TWI799242B - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

An input device includes a supporting plate and a balance bar. The supporting plate includes a plate body, a limiting hook, and an elastic arm. The limiting hook and the elastic arm are connected to the plate body. The balance bar has at least one end portion and a stressing portion. The end portion is limited to the plate body by the limiting hook in a pressing direction. The stressing portion is adapted for being pressed along the pressing direction to swing the balance bar. The elastic arm presses the end portion along the pressing direction.

Description

input device

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and in particular to an input device.

Notebook computers are generally equipped with keyboards and touch panels for users to input various commands and information. At present, the keys and touch pads of general keyboards are usually equipped with balance bars between the keycaps of the keys and the support plate or between the body of the touch pad and the support plate, so that when the keys and the touch pad are pressed by the user , can be evenly stressed and lowered. However, there is often a gap between the balance bar and the support plate due to manufacturing tolerances. When the buttons or the touch pad are pressed to make the balance bar move up and down, the balance bar is likely to collide with the limiting structure of the support plate to cause knocking. clicking noise.

The invention provides an input device, which can buffer and reduce the collision between the balance bar and the support plate through the elastic arm, and reduce the noise produced by the collision.

The input device of the present invention includes a support plate and a balance bar. The support plate includes a plate body, a limit hook and an elastic arm. The limit hook and the elastic arm are connected to the board body. The balance bar has at least one end portion and a force receiving portion. The end is limited to the plate body by the limit hook in a pressing direction. The force-receiving part is suitable for receiving force along the pressing direction to make the balance bar swing. The elastic arm presses the end in a pressing direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic arm includes an elastic section and a pressing section. The elastic section is connected between the pressing section and the plate body. The pressing section is suitable for pressing the end by the elastic force of the elastic section.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above board body has a supporting surface. The support surface supports the balance bar in a direction opposite to the pressing direction. The compression section is parallel to the support surface. The elastic section is inclined to the supporting surface.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned limiting hook includes a connecting section and a limiting section. The connecting section is connected between the limiting section and the board body. The limiting section limits the end in the pressing direction. The pressing section is closer to the plate body than the limiting section.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned limiting hook includes a connecting section and a limiting section. The connecting section is connected between the limiting section and the board body. The limiting section limits the end in the pressing direction. The limiting section is closer to the plate body than the pressing section.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned limiting hook has a hollow portion. The elastic arm is located in the hollow part.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned limit hook is located between the force-receiving part and the elastic arm.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned elastic arm is located between the force-receiving part and the limit hook.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned limit hook and the elastic arm are formed by bending a local structure of the support plate.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above board body has a slot. The limit hook and the elastic arm extend from the inner edge of the slot.

Based on the above, in the input device of the present invention, the support plate can press the end of the balance bar in the pressing direction through the arrangement of the elastic arm, so as to reduce the force of swinging the balance bar in the direction opposite to the pressing direction when the balance bar is actuated. Therefore, by continuously contacting and exerting force on the end of the balance bar along the pressing direction, the elastic arm can provide cushioning when the balance bar swings relative to the support plate, and reduce the collision between the balance bar and the support plate, thereby reducing the input device. The noise produced by the collision between the center balance bar and the support plate.

Various embodiments are proposed below for detailed description. However, the embodiments are only used as examples for illustration and will not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In addition, some components are omitted from the drawings in the embodiments to clearly show the technical characteristics of the present invention. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partial structure of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial structural side view of the input device in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a partial structure of the input device in FIG. 1 . At the same time, the rectangular coordinates X-Y-Z are provided to facilitate related description and reference of subsequent components.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , the input device 100 of this embodiment is, for example, a structure applied to a touch panel and includes a support plate 110, a balance bar 120 and a touch panel body (not shown), wherein the balance bar 120 is disposed on Between the touchpad body (not shown) and the support plate 110 , when the touchpad body (not shown) is pressed by the user, it can receive force uniformly and drop down. It should be noted here that the present invention does not limit the type of the input device 100. In other embodiments, the input device 100 is, for example, a key applied to a keyboard and includes a support plate 110, a balance bar 120 and a keycap (not shown). ), wherein the balance bar 120 is arranged between the keycap (not shown) and the support plate 110, so that when the keycap (not shown) is pressed by the user, it can be evenly stressed and descend.

In detail, please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the support plate 110 includes a plate body 111, a limit hook 112 and an elastic arm 113, and the limit hook 112 and the elastic arm 113 are connected on the plate body 111. The balance bar 120 has an end portion 121 and a force receiving portion 122 . The end portion 121 is limited to the plate body 111 by the limit hook 112 in a pressing direction (ie, the -Z axis direction), and the elastic arm 113 presses the end portion 121 along the pressing direction (ie, along the -Z axis direction). The force receiving portion 122 is adapted to receive force along the pressing direction (ie, along the −Z axis direction), so that the balance bar 120 swings relative to the support plate 110 .

As far as the conventional input device is concerned, when the input device (such as the touchpad body of the touchpad or the keys of the keyboard) is pressed down along the pressing direction, the force-bearing part of the balance bar will swing toward the support plate. (that is, the balance bar is in a flat state), so that the balance bar is out of contact with the limit hook, and when the user no longer applies force to the input device, the balance bar resets and swings away from the support plate (that is, the balance bar back) and interfere with the limit hook again, thus generating noise. Compared with the conventional input device, in the input device 100 of this embodiment, the support plate 110 can press the end portion 121 along the pressing direction (ie along the -Z axis direction) through the disposition of the elastic arm 113 as mentioned above. Therefore, as the elastic arm 113 continuously contacts and exerts force on the end portion 121 along the pressing direction (that is, along the -Z axis direction), the balance bar 120 can provide cushioning when the balance bar 120 swings relative to the support plate 110, and reduce the contact between the balance bar 120 and the support. The collision between the boards 110 further reduces the noise produced by the collision between the balance bar 120 and the supporting board 110 in the input device 100 .

The structure of the input device 100 is further described below.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , in the present embodiment, the balance bar 120 includes a link section 123 and a main bar section 124 which are connected. The connecting rod section 123 extends along the X axis, and the end 121 is located at one end of the connecting rod section 123 relative to the main rod section 124 . The main rod section 124 is, for example, connected to the touchpad body (not shown) and extends along the Y axis, and the force-receiving part 122 is located on the main rod section 124 .

In this embodiment, the board body 111 has an opening OP1 and a supporting surface SS. The limit hook 112 and the elastic arm 113 extend from the inner edge of the slot OP1 in a direction opposite to the pressing direction (that is, along the +Z axis direction), and the support surface SS of the plate body 111 is on a side adjacent to the slot OP1. The protrusion 114 supports the link section 123 of the balance bar 120 in a direction opposite to the pressing direction (ie, in the +Z-axis direction). The limit hook 112 has a hollow portion OP2, and the elastic arm 113 is located in the hollow portion OP2.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the limit hook 112 and the elastic arm 113 are formed by bending the local structure of the support plate 110 . In detail, the limit hook 112 includes a connection section 1121 and a limit section 1122, wherein the connection section 1121 is connected between the limit section 1122 and the plate body 111, so that the limit hook 112 is Inverted L shape. The elastic arm 113 includes an elastic section 1131 and a pressing section 1132 , wherein the elastic section 1131 is connected between the pressing section 1132 and the board body 111 .

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the limiting section 1122 is, for example, parallel to the supporting surface SS, but it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the limiting section 1122 is, for example, a semicircular structure or an ㄇ-shaped structure with a limiting function. In this embodiment, the connecting section 1121 is, for example, perpendicular to the supporting surface SS, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the connection section 1121 is connected to the support surface SS in other forms, for example. In this embodiment, the compression section 1132 is parallel to the support surface SS, but as long as the compression section 1132 can exert force on the balance pole 120 , the present invention does not limit whether the compression section 1132 is parallel to the support surface SS. In this embodiment, the elastic section 1131 is, for example, inclined to the supporting surface SS, but it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the elastic section 1131 is connected to the supporting surface SS in other forms, for example.

In more detail, please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the pressing section 1132 is closer to the plate body 111 than the limiting section 1122 in the pressing direction (ie, the -Z axis direction). The limiting section 1122 limits the end portion 121 in the pressing direction (ie, the -Z axis direction), and the pressing section 1132 is adapted to be pressed in the pressing direction (ie, the -Z axis direction) by the elastic force of the elastic section 1131 end 121 .

It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the pressing section 1132 is adapted to press the end portion 121 in the pressing direction (ie - Z-axis direction) by the elastic force of the elastic section 1131 , so that the balance bar 120 is connected The gap between the rod section 123 and the protruding portion 114 ( FIG. 1 ) in the pressing direction (ie -Z axis direction) is 0, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, when the pressing section 1132 presses the end portion 121 in the pressing direction (ie -Z axis direction) by the elastic force of the elastic section 1131 , the link section 123 of the balance bar 120 and the protruding portion The gap between 114 ( FIG. 1 ) in the pressing direction (ie - Z axis direction) may not be zero.

Accordingly, the elastic arm 113 can use the elastic force of the above-mentioned elastic section 1131 to allow the pressing section 1132 to continuously press the end 121 in the pressing direction (ie - Z axis direction), thereby reducing the force of the balance bar 120 swinging upwards. (ie force along the +Z axis direction opposite to the pressing direction). Therefore, through the setting of the elastic arm 113, even if the balance bar 120 hits the limit hook 112 when swinging, it can still effectively reduce the force of the knock, and even adjust the elastic force of the elastic section 1131 to make the balance bar The limit hook 112 cannot be hit by the 120 when swinging, so as to effectively reduce the noise produced by the collision between the balance bar 120 and the support plate 110 .

The present invention does not limit the structure and setting position of the limit hook and the elastic arm. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a partial structure of an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partial structural side view of the input device in FIG. 4 . FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a partial structure of the input device in FIG. 4 . The difference between the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and the previous embodiments lies in the structures and positions of the limit hook 112A and the elastic arm 113A of the support plate 110A shown in FIG. 4 .

Please refer to FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the limit hook 112A is located between the force receiving portion 122 and the elastic arm 113A in the X-axis direction, and the limit hook 112A and the elastic arm 113A are bent by the local structure of the support plate 110A. folded to form.

For details, please refer to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the limit hook 112A includes a connection section 1121A and a limit section 1122A, wherein the connection section 1121A is connected between the limit section 1122A and the limit section 1122A. Between the plate bodies 111, the limit hook 112A is in an inverted L shape. The elastic arm 113A includes an elastic section 1131A and a pressing section 1132A, wherein the elastic section 1131A is connected between the pressing section 1132A and the board body 111 .

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the limiting section 1122A is, for example, parallel to the supporting surface SS, but it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the limiting section 1122A is, for example, a semicircular structure or an ㄇ-shaped structure with a limiting function. In this embodiment, the connecting section 1121A is, for example, perpendicular to the supporting surface SS, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the connection section 1121A is connected to the support surface SS in other forms, for example. In this embodiment, the compression section 1132A is, for example, parallel to the support surface SS, but as long as the compression section 1132A can exert force on the balance pole 120 , the present invention does not limit whether the compression section 1132A is parallel to the support surface SS. In this embodiment, the elastic section 1131A is, for example, inclined to the supporting surface SS, but it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the elastic section 1131A is connected to the support surface SS in other forms, for example.

In more detail, please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , in this embodiment, the pressing section 1132A is closer to the plate body 111 than the limiting section 1122A in the pressing direction (ie, the -Z axis direction). The limiting section 1122A limits the end portion 121 in the pressing direction (ie, the -Z axis direction), and the pressing section 1132A is suitable for pressing in the pressing direction (ie, along the -Z axis direction) by the elastic force of the elastic section 1131A. Compression end 121 .

It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the pressing section 1132A is suitable for pressing the end portion 121 in the pressing direction (ie - Z-axis direction) by the elastic force of the elastic section 1131A, so that the balance bar 120 can be connected continuously. The gap between the rod section 123 and the protruding portion 114 ( FIG. 4 ) in the pressing direction (ie, the −Z axis direction) is 0, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, when the pressing section 1132A presses the end portion 121 in the pressing direction (ie - Z axis direction) by the elastic force of the elastic section 1131A, the link section 123 of the balance bar 120 and the protruding portion The gap between 114 ( FIG. 4 ) in the pressing direction (ie - Z axis direction) may not be zero.

Accordingly, the elastic arm 113A can use the elastic force of the above-mentioned elastic section 1131A to allow the pressing section 1132A to continuously press the end 121 in the pressing direction (ie - Z axis direction), thereby reducing the force of the balance bar 120 swinging upwards. (ie force along the +Z axis direction opposite to the pressing direction). Therefore, through the setting of the elastic arm 113A, even if the balance bar 120 hits the limit hook 112A when swinging, it can still effectively reduce the force of the knock, and even the balance bar can be adjusted by adjusting the elastic force of the elastic section 1131A. The limit hook 112A cannot be hit by the 120 when swinging, so as to effectively reduce the noise produced by the collision between the balance bar 120 and the support plate 110A.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a partial structure of an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a partial structural side view of the input device in FIG. 7 . FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a partial structure of the input device in FIG. 7 . The difference between the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 and the aforementioned embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 lies in the structure and location of the limit hook 112B and the elastic arm 113B of the support plate 110B shown in FIG. 7 .

Please refer to FIG. 7 , in this embodiment, the elastic arm 113B is located between the force receiving portion 122 and the limit hook 112B in the X-axis direction, and the limit hook 112B and the elastic arm 113B are bent by the local structure of the support plate 110B. folded to form.

For details, please refer to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the limit hook 112B includes a connecting section 1121B and a limiting section 1122B, wherein the connecting section 1121B is connected between the limiting section 1122B and the limiting section 1122B. Between the plate bodies 111, the limit hook 112B is in an inverted L shape. The elastic arm 113B includes an elastic section 1131B and a pressing section 1132B, wherein the elastic section 1131B is connected between the pressing section 1132B and the board body 111 .

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the limiting section 1122B is, for example, parallel to the supporting surface SS, but it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the limiting section 1122B is, for example, a semicircular structure or an ㄇ-shaped structure with a limiting function. In this embodiment, the connecting section 1121B is, for example, perpendicular to the supporting surface SS, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the connection section 1121B is connected to the support surface SS in other forms, for example. In this embodiment, the compression section 1132B is parallel to the support surface SS, but as long as the compression section 1132B can exert force on the balance pole 120 , the present invention does not limit whether the compression section 1132B is parallel to the support surface SS. In this embodiment, the elastic section 1131B is, for example, inclined to the supporting surface SS, but it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the elastic section 1131B is connected to the support surface SS in other forms, for example.

In more detail, please refer to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 , in this embodiment, the limiting section 1122B is closer to the plate body 111 than the pressing section 1132B in the pressing direction (ie, the −Z axis direction). The limiting section 1122B limits the end portion 121 in the pressing direction (ie, the -Z axis direction), and the pressing section 1132B is adapted to be pressed in the pressing direction (ie, the -Z axis direction) by the elastic force of the elastic section 1131B. end 121 .

It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the pressing section 1132B is adapted to press the end portion 121 in the pressing direction (ie - Z axis direction) by the elastic force of the elastic section 1131B, so that the balance bar 120 can be connected continuously. The gap between the rod section 123 and the protruding portion 114 ( FIG. 7 ) in the pressing direction (ie -Z axis direction) is 0, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, when the pressing section 1132B presses the end portion 121 in the pressing direction (ie - Z axis direction) by the elastic force of the elastic section 1131B, the link section 123 of the balance bar 120 and the protruding portion The gap between 114 ( FIG. 7 ) in the pressing direction (ie -Z axis direction) may not be zero.

Accordingly, the elastic arm 113B can use the elastic force of the elastic section 1131B to allow the pressing section 1132B to continuously press the end 121 in the pressing direction (ie - Z axis direction), thereby reducing the force of the balance bar 120 swinging upwards. (ie force along the +Z axis direction opposite to the pressing direction). Therefore, through the setting of the elastic arm 113B, even if the balance bar 120 hits the limit hook 112B when swinging, it can still effectively reduce the force of the knock, and even adjust the elastic force of the elastic section 1131B to make the balance bar The limit hook 112B cannot be hit by the 120 when swinging, so as to effectively reduce the noise produced by the collision between the balance bar 120 and the support plate 110B.

To sum up, in the input device of the present invention, the support plate can press the end of the balance bar in the pressing direction through the arrangement of the elastic arm, so as to reduce the force of the balance bar swinging in the direction opposite to the pressing direction when the balance bar is actuated. Therefore, by continuously contacting and exerting force on the end of the balance bar along the pressing direction, the elastic arm can provide cushioning when the balance bar swings relative to the support plate, and reduce the collision between the balance bar and the support plate, thereby reducing the input device. The noise produced by the collision between the center balance bar and the support plate.

100: input device 110, 110A, 110B: support plate 111: board body 112, 112A, 112B: limit hook 1121, 1121A, 1121B: connecting sections 1122, 1122A, 1122B: limit section 113, 113A, 113B: elastic arm 1131, 1131A, 1131B: elastic section 1132, 1132A, 1132B: Compression section 114: protrusion 120: balance bar 121: end 122: Receiving part 123: Connecting rod section 124: main rod section OP1: slotting OP2: hollow part SS: support surface X-Y-Z: Cartesian coordinates

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partial structure of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial structural side view of the input device in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a partial structure of the input device in FIG. 1 . Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a partial structure of an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partial structural side view of the input device in FIG. 4 . FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a partial structure of the input device in FIG. 4 . Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a partial structure of an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a partial structural side view of the input device in FIG. 7 . FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a partial structure of the input device in FIG. 7 .

100: input device

110: support plate

111: board body

112: limit hook

1121: connect the segment

1122: limit section

113: elastic arm

1131: Elastic section

1132: oppression section

114: protrusion

120: balance bar

121: end

122: Receiving part

123: Connecting rod section

124: main rod section

OP1: slotting

OP2: hollow part

SS: support surface

X-Y-Z: Cartesian coordinates

Claims (10)

An input device comprising: A support plate, including a plate body, a limit hook and an elastic arm, wherein the limit hook and the elastic arm are connected to the plate body; and A balance bar has at least one end and a force-receiving part, wherein the end is limited to the plate body by the limit hook in a pressing direction, and the force-receiving part is suitable for receiving force along the pressing direction so that the The balance bar swings, and the elastic arm presses the end along the pressing direction. The input device as claimed in item 1, wherein the elastic arm includes an elastic section and a pressing section, the elastic section is connected between the pressing section and the plate body, and the pressing section is suitable for The end is compressed by the elastic force of the elastic section. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the plate body has a support surface, the support surface supports the balance bar in a direction opposite to the pressing direction, the pressing section is parallel to the support surface, and the elastic region section is inclined to the support surface. The input device as described in claim 2, wherein the limit hook includes a connection section and a limit section, the connection section is connected between the limit section and the plate body, and the limit area A section blocks the end in the pressing direction, and the pressing section is closer to the plate body than the limiting section. The input device as described in claim 2, wherein the limit hook includes a connection section and a limit section, the connection section is connected between the limit section and the plate body, and the limit area A section blocks the end in the pressing direction, and the limiting section is closer to the plate body than the pressing section. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limit hook has a hollow portion, and the elastic arm is located in the hollow portion. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the limit hook is located between the force-receiving part and the elastic arm. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic arm is located between the force-receiving part and the limit hook. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limit hook and the elastic arm are formed by bending a local structure of the support plate. The input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the board body has a slot, and the limiting hook and the elastic arm extend from an inner edge of the slot.

Images