TWI676195B - Keyswitch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A key structure includes a keycap, a base, a bracket, and a reinforcing member. The base is disposed below the keycap and includes a connection structure and a limiting structure. The lower connection structure has an opening facing a first direction. The bracket is connected between the keycap and the base and includes a lower connection portion. The lower connection portion is rotatably connected to the lower connection structure via the opening. The bracket is rotatable relative to the base about a second direction via the lower connection portion. The bracket has a limiting surface, and faces the limiting structure in the first direction. The reinforcing member is fixed between the limiting surface and the limiting structure adjacent to the limiting surface. Thereby, the reinforcing member strengthens the structural strength of the bracket on the limiting surface, can increase the service life of the bracket, and can restrain the bracket from being damaged during assembly.

Description

Button structure

The invention relates to a key structure, and more particularly to a mechanical key structure.

Many key structures used in notebook computers use a bracket mechanism to support the keycap and provide the keycap with up and down motion. The bracket mechanism usually includes multiple brackets connected between the keycap and the base. The movement stability of the bracket relative to the base and the keycap is achieved through the structural constraints between the bracket and the base and the keycap. Therefore, the structure of the bracket and the base and the keycap will collide in principle during the vertical movement of the keycap. After long-term use of the button structure, the restrained parts of the bracket, base, or keycap may have some deformation or damage. When the button structure is operated roughly, the aforementioned deformation or damage will become more serious. In addition, when the size of the key structure is getting smaller and smaller, the structural strength of the bracket, the base or the key cap is relatively weak, and the influence of the aforementioned deformation or damage on the stability of the operation of the key structure is also greater. In addition, when the size of the key structure is small, the bracket is usually assembled to the keycap or base by means of force extrusion. This will also cause some deformation or damage to the restrained parts of the bracket, base, or keycap. Not conducive to the stability of the operation of the key structure.

In view of the problems in the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a key structure to strengthen the structure to suppress structural deformation or damage that may occur during assembly or operation.

The key structure according to the present invention includes a keycap, a base, a bracket, and a reinforcing member. The base is disposed below the keycap and includes a connection structure and a limiting structure. The lower connection structure has an opening facing a first direction. The bracket is connected between the keycap and the base and includes a lower connection portion. The lower connection portion is rotatably connected to the lower connection structure via the opening. The bracket passes through the lower The connecting portion is rotatable relative to the base about a second direction. The bracket has a limiting surface, and faces the limiting structure in the first direction. The reinforcing member is fixed between the limiting surface and the limiting structure adjacent to the limiting surface. As a result, the part of the bracket facing the limiting structure is strengthened by the reinforcing member. Therefore, when the bracket is assembled to the base, or when the keycap moves up and down relative to the base, the bracket may undergo structural deformation or Damage can be effectively suppressed, which effectively solves the problems of the prior art.

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

1‧‧‧Key structure

10‧‧‧Keycap

102‧‧‧First upper connection structure

104‧‧‧Second upper connection structure

12‧‧‧ base

122‧‧‧ floor

124‧‧‧ thin film circuit board

1242‧‧‧Switch

126‧‧‧The first connection structure

126a‧‧‧ opening

128‧‧‧Second lower connection structure

130‧‧‧ the first limit structure

132‧‧‧Second limit structure

14‧‧‧First bracket

14a‧‧‧ protrusion

14b‧‧‧ limit surface

14c‧‧‧ lower surface

142‧‧‧First upper connecting part

144‧‧‧First lower connection

146‧‧‧slot

16‧‧‧Second bracket

162‧‧‧Second upper connecting part

164‧‧‧Second lower connection

166‧‧‧ giving way

18‧‧‧ the first magnetic piece

20‧‧‧Second magnetic part

202‧‧‧ Insertion

204‧‧‧through hole

204a‧‧‧Edge

22‧‧‧ Reinforcement

D1‧‧‧ first direction

D2‧‧‧ Second direction

F‧‧‧ magnetic attraction

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a key structure according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a partial explosion of the key structure in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the button structure in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the key structure in FIG. 1 along line X-X.

FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram of the first bracket of the button structure in FIG. 4.

See Figures 1 to 4. According to an embodiment, a key structure 1 includes a keycap 10, a base 12, a first bracket 14, a second bracket 16, a first magnetic member 18, and a second magnetic member 20. The base 12 is disposed below the keycap 10 and includes a base plate 122 and a thin-film circuit board 124. The thin-film circuit board 124 is disposed on the base plate 122 and includes a switch 1242 (illustrated by hatched circles in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and (Illustrated as a rectangle in Figure 4). The first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 are oppositely disposed and connected between the keycap 10 and the base 12. The keycap 10 is supported by the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 so as to be able to move up and down relative to the base 12 through the keycap 10. The first magnetic member 18 is disposed on the base 12, and the second magnetic member 20 is disposed on the first bracket 14 and abuts against the second bracket 16 relative to the first magnetic member 18; thereby, the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 can pass through. The second magnetic member 20 is linked. In addition, a magnetic attraction force F is generated between the first magnetic member 18 and the second magnetic member 20 (a pair of arrows The head is shown in FIG. 4). For example, one of the first magnetic member 18 and the second magnetic member 20 is a magnet, and the other is a paramagnetic material (such as a paramagnetic metal member). The magnetic force F drives the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 to move the keycap 10 to an unpressed position (as shown in FIG. 4). The user can press the keycap 10 to move it toward the base 12 to a pressing position to trigger the switch 1242 (for example, a protrusion 14 a protruding toward the switch through the first bracket 14). After the user releases the keycap 10, the magnetic attraction F drives the keycap 10 to reset (ie, move to the unpressed position).

Further, in this embodiment, the keycap 10 includes a first upper connection structure 102 and a second upper connection structure 104. The base 12 includes a first lower connecting structure 126, a second lower connecting structure 128, a first limiting structure 130 corresponding to one of the first lower connecting structures 126, and a second limiting structure corresponding to one of the second lower connecting structures 128. 132; In practice, the bottom plate 122 and the first lower connecting structure 126, the second lower connecting structure 128, the first limiting structure 130 and the second limiting structure 132 can be integrally formed (for example, stamped and formed from a metal plate) , But not limited to this. The first bracket 14 includes a first upper connection portion 142 and a first lower connection portion 144, which are rotatably connected to the first upper connection structure 102 and the first lower connection structure 126, respectively. The second bracket 16 includes a second upper connection portion 162 and a second lower connection portion 164, which are rotatably connected to the second upper connection structure 104 and the second lower connection structure 128, respectively.

The first lower connection structure 126 is substantially an L-shaped structure and has an opening 126a. The opening 126a faces a first direction D1 (indicated by arrows in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). The first lower connecting portion 144 is rotatably connected to the first lower connecting structure 126 through the opening 126a, so that the first bracket 14 can be rotated around a second direction D2 (shown by arrows in FIG. 2 and FIG. 2) through the first lower connecting portion 144. 4) Rotate relative to the base 12; in this embodiment, the first direction D1 is perpendicular to the second direction D2, but it is not limited in practice. In this embodiment, the first limiting structure 130 also restricts the movement of the first bracket 14 relative to the base 12 in the first direction D1. The first bracket 14 has a limiting surface 14b, and faces the first limiting structure 130 in the first direction D1. The key structure 1 further includes a reinforcing member 22, and the adjacent limiting surface 14b is fixed between the limiting surface 14b and the first limiting structure 130, so that the limiting surface 14b does not directly hit the first limiting structure 130. , Which in turn generates a protective first bracket 14 Effect. In principle, the hardness of the reinforcing member 22 is greater than the hardness of the first bracket 14 at the limiting surface 14 b to achieve strengthening of the first bracket 14. Generally, the first bracket 14 is made of plastic, the bottom plate 122 is made of metal, and the reinforcing member 22 is also made of metal. In addition, the reinforcing member 22 is in close contact with the limiting surface 14b, so that the reinforcing effect can be increased.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first limiting structure 130 and the first lower connecting structure 126 together form a structural restraint to prevent the first bracket 14 from disengaging from the base 12. In principle, force can be applied to the first bracket 14 and the base 12. Separation. Please refer to FIG. 5, wherein the outline of the first bracket 14 (together with the second magnetic member 20 and the reinforcing member 22) before entering the first lower connection structure 126 is shown by a dotted line. On the other hand, the first bracket 14 also needs to be pressed to force the first lower connecting portion 144 into the first lower connecting structure 126. Wherein, the first bracket 14 has a lower surface 14c, which faces the base 12 and is adjacent to the limiting surface 14b; in other words, the limiting surface 14b and the lower surface 14c correspond to both sides of an angular structure. The reinforcing member 22 is in close contact with the limiting surface 14b and is adjacent to the lower surface 14c. The thickness of the reinforcing member 22 in the first direction D1 may be designed such that the first lower connecting portion 144 enters the first lower connecting structure 126 through the opening 126a, and the reinforcing member 22 bears the mutual relationship between the reinforcing member 22 and the first lower connecting structure 126. The pressing force makes the angular structure of the first bracket 14 in principle not need to contact or reduce the area contacting the first limiting structure 130, so that the angular structure will not be damaged or protected by the reinforcing member 22 and can be avoided or reduced. damage.

In addition, in this embodiment, the second magnetic member 20 and the reinforcing member 22 are integrally formed, for example, stamped and formed from a metal plate. The first bracket 14 has at least one slot 146, and the second magnetic member 20 correspondingly includes at least one insertion portion 202, which is inserted into the corresponding slot 146 to fix the second magnetic member 20 on the first bracket 14. In practice, the second magnetic member 20 can be fixedly disposed on the first bracket 14 by way of burying and injecting, and at this time, the slot 146 is not implemented with a structure extending toward the inside of the first bracket 14. In this embodiment, the second magnetic member 20 has a through hole 204, and the reinforcing member 22 bends and extends toward the base 12 from an edge 204 a of the through hole 204 (the approximate position is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3). The first limiting structure 130 includes two ribs, which protrudes toward the keycap 10 and extends along the first direction D1 and extends into the through hole 204. In addition, in this embodiment, the opening 126a of the first lower connection structure 126 faces the first limiting structure 130 in the first direction D1, that is, the first In one direction D1, the first limiting structure 130 is located on the right side of the first lower connecting structure 126; however, this is not limited in practice. For example, the first limiting structure 130 is located on the left side of the first lower connecting structure 126. In addition, in this embodiment, the first lower connecting portion 144 can also slide relative to the base 12 in the first lower connecting structure 126, but the implementation is not limited thereto. For example, the first lower connecting portion 144 and the first lower connecting structure 126 are connected only by rotation, and the aforementioned reinforcing member 22 still has a protective effect on the limiting surface, which is not described in detail.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 16 are oppositely disposed. The second limiting structure 132 includes two ribs, which protrudes toward the keycap 10 and extends along the first direction D1, and extends into the yielding groove 166 (for example, but not limited to being implemented by a through hole) of the second bracket 16, by borrowing Therefore, the second limiting structure 132 also has a limiting effect on the second bracket 16, which is logically the same as the limiting effect of the first limiting structure 130 on the first bracket 14. In practice, a structural member similar to the reinforcing member 22 may also be provided on the surface of the positioning groove 166 facing the second limiting structure 132 to strengthen the rigidity of the second bracket 16 there. Relevant explanations about the aforementioned reinforcement 22 may be applied here, and they will not be repeated. In addition, the relative description of the relative position of the first limiting structure 130 and the first lower connecting structure 126 mentioned above is also applicable here, and will not be repeated here.

In addition, in the foregoing embodiment, the key structure 1 is described by using a magnetic key as an example, but the related description of the reinforcing member 22 can also be applied to other types of key structures, such as a butterfly key structure, and will not be described in detail.

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 (10)

A key structure includes: a keycap; a base provided under the keycap and including a lower connection structure and a limiting structure, the lower connection structure has an opening facing a first direction; a first bracket, connected Between the keycap and the base and including a lower connection part, the lower connection part is rotatably connected to the lower connection structure via the opening, and the first bracket can be opposed to the second connection part around the second direction through When the base rotates, the first bracket has a limiting surface facing the limiting structure in the first direction; and a reinforcement member is fixed between the limiting surface and the limiting structure adjacent to the limiting surface. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is closely attached to the limiting surface. The button structure according to claim 1, wherein the first bracket has a lower surface, faces the base and is adjacent to the limiting surface, and the reinforcing member is adjacent to the lower surface. The key structure according to claim 1, further comprising a second bracket, a first magnetic member and a second magnetic member, wherein the second bracket is disposed relative to the first bracket and connected to the keycap and the base. In the meantime, the first magnetic member is disposed on the base, and the second magnetic member is disposed on the first bracket with respect to the first magnetic member and abuts against the second bracket. The key structure according to claim 4, wherein the second magnetic member is integrally formed with the reinforcing member. The key structure according to claim 5, wherein the first magnetic member is a magnet and the second magnetic member is a metal member. The key structure according to claim 5, wherein the first bracket has a slot, and the second magnetic member includes an insertion portion, and is inserted into the slot. The key structure according to claim 5, wherein the second magnetic member has a through hole, the reinforcing member bends and extends from one edge of the through hole toward the base, and the limiting structure extends into the through hole. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein the limiting structure includes a rib plate protruding toward the keycap and extending along the first direction. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein the opening faces the limiting structure in the first direction.