the bottom plate with the cross of the first support member and the second support member. Move up and down between a pressed position and an unpressed position. The base is disposed on the circuit board. The upper cover is connected to the base. The spring passes through the first support and the second support and abuts the keycap, and is used to drive the keycap back to the unpressed position. The elastic structure is disposed at a position corresponding to the trigger switch, and is used to trigger the trigger switch when the keycap is pressed to the pressing position.

In summary, since the present invention adopts a design in which the trigger switch is deformed by deforming the elastic structure to replace the traditional mechanical button design using a metal spring sheet as the switch conducting element, the present invention can effectively solve the problem in the prior art. The traditional mechanical keys mentioned above have higher manufacturing costs and larger space required for the configuration of the spring element. In addition, the above-mentioned design using the spring-driven keycap to return can further maintain the machinery provided by the mechanical keys. The springback feel is greatly improved, which greatly improves the button feel.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood through the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

12‧‧‧Circuit Board

13‧‧‧Trigger switch

14‧‧‧ floor

16‧‧‧Keycap

18‧‧‧ support device

20‧‧‧ base

22‧‧‧ Upper cover

24‧‧‧Spring

28‧‧‧first support

30‧‧‧Second support

32‧‧‧ force arm

34‧‧‧light-emitting diode

36‧‧‧ substrate layer

38‧‧‧ Septum

40‧‧‧light-emitting diode circuit layer

42‧‧‧First trigger circuit

44‧‧‧Second trigger circuit

10, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350‧‧‧ buttons

26, 102, 152, 202, 252, 302, 352‧‧‧ elastic structure

104, 154, 304, 354‧‧‧ bumps

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a button according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an explosion diagram of the button in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button of Fig. 1 along the section line A-A.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the keycap of FIG. 3 being pressed to a pressing position.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key according to another embodiment of the present invention when a keycap is not pressed.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button in FIG. 5 when the keycap is pressed.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a key according to another embodiment of the present invention when a keycap is not pressed; intention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key of FIG. 7 when the keycap is pressed.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key according to another embodiment of the present invention when a keycap is not pressed.

Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key of Fig. 9 when the keycap is pressed.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key according to another embodiment of the present invention when a keycap is not pressed.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button in FIG. 11 when the keycap is pressed.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key according to another embodiment of the present invention when a keycap is not pressed.

FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button in FIG. 13 when the keycap is pressed.

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key according to another embodiment of the present invention when a keycap is not pressed.

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button of FIG. 15 when the keycap is pressed.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the button 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of the button 10 of FIG. The internal structure of 10, the keycap 16 is briefly shown with a perspective dotted line. The key 10 can be applied to a portable electronic device (such as a notebook computer keyboard or a foldable keyboard device) that generally has an opening and closing mechanism composed of an upper cover and a lower case for the user to press and perform the input desired by the user Functions, but not limited to this. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the key 10 includes a circuit board 12, a bottom plate 14, a key cap 16, a support device 18, a base 20, an upper cover 22, a spring 24, and an elastic structure 26. The circuit board 12 may have a trigger switch 13, wherein the circuit board 12 may be a membrane and the trigger switch 13 is a membrane switch. The bottom plate 14 is disposed on the circuit board 12, and the keycap 16 is disposed above the bottom plate 14. The supporting device 18 is disposed between the bottom plate 14 and the keycap 16. The supporting device 18 includes a first supporting member 28 and a second supporting member 30. The first supporting member 28 and the second supporting member 30 are movably connected to the keycap. 16 and the bottom plate 14 are pivotally crossed with each other, whereby the keycap 16 can pass through the scissor connection design of the first support member 28 and the second support member 30 and follow the design of the first support member 28 and the second support member 30. The cross pivot moves up and down with respect to the bottom plate 14 between a pressed position and a non-pressed position. The base 20 is disposed on the circuit board 12, the upper cover 22 is connected to the base 20, the spring 24 is penetrated in the first support 28 and the second support 30 and abuts the keycap 16 (for example, the spring 24 can abut the base 20 (or other key components that can support the spring 24, such as the circuit board 12, the upper cover 22, etc.) and pass through the upper cover 22 to abut the keycap 16, but not limited to this. Return to the unpressed position.

In terms of the trigger trigger design of the button 10, refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, which is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button 10 of FIG. 1 along the section line AA, and FIG. 4 is the key cap 16 of FIG. A schematic cross-sectional view of being pressed to the pressing position, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the trigger switch 13 is located outside the base 20, and the elastic structure 26 is preferably a rubber dome (rubber dome). ) And is disposed on the circuit board 12 at a position corresponding to the trigger switch 13, the first support member 28 may preferably extend toward the elastic structure 26 to form a force applying arm 32, thereby, when the keycap 16 moves from the position shown in FIG. 3 When the unpressed position shown is pressed by an external force and moves with the relative pivoting of the first support member 28 and the second support member 30 to the pressing position as shown in FIG. 4, the force application arm 32 can follow the first The pivoting and pressing of the support member 28 deforms the elastic structure 26 to trigger the trigger switch 13, so that the button 10 can perform the function input by the user. On the other hand, when the external force is released, the spring 24 can drive the keycap 16 from the pressed position as shown in FIG. 4 to the unpressed position as shown in FIG. 3 to generate an automatic return effect so that The user performs subsequent pressing operations.

In this way, because the present invention adopts a design that the trigger switch is triggered by the support member pressing down the elastic structure to replace the traditional mechanical button design using a metal spring sheet as the switch conducting element, the present invention can effectively solve the previous The traditional mechanical keys mentioned in the technology have higher manufacturing costs and more space required for the configuration of the spring element. In addition, the spring drives the keycap back using the spring. The design of the position can further retain the mechanical rebound feel provided by the mechanical keys, thereby greatly improving the operating feel of the keys.

In practical applications, the present invention can selectively adopt a button light-emitting design and further adopt a thin-film circuit board and a light-emitting diode circuit board integrated design to reduce the overall height of the button and facilitate the thin design of the button. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the key 10 may further include a light emitting diode 34, and the circuit board 12 may include a substrate layer 36, a spacer layer 38, and a light emitting diode circuit layer. 40. The light-emitting diode 34 is disposed at a position of the light-emitting diode circuit layer 40 corresponding to the spring 24 to emit light through the spring 24 and enter the keycap 16 so as to achieve a key light-emitting effect. The trigger switch 13 may include a first trigger circuit 42 and a second trigger circuit 44. The first trigger circuit 42 is provided on the substrate layer 36, and the second trigger circuit 44 is provided on the light-emitting diode circuit layer 40 and the spacer layer 38. Connected between the base material layer 36 and the light-emitting diode circuit layer 40 so that the first trigger circuit 42 and the second trigger circuit 44 are spaced apart from each other, thereby, when the keycap 16 is pressed as shown in FIG. 4 When the pressing position is shown, the elastic structure 26 presses the base material layer 36 to dent and deform so that the first trigger circuit 42 and the second trigger circuit 44 contact the trigger switch 13.

It is worth mentioning that the configuration of the elastic structure is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 5 shows a key 100 on a key according to another embodiment of the present invention. A cross-sectional view of the cap 16 when it is not pressed. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the key 100 of FIG. 5 when the key cap 16 is pressed. In this embodiment, the components mentioned in the above embodiments have the same number. It means that it has the same structure or function, and its related description is not repeated here. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the key 100 includes a circuit board 12, a bottom plate 14, a key cap 16, a support device 18, a base 20, an upper cover 22, a spring 24, and an elastic structure 102. In this embodiment, the trigger switch 13 is provided at a position corresponding to the spring 24, the elastic structure 102 is preferably a rubber washer and is accommodated in the spring 24, and the keycap 16 is formed to protrude toward the elastic structure 102 There is a bump 104, so that when the keycap 16 is pressed by an external force from the unpressed position as shown in FIG. 5, it moves downward as the relative pivot of the first support 28 and the second support 30 to the sixth In the pressing position shown in the figure, the bump 104 is capable of resisting the elastic structure 102 to deform the underlying substrate layer. The depression 36 is deformed, so that the first trigger circuit 42 and the second trigger circuit 44 contact the trigger switch 13. In this way, the button 100 can perform the function that the user wants to input.

In addition, the structural design of the elastic structure is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 7 shows a key 150 on a key according to another embodiment of the present invention. A schematic cross-sectional view of the cap 16 when it is not pressed. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key 150 of FIG. 7 when the key cap 16 is pressed. In this embodiment, the components mentioned in the above embodiments have the same number. It means that it has the same structure or function, and its related description is not repeated here. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the key 150 includes a circuit board 12, a bottom plate 14, a key cap 16, a support device 18, a base 20, an upper cover 22, a spring 24, and an elastic structure 152. In this embodiment, The trigger switch 13 is located outside the base 20, the elastic structure 152 is preferably a bending force arm protruding from the bottom plate 14, and the keycap 16 is formed to protrude toward the elastic structure 152 with a bump 154. Thereby, when the keycap 16 is pressed by the external force from the unpressed position as shown in FIG. 7, it moves to the pressing as shown in FIG. 8 with the relative pivoting of the first support 28 and the second support 30. In the position, the bump 154 can press the bending force-applying arm to compress the depression of the base material layer 36, thereby causing the first trigger circuit 42 and the second trigger circuit 44 to contact the trigger switch 13, so that the button 150 It can perform the functions that the user wants to input.

In practical applications, the formation position of the bending force applying arm may not be limited to the above embodiment, and may be changed according to the actual application requirements of the keys. For example, see FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, and FIG. 9 The figure is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention when the keycap 16 is not pressed. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button 200 of FIG. 9 when the keycap 16 is pressed. Examples having the same numbers as the elements mentioned in the above embodiments indicate that they have the same structure or function, and their descriptions are not repeated here. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the key 200 includes a circuit board 12, a bottom plate 14, a key cap 16, a supporting device 18, a base 20, an upper cover 22, a spring 24, and an elastic structure 202. In this embodiment, The trigger switch 13 is located outside the base 20, and the elastic structure 202 is preferably a bending force arm formed by extending from the keycap 16 toward the trigger switch 13. Thus, when the keycap 16 moves from the position shown in FIG. Show it When the unpressed position is pressed by external force and moves with the relative pivoting of the first support member 28 and the second support member 30 to the pressing position as shown in FIG. 10, the bending force arm presses the base material layer 36 to be depressed. It is deformed to make the first trigger circuit 42 and the second trigger circuit 44 contact the trigger switch 13. In this way, the button 200 can perform the function that the user wants to input.

In addition, please refer to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key 250 according to another embodiment of the present invention when the key cap 16 is not pressed, and FIG. 12 is the key 250 of FIG. 11. A schematic cross-sectional view of the keycap 16 when it is pressed. In this embodiment, the components with the same numbers as those mentioned in the above embodiment represent the same structure or function, and the related descriptions are not repeated here. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the key 250 includes a circuit board 12, a bottom plate 14, a key cap 16, a supporting device 18, a base 20, an upper cover 22, a spring 24, and an elastic structure 252. In this embodiment, The trigger switch 13 is located outside the base 20, and the elastic structure 252 is preferably a bending force arm extending from the first support member 28 toward the trigger switch 13 (but not limited to this, it can also use elasticity) The structure is a design of a bending force applying arm extending from the second support member toward the trigger switch). As a result, when the keycap 16 is pressed by the external force from the unpressed position as shown in FIG. When the relative pivoting of the member 28 and the second support member 30 moves downward to the pressing position as shown in FIG. 12, the bending force applying arm presses the base material layer 36 to dent and deform to make the first trigger circuit 42 and the second trigger. The circuit 44 is in contact with the trigger switch 13. In this way, the button 250 can perform the function that the user wants to input.

In addition, please refer to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention when the key cap 16 is not pressed, and FIG. 14 is the key 300 of FIG. 13. A schematic cross-sectional view of the keycap 16 when it is pressed. In this embodiment, the components with the same numbers as those mentioned in the above embodiment represent the same structure or function, and the related descriptions are not repeated here. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the key 300 includes a circuit board 12, a bottom plate 14, a key cap 16, a supporting device 18, a base 20, an upper cover 22, a spring 24, and an elastic structure 302. In this embodiment, The trigger switch 13 is located outside the base 20, and the elastic structure 302 is preferably formed by extending from the upper cover 22 toward the trigger switch 13. The bending force-applying arm, and the keycap 16 is formed with a protrusion 304 protruding toward the elastic structure 302, thereby, when the keycap 16 is pressed by the external force from the unpressed position as shown in FIG. When the relative pivoting movement of one of the support members 28 and the second support member 30 moves down to the pressing position as shown in FIG. 14, the bump 154 is capable of pressing down the bending force arm to dent and deform the base material layer 36 to The first trigger circuit 42 and the second trigger circuit 44 are contacted to turn on the trigger switch 13. In this way, the button 300 can perform the function that the user wants to input.

In addition, please refer to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16. FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the key 350 according to another embodiment of the present invention when the key cap 16 is not pressed, and FIG. 16 is the key 350 of FIG. 15. A schematic cross-sectional view of the keycap 16 when it is pressed. In this embodiment, the components with the same numbers as those mentioned in the above embodiment represent the same structure or function, and the related descriptions are not repeated here. As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the key 350 includes a circuit board 12, a bottom plate 14, a key cap 16, a supporting device 18, a base 20, an upper cover 22, a spring 24, and an elastic structure 352. In this embodiment, The trigger switch 13 is located outside the base 20, the elastic structure 352 is preferably a bending force arm extending from the base 20 toward the trigger switch 13, and the keycap 16 is formed to protrude toward the elastic structure 352 The bump 354, thereby, when the keycap 16 is pressed by an external force from the unpressed position as shown in FIG. 15 and moves with the relative pivoting of the first support 28 and the second support 30 to FIG. 16 In the pressing position shown, the bump 354 can press down the bending force-applying arm against the depression of the base material layer 36 to deform the first trigger circuit 42 and the second trigger circuit 44 to turn on the trigger switch 13. The key 350 is used to execute the function that the user wants to input.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

A key comprises: a circuit board having a trigger switch; a base plate provided on the circuit board; a key cap provided on the base plate; a support device provided on the base plate and the key A first support member and a second support member are included between the caps, and the first support member and the second support member are movably connected to the keycap and the bottom plate and are pivotally crossed with each other, so that the keycap follows The cross pivoting on the first support member and the second support member moves up and down relative to the base plate between a pressed position and an unpressed position; a base is provided on the circuit board; an upper cover is connected At the base; a spring running through the first support and the second support and abutting the keycap to drive the keycap back to the unpressed position; and an elastic structure, It is set at a position corresponding to the trigger switch, the trigger switch is located outside the base, and the elastic structure is a bending force arm extending from the keycap toward the trigger switch, and when the keycap is pressed to the When the position is pressed, the bend The pressure applied to the trigger arm of the trigger switch. A key comprises: a circuit board having a trigger switch; a base plate provided on the circuit board; a key cap provided on the base plate; a support device provided on the base plate and the key A first support member and a second support member are included between the caps, and the first support member and the second support member are movably connected to the keycap and the bottom plate and are pivotally crossed with each other, so that the keycap follows The cross pivoting on the first support member and the second support member moves up and down relative to the base plate between a pressed position and an unpressed position; a base is provided on the circuit board; an upper cover is connected At the base; a spring running through the first support and the second support and abutting the keycap to drive the keycap back to the unpressed position; and an elastic structure, It is arranged at a position corresponding to the trigger switch, the trigger switch is located outside the base, and the elastic structure is a bending force applying arm extending from the first support toward the trigger switch, and when the keycap is pressed, To the pressing position As applied to the bent arm at a first pivot support member of the pressure switch triggers the trigger switch. A key comprises: a circuit board having a trigger switch; a base plate provided on the circuit board; a key cap provided on the base plate; a support device provided on the base plate and the key A first support member and a second support member are included between the caps, and the first support member and the second support member are movably connected to the keycap and the bottom plate and are pivotally crossed with each other, so that the keycap follows The cross pivoting on the first support member and the second support member moves up and down relative to the base plate between a pressed position and an unpressed position; a base is provided on the circuit board; an upper cover is connected At the base; a spring running through the first support and the second support and abutting the keycap to drive the keycap back to the unpressed position; and an elastic structure, The trigger switch is located at a position corresponding to the trigger switch. The trigger switch is located outside the base. The elastic structure is a bending force applying arm extending from the upper cover toward the trigger switch, and the keycap protrudes toward the elastic structure. Formed with a convex When the keycap is pressed into the pressing position, the pressing of the bump contacts of the contact arm is bent hair is applied to the trigger switch. A key comprises: a circuit board having a trigger switch; a base plate provided on the circuit board; a key cap provided on the base plate; a support device provided on the base plate and the key A first support member and a second support member are included between the caps, and the first support member and the second support member are movably connected to the keycap and the bottom plate and are pivotally crossed with each other, so that the keycap follows The cross pivoting on the first support member and the second support member moves up and down relative to the base plate between a pressed position and an unpressed position; a base is provided on the circuit board; an upper cover is connected At the base; a spring running through the first support and the second support and abutting the keycap to drive the keycap back to the unpressed position; and an elastic structure, The trigger switch is located at a position corresponding to the trigger switch. The trigger switch is located outside the base. The elastic structure is a bending force arm extending from the base toward the trigger switch, and the keycap protrudes toward the elastic structure. Formed with a convex When the keycap is pressed into the pressing position, the pressing of the bump contacts of the contact arm is bent hair is applied to the trigger switch. The button according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the circuit board is a membrane circuit board (membrane), and the trigger switch is a membrane switch (membrane switcb). The button according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the button further comprises a light emitting diode, the circuit board includes a substrate layer, a spacer layer, and a light emitting diode circuit layer, the The light-emitting diode is disposed at a position of the light-emitting diode circuit layer corresponding to the spring to emit light through the spring and enter the keycap. The trigger switch includes a first trigger circuit and a second trigger circuit. A trigger circuit is disposed on the substrate layer, the second trigger circuit is disposed on the light-emitting diode circuit layer, and the spacer layer is connected between the substrate layer and the light-emitting diode circuit layer to enable the first trigger The circuit and the second trigger circuit are spaced apart from each other. When the keycap is pressed to the pressing position, the elastic structure pushes down the substrate layer to make the first trigger circuit and the second trigger circuit contact and conduct. Trigger the trigger switch.