TWI667678B - Keyboard and cap structure manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A keyboard includes a bottom plate, a plurality of keys, a keyboard frame, and a flexible cover. Each button includes a keycap and a lifting device disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap to move the keycap up and down relative to the bottom plate. The keyboard frame is disposed on the bottom plate and each button is disposed in the perforated structure of the keyboard frame such that a top surface of each of the keycaps is perpendicular to a hole supporting surface of the perforated structure and a side surface and a perforated structure of each keycap The wall surfaces of the holes are horizontally spaced apart. The flexible mask covers the button and is fixed on the edge supporting surface of the perforated structure. The thickness of the flexible mask is smaller than the horizontal spacing and the vertical spacing. When the keycap is pressed, the flexible mask produces flexural deformation. When the keycap is released, the flexibly deformable flexible mask drives the keycap back relative to the bottom plate.

Description

Keyboard and key cap structure manufacturing method thereof

The invention relates to a keyboard and a key cap structure manufacturing method thereof, in particular to a keyboard and a key cap structure manufacturing method thereof, which utilize a flexural elastic driving keycap of a flexible mask to return the key.

In terms of current personal computer usage habits, the keyboard is one of the indispensable input devices for entering text, symbols or numbers. Moreover, the consumer electronics products that are in contact with everyday life or the large-scale processing equipment used in the industry need to have a button structure as an input device to operate the above-mentioned electronic products and processing equipment.

The common button structure design is that the lifting device is disposed between the key cap and the bottom plate to move the key cap up and down relative to the bottom plate and abut the elastic member between the key cap and the bottom plate, thereby, when the user presses the key cap The elastic member can provide an elastic restoring force to the keycap, so that the keycap can return to the position before the pressing when the user stops pressing. However, since the above-mentioned elastic member abuts between the key cap and the bottom plate, it requires a large height space, which further increases the overall height of the button, and thus is disadvantageous for the application of the keyboard thinning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard and a keycap structure manufacturing method for flexibly elastically driving a keycap to be returned by a flexible mask, thereby solving the above problems.

According to an embodiment, the keyboard of the present invention includes a bottom panel, a plurality of buttons, a keyboard frame, and a flexible mask. The plurality of buttons are disposed on the bottom plate, and each button includes a keycap and a lifting device. The lifting device is disposed between the bottom plate and the key cap, and the key cap is movable up and down between the unpressed position and the pressing position relative to the bottom plate by the lifting device. The keyboard frame is disposed on the bottom plate and defines a perforation structure corresponding to the position of each button, and each button is disposed in the corresponding perforated structure such that a top surface of each of the key caps and one of the perforated structures The support faces are spaced apart from each other by a vertical spacing and such that one of the sides of each of the keycaps is spaced a horizontal distance from the wall of one of the perforated structures. The flexible cover covers the plurality of buttons and is fixed to the edge supporting surface of each of the perforated structures, the flexible mask having a body thickness and corresponding to the key cap of each button A protrusion covering structure is formed on the cover to cover the key cap of each button, and the thickness of the sheet body is smaller than the horizontal spacing and smaller than the vertical spacing. When the keycap is pressed to the pressing position, the protrusion covering structure is flexibly deformed corresponding to one of the horizontal arm portions. When the keycap is released, the side arm portion of the flexure provides a resilient force to drive the keycap up relative to the bottom plate back to the undepressed position.

According to another embodiment, the method for manufacturing a key cap structure of the present invention comprises providing a keyboard frame formed with a plurality of perforated structures, and placing the keyboard frame and the plurality of key caps in a lower mold such that each key cap is located corresponding to each other The perforated structure. One of the top surfaces of each of the keycaps is spaced from the edge of the corresponding perforated structure by a vertical distance, and one of the sides of each of the keycaps is spaced from the wall of the corresponding perforated structure by a horizontal distance. The method for manufacturing the key cap structure of the present invention further comprises applying a glue layer to a flexible mask facing one of the bottom surfaces of the plurality of keycaps or coating the top surface of each of the keycaps and each The aperture supporting surface of the perforated structure, and the flexible mask and the keyboard frame disposed in the lower mold and the plurality of keycaps are thermoformed using an upper mold to be in the flexible Forming the protrusion covering structure corresponding to each key cap on the mask, and fitting the glue layer to the hole edge supporting surface of each perforation structure and each key cap or fitting the glue layer to each The edge supporting surface of a perforated structure is interposed between the flexible mask and the top surface of each of the keycaps and the corresponding protrusion covering structure. The flexible mask has a body thickness that is less than the horizontal spacing and less than the vertical spacing. When the keycap is pressed, the protrusion covering structure is flexibly deformed corresponding to one of the horizontal arm portions. When the keycap is released, the side arm portion of the flexural deformation provides a resilient force to drive the keycap back to its original position.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a keycap structure of the present invention includes providing a keyboard frame formed with a plurality of perforated structures, and placing the keyboard frame and the plurality of keycaps in a lower mold such that each keycap is positioned Corresponding to the perforated structure. One of the top surfaces of each of the keycaps is spaced from the edge of the corresponding perforated structure by a vertical distance, and one of the sides of each of the keycaps is spaced from the wall of the corresponding perforated structure by a horizontal distance. The method for manufacturing the key cap structure of the present invention further comprises applying a glue layer to a flexible mask facing one of the bottom surfaces of the plurality of keycaps or coating the top surface of each of the keycaps and each The aperture supporting surface of the perforated structure, and the flexible mask and the keyboard frame disposed in the lower mold and the plurality of keycaps are gas-assisted by heating to form on the flexible mask Forming the protrusion covering structure corresponding to each key cap, and fitting the glue layer to the hole edge supporting surface of each perforated structure and each key cap, or bonding the glue layer to each perforated structure The edge supporting surface and the flexible mask are disposed between the top surface of each of the keycaps and the corresponding protrusion covering structure. The flexible mask has a body thickness that is less than the horizontal spacing and less than the vertical spacing. When the keycap is pressed, the protrusion covering structure is flexibly deformed corresponding to one of the horizontal arm portions. When the keycap is released, the side arm portion of the flexural deformation provides a resilient force to drive the keycap back to its original position.

Through the above design, since the present invention utilizes the elastic force generated by the flexural deformation of the flexible cover as the driving force for the automatic return of the key cap, it is not necessary to additionally arrange the elastic member having a certain structural height on the key cap and the bottom plate. Therefore, the present invention can effectively solve the problem that the elastic member configuration mentioned in the prior art increases the overall height of the button, thereby facilitating the application of the keyboard thinning.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the keyboard 10 of FIG. 1 along a section line A-A. The keyboard 10 includes a bottom plate 12, a plurality of buttons 14, a keyboard frame 16, a flexible cover 18, and a glue layer 20, and a plurality of buttons 14 are disposed on the bottom plate 12 for the user to press to perform the user's input. Features. It should be noted that the keyboard 10 can be preferably applied to a portable electronic device (such as a notebook computer or a folding keyboard device) generally having an opening and closing mechanism composed of an upper cover and a lower casing for the user to press. The function that the user wants to input is executed, but not limited thereto. Each button 14 includes a keycap 22 and a lifting device 24, and the lifting device 24 is disposed between the bottom plate 12 and the keycap 22 and can preferably be designed with a scissor foot support mechanism commonly used on keyboard keys (but not subject to this) Alternatively, other common button lift support designs, such as magnetic button design, etc., may be employed, whereby the key cap 22 is movable up and down relative to the bottom plate 12 via the lifting device 24.

The following is a detailed description of the bonding process of the button 14 and the keyboard frame 16, the flexible mask 18, and the bonding layer 20, please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and FIG. 3 is a diagram according to the present invention. A flow chart of a method for manufacturing a key cap structure proposed in an embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a process in combination with FIG. First, step 300 is performed to provide a keyboard frame 16 formed with a plurality of perforated structures 26, and the keyboard frame 16 and a plurality of key caps 22 (only two of which are shown in FIG. 4) are disposed in the lower mold 11 ( As shown in Fig. 4(a), each keycap 22 is placed on a corresponding perforated structure 26, wherein as shown in Fig. 2, the top surface 28 of each keycap 22 is aligned with the perforated structure 26. The edge support faces 30 are spaced apart from each other by a vertical spacing V, and the side faces 32 of each of the keycaps 22 are spaced from the hole wall faces 34 of the perforated structure 26 by a horizontal spacing H.

Next, step 302 is performed to apply the glue layer 20 on the bottom surface 36 of the flexible cover 18 facing the plurality of keycaps 22, and the flexible mask 18 coated with the glue layer 20 is disposed on the upper surface. Between the mold 13 and the lower mold 11 (as shown in Fig. 4(b)). After the above steps are completed, step 304 is performed, and the flexible mask 18 and the keyboard frame 16 and the plurality of key caps 22 disposed in the lower mold 11 are thermoformed using the upper mold 13 to be in the flexible mask. The protrusion cover structure 38 corresponding to each of the key caps 22 is molded on the 18, and the glue layer 20 is attached to the hole edge support surface 30 of each of the perforated structures 26 and each of the keycaps 22 (as shown in FIG. 4(c) Illustrated), thereby completing the bonding process of the flexible mask 18 with the button 14 and the keyboard frame 16 to provide the diaphragm 10 with a diaphragm protection function. As for the related description of the above-described hot press forming process, it is common in the prior art. This will not be repeated here. In this embodiment, the sheet thickness T of the flexible mask 18 is smaller than the horizontal spacing H and the vertical spacing V. Further, in practical applications, the horizontal spacing H may preferably be between 0.4 mm and 2 mm. Between the vertical spacing V, preferably between 0.7 mm and 3 mm, the thickness T of the sheet may preferably be between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, thereby ensuring that the protrusion covering structure 38 corresponds to the side of the horizontal spacing H. The arm portion 40 can have sufficient structural flexibility to produce a corresponding flexural deformation as the keycap 22 moves downward.

In this way, after the key cap 22 is joined to the lifting device 24 and the keyboard frame 16 is disposed on the bottom plate 12, the assembly of the keyboard 10 having the diaphragm protection function can be completed for the user to press, that is, when When the keycap 22 is pressed, the side arm portion 40 of the protrusion covering structure 38 corresponding to the horizontal spacing H can be flexibly deformed. Conversely, when the keycap 22 is released, the flexing and deforming side arm portion 40 can provide a resilient force. The drive keycap 22 is returned to the unpressed position, thereby producing the effect that the keycap 22 can be automatically returned for the user to perform subsequent keycap press input operations.

Through the above design, since the present invention utilizes the elastic force generated by the flexural deformation of the flexible cover as the driving force for the automatic return of the key cap, it is not necessary to additionally arrange the elastic member having a certain structural height on the key cap and the bottom plate. Therefore, the present invention can effectively solve the problem that the elastic member configuration mentioned in the prior art increases the overall height of the button, thereby facilitating the application of the keyboard thinning.

In practical applications, the configuration of the glue layer is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, please refer to FIG. 5 , which is a schematic diagram of a process for manufacturing a key cap structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. The elements having the same reference numerals as those mentioned in the above embodiments represent similar structures or functions. First, the keyboard frame 16 and a plurality of key caps 22 (only two of which are shown in FIG. 5) are disposed in the lower mold 11 such that each keycap 22 is located on the corresponding perforated structure 26, and will be glued. A layer 20 is applied to the top surface 28 of each keycap 22 and the aperture edge support surface 30 of each perforated structure 26 (as shown in Figure 5(a)), and then the flexible mask 18 is placed over Between the upper mold 13 and the lower mold 11 (as shown in Fig. 5(b)).

After the above steps are completed, the flexible mask 18 and the keyboard frame 16 and the plurality of key caps 22 disposed in the lower mold 11 are thermoformed using the upper mold 13 to shape the flexible mask 18 A protrusion covering structure 38 corresponding to each of the keycaps 22 is provided, and the glue layer 20 is adhered between the edge supporting surface 30 of each of the perforating structures 26 and the flexible mask 18 and the bonding layer 20 is attached to each The top surface 28 of the keycap 22 is disposed between the corresponding protrusion covering structure 38 (as shown in FIG. 5(c)), thereby completing the bonding process of the flexible mask 18 with the button 14 and the keyboard frame 16.

In addition, the shaping process of the flexible mask may not be limited to the hot press forming mentioned in the above embodiments, and it may also be modified by gas-assisted heating molding. For example, please 6 is a schematic diagram of a manufacturing process of a keycap structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment has the same number as the components mentioned in the above embodiments, and has similarities. Structure or function. First, the keyboard frame 16 and a plurality of key caps 22 (only two of which are shown in FIG. 6) are disposed in the lower mold 11 such that each of the keycaps 22 is located on the corresponding perforated structure 26 (eg, the sixth Figure (a)), and the glue layer 20 is applied to the bottom surface 36 of the flexible cover 18 facing the plurality of keycaps 22, and then the flexible mask coated with the glue layer 20 is applied. 18 is disposed above the lower mold 11 (as shown in FIG. 6(b)). Finally, the flexible mask 18 and the keyboard frame 16 and the plurality of key caps 22 disposed in the lower mold 11 are gas-assistedly heated. To form a protrusion covering structure 38 corresponding to each of the keycaps 22 on the flexible mask 18, and to make the glue layer 20 adhere to the edge supporting surface 30 of each of the perforating structures 26 and each of the keycaps 22 (As shown in Fig. 6(c)), the bonding process of the flexible mask 18 with the button 14 and the keyboard frame 16 is completed. As for the related description of the gas-assisted thermoforming described above, it is common in the prior art and will not be described herein.

Similarly, in the gas-assisted thermoforming process, the configuration of the bonding layer may not be limited to the bonding manner as shown in FIG. 6, for example, refer to FIG. 7, which is another embodiment according to the present invention. The schematic diagram of the manufacturing process of the proposed keycap structure manufacturing method, which has the same reference numerals as the components mentioned in the above embodiments, has a similar structure or function. First, the keyboard frame 16 and a plurality of keycaps 22 (only two of which are shown in FIG. 7) are disposed in the lower mold 11 such that each keycap 22 is located on the corresponding perforated structure 26, and will be glued. A layer 20 is applied to the top surface 28 of each of the keycaps 22 and the edge support surface 30 of each of the perforated structures 26 (as shown in Figure 7(a)), and then the flexible mask 18 is placed over Above the lower mold 11 (as shown in Fig. 7(b)). Finally, the flexible mask 18 and the keyboard frame 16 and the plurality of key caps 22 disposed in the lower mold 11 are gas-assisted and thermoformed to form a corresponding key cap 22 on the flexible mask 18. The protrusions cover the structure 38, and the glue layer 20 is adhered between the edge supporting surface 30 of each perforating structure 26 and the flexible mask 18 and the bonding layer 20 is attached to the top surface of each of the keycaps 22 28 is formed between the corresponding protrusion covering structure 38 (as shown in FIG. 7(c)), thereby completing the bonding process of the flexible mask 18 with the button 14 and the keyboard frame 16.

It is worth mentioning that, in practical applications, the present invention can adopt a design in which a keycap disassembling member is used as a keycap to bond a female member and a keycap to fit a male member. For example, refer to FIG. 8, which is based on A partial cross-sectional schematic view of a keyboard 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention, which has the same number as the elements mentioned in the above embodiments, and has similar structures or functions. This will not be repeated here. As shown in FIG. 8, the keyboard 100 includes a bottom plate 12, a plurality of buttons 102, a keyboard frame 16, a flexible cover 18, and a glue layer 20, and a plurality of buttons 102 are disposed on the bottom plate 12 for the user to press. Performing the function that the user desires to input, each button 102 includes a keycap 104 and a lifting device 24, and the keycap 104 includes a keycap fitting male member 106 and a keycap coupling female member 108, in other words, in this embodiment In the present invention, the keycap 104 is disassembled into a keycap coupling mother member 108 and a keycap fitting male member 106, so as to complete the assembly between the keycap coupling mother member 108 and the lifting device 24 and the keycap fitting. Attachment and fixing between the member 106 and the flexible mask 18, and then attaching the keycap fitting member 106 to the keycap coupling member 108 to form a keyboard 100 for the user to press. The key cap 104, thereby effectively improving the ease of button assembly. For the related description of the attachment and fixing between the keycap fitting member 106 and the flexible mask 18, reference may be made to the attachment and fixing design of the above-mentioned keycap 22 and the flexible mask 18, No longer.  The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.  

10, 100‧‧‧ keyboard

11‧‧‧ Lower mold

12‧‧‧floor

13‧‧‧Upper mold

14, 102‧‧‧ button

16‧‧‧ keyboard frame

18‧‧‧Flexible mask

20‧‧ ‧ glue layer

22, 104‧‧‧ keycap

24‧‧‧ Lifting device

26‧‧‧Perforated structure

28‧‧‧ top surface

30‧‧‧ hole edge support surface

32‧‧‧ side

34‧‧‧ hole wall

36‧‧‧ bottom

38‧‧‧Protruding cover structure

40‧‧‧ side arm section

106‧‧‧Keycap fittings

108‧‧‧Keycap combined with parent

V‧‧‧ vertical spacing

H‧‧‧ horizontal spacing

T‧‧‧Sheet thickness

300, 302, 304‧ ‧ steps

1 is a perspective view of a keyboard provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the keyboard of Figure 1 taken along section line A-A.  3 is a flow chart of a method of fabricating a keycap structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the process with the third drawing.  FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the manufacturing process of the keycap structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.  Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the process of manufacturing a keycap structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a process of manufacturing a keycap structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.  Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional, schematic view of a keyboard in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  

Claims (8)

A keyboard comprising:  a bottom plate;  A plurality of buttons are disposed on the bottom plate, each button comprising:  a keycap; and  a lifting device disposed between the bottom plate and the key cap, wherein the key cap is movable up and down between the unpressed position and the pressing position relative to the bottom plate by the lifting device;  a keyboard frame is disposed on the bottom plate and a perforation structure is formed at a position corresponding to each button, and each button is disposed in the corresponding perforated structure such that one of the top surface of each of the key caps and one of the perforated structures The hole edge support faces are spaced apart from each other by a vertical distance and such that a side of each of the keycaps is spaced from the hole wall of the perforated structure by a horizontal distance;  a flexible cover covering the plurality of buttons and fixed to the edge supporting surface of each of the perforated structures, the flexible mask having a body thickness and the key cap corresponding to each button Forming a protrusion covering structure to cover the key cap of each button, the thickness of the sheet body being less than the horizontal spacing and less than the vertical spacing;  Wherein, when the keycap is pressed to the pressing position, the protruding covering structure is flexibly deformed corresponding to one side arm portion of the horizontal spacing;  When the keycap is released, the flexurally deformed side arm portion provides a resilient force to drive the keycap up relative to the bottom plate back to the undepressed position.   The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the horizontal spacing is between 0.4 mm and 2 mm, the vertical spacing is between 0.7 mm and 3 mm, and the sheet thickness is between 0.1 mm and 1 mm. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the keyboard further comprises:  a glue layer applied to the bottom surface of the plurality of buttons of the flexible mask, the flexible mask being formed by hot pressing or gas-assisted heating molding The method shapes the protrusion covering structure corresponding to each key cap and causes the glue layer to adhere to the hole edge supporting surface of each perforated structure and each key cap.   The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the keyboard further comprises:  a glue layer applied to the top surface of each keycap and the edge supporting surface of each perforated structure, the flexible mask being shaped by hot pressing or gas-assisted heating molding The protrusion covering structure corresponding to each of the key caps is disposed such that the glue layer is adhered between the edge supporting surface of each perforated structure and the flexible mask, and is attached to the top surface of each keycap Between the corresponding raised cover structure.   The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the key cap comprises a keycap fitting male member and a keycap bonding female member, the protruding covering structure covering the keycap fitting male member, the keycap coupling with the female member being connected to The lifting device is attached to the keycap and attached to the male member. A method for manufacturing a key cap structure, comprising:  Providing a keyboard frame, the keyboard frame being formed with a plurality of perforated structures;  The keyboard frame and the plurality of key caps are disposed in the lower mold so that each of the key caps is located on the corresponding perforated structure, and one of the top surfaces of each of the keycaps is spaced from the edge supporting surface of one of the corresponding perforated structures Vertical spacing, and one side of each keycap is spaced from the wall surface of one of the corresponding perforated structures by a horizontal distance;  Applying a glue layer to a bottom surface of one of the plurality of keycaps or coating the top surface of each of the keycaps and the edge supporting surface of each of the perforated structures; as well as  The flexible mask and the keyboard frame disposed in the lower mold and the plurality of key caps are thermoformed using an upper mold to shape a corresponding key cap on the flexible mask The protrusion covers the structure, and the bonding layer is adhered to the edge supporting surface of each perforated structure and each of the key caps or the bonding layer is adhered to the edge supporting surface of each perforated structure and the Between the flexible masks and between the top surface of each of the keycaps and the corresponding raised cover structure;  Wherein the flexible mask has a body thickness, the thickness of the sheet is less than the horizontal spacing and less than the vertical spacing;  When the key cap is pressed, the protrusion covering structure is flexibly deformed corresponding to one side arm portion of the horizontal spacing;  When the keycap is released, the side arm portion of the flexural deformation provides a resilient force to drive the keycap back to its original position.   A method for manufacturing a key cap structure, comprising:  Providing a keyboard frame, the keyboard frame being formed with a plurality of perforated structures;  The keyboard frame and the plurality of key caps are disposed in the lower mold so that each of the key caps is located on the corresponding perforated structure, and one of the top surfaces of each of the keycaps is spaced from the edge supporting surface of one of the corresponding perforated structures Vertical spacing, and one side of each keycap is spaced from the wall surface of one of the corresponding perforated structures by a horizontal distance;  Applying a glue layer to a bottom surface of one of the plurality of keycaps or coating the top surface of each of the keycaps and the edge supporting surface of each of the perforated structures; as well as  Performing gas-assisted thermoforming on the flexible mask and the keyboard frame and the plurality of key caps disposed in the lower mold to shape the protrusion corresponding to each key cap on the flexible mask Covering the structure, and bonding the glue layer to the edge supporting surface of each perforated structure and each key cap, or bonding the bonding layer to the edge supporting surface of each perforated structure and the flexible Between the masks and between the top surface of each of the keycaps and the corresponding raised cover structure;  Wherein the flexible mask has a body thickness, the thickness of the sheet is less than the horizontal spacing and less than the vertical spacing;  When the key cap is pressed, the protrusion covering structure is flexibly deformed corresponding to one side arm portion of the horizontal spacing;  When the keycap is released, the side arm portion of the flexural deformation provides a resilient force to drive the keycap back to its original position.   The method for manufacturing a key cap structure according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the horizontal spacing is between 0.4 mm and 2 mm, the vertical spacing is between 0.7 mm and 3 mm, and the thickness of the sheet is between 0.1 mm and 1 mm. between.