TWM459444U - Keyswitch - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a keyswitch. The keyswitch includes a casing, a key cap, and a support device. The casing includes a first attracting area and a first guiding part, wherein the first guiding part defines a guiding path. The key cap includes a second guiding part disposed corresponding to the first guiding part. The key cap is able to move along the guiding path by the engaging of the second guiding part and the first guiding part. The supporting device is disposed between the casing and the key cap, wherein the supporting device includes a first end, a second end, and a bending part. The first end in rotatably connected to the key cap. The second end includes a second attracting area, wherein a magnetic attraction force exists between the first attracting area and the second attracting area that are disposed with respect to each other. The bending part is disposed between the first end and the second end. When the key cap is in a position other than the non-pressed position, the magnetic force drives the key cap move toward the non-pressed position along the guiding path.

Description

button

The present invention relates to a button.

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.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a cross-sectional view of the prior art button 1 . As shown in FIG. 1, the button 1 includes a keycap 12, a substrate 14, a support device 16, and an elastic member 18. The support device 16 is disposed between the keycap 12 and the substrate 14 for supporting the keycap 12. The elastic member 18 is also disposed between the keycap 12 and the substrate 14. When the keycap 12 is pressed by the user, the elastic member 18 provides an elastic restoring force of the keycap 12 to return the keycap 12 to the position before pressing. Since the elastic member 18 is often made of rubber, the rubber may be fatigued under long-term use, thereby shortening the service life of the button 1. Further, when the button 1 is required to lower the height, the elastic member 18 must also be lowered in height, causing a problem of insufficient elasticity.

On the other hand, the user's pressing feel on the keyboard depends to a considerable extent on the stroke size of the keycap movement. Larger travel strokes usually result in a better feel. The user generally presses the keycap 12 downward, that is, the direction in which the force is applied is perpendicular to the substrate 14. In the prior art, the stroke size of the keycap 12 movement depends on the distance between the keycap 12 and the substrate 14 that is perpendicular to the substrate 14. However, in order to cope with the trend of thinning of the electronic device, the thickness of the keyboard 1 is reduced. As such, the distance between the keycap 12 and the substrate 14 perpendicular to the substrate 14 is shortened, which may result in deterioration of the pressing feel.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a button with a long service life.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a button with a low height and a good hand.

The key of the present invention comprises a substrate, a keycap and a supporting device. The substrate has a first magnetic region and a first guiding member, the first guiding member defining a guiding path. The key cap has a second guiding member disposed corresponding to the first guiding member, and the key cap can be moved along the guiding path relative to the substrate by the second guiding member abutting the first guiding member. The supporting device is disposed between the substrate and the keycap, and includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a bent portion. The first end is rotatably coupled to the keycap. The second end portion has a second magnetic region, and the second magnetic region and the first magnetic region have magnetic attraction and position corresponding. The bent portion is disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, and the first end portion and the second end portion are at an angle to the bent portion. Wherein, when the key cap is located at a position other than the unpressed position, the magnetic attraction causes the keycap to move along the guiding path to the unpressed position.

The direction of movement of the first end portion and the keycap connection portion is parallel to the direction of the guiding path. The bending portion abuts against the substrate. When the key cap is pressed by an external force and the external force is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction force, the second end portion rotates with the bending portion as a fulcrum, so that the second magnetic region is away from the first magnetic region, and the key edge is The guiding path moves away from the unpressed position; when the external force is released, the first magnetic region and the second magnetic region are magnetically attracted, and the second end portion drives the supporting device to rotate with the bending portion as a fulcrum, so that the second magnetic region is close to the first magnetic portion The zone and the keycap move along the guiding path to the unpressed position. Wherein the bent portion is rotatably connected to the substrate.

The moving direction of the portion where the first end portion is connected to the key cap is parallel to the direction of the guiding path. At least one of the first guiding member and the second guiding member is a slider having a slope. One of the first guiding member and the second guiding member is a plate-like structure, and the other is a U-shaped groove into which the plate-like structure can be inserted. One of the first guiding member and the second guiding member is a spigot, and the other is a guiding slot for insertion of the spigot.

In various embodiments, the first magnetic zone can be disposed on the keycap, that is, the keycap has a first magnetic zone and a second guide disposed corresponding to the first guide. Wherein the bending portion abuts against the key cap, when the key cap is pressed by an external force, and the external force is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction force, the second end portion rotates with the bending portion as a fulcrum, so that the second magnetic region is away from the first magnetic region, and The key cap moves away from the unpressed position along the guiding path; when the external force is released, the first magnetic region and the second magnetic region are magnetically attracted, and the second end portion drives the supporting device to rotate with the bending portion as a fulcrum, so that the second magnetic region is close to First magnetic zone, and key The brim guide path moves to the unpressed position. Wherein the bent portion is rotatably connected to the key cap.

1‧‧‧ button

12‧‧‧Key Cap

14‧‧‧Substrate

16‧‧‧Support device

18‧‧‧Flexible parts

100‧‧‧Substrate

101‧‧‧First Magnetic Zone

130‧‧‧First guide

131‧‧‧Bevel

200‧‧‧Key Cap

210‧‧‧ shaft

211‧‧‧ Sockets

230‧‧‧Second guide

231‧‧‧Bevel

300‧‧‧Support device

301‧‧‧Second magnetic zone

310‧‧‧First end

311‧‧‧ Set of holes

320‧‧‧second end

330‧‧‧Bends

331‧‧‧ shaft

410‧‧‧Guided path

510‧‧‧Unpressed position

800‧‧‧ button

F‧‧‧External force

Γ‧‧‧ angle

Θ‧‧‧ angle

1 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are the second guide members of the present invention. FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are schematic diagrams showing an embodiment in which the first guiding member is a plate-shaped structure, and the second guiding member is a U-shaped groove into which the plate-like structure can be inserted; 5A and 5B are schematic views showing an embodiment in which the second guiding member is a spigot, and the first guiding member is a guiding slot for inserting the spigot; FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are the same as the bending portion and the substrate. A schematic view of an embodiment in which the rotating shaft is rotatably connected; and FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic views of different embodiments in which the first magnetic region is disposed on the key cap.

2A and 2B, the button 800 of the present invention includes a substrate 100, a keycap 200, and a support device 300. The substrate 100 has a first magnetic region 101 and a first guiding member 130, and the first guiding member 130 defines a guiding path 410. The key cap 200 has a second guiding member 230 corresponding to the first guiding member 130. The keying member 200 can be abutted against the first guiding member 130 by the second guiding member 230, and is guided along the substrate 100. The routing path 410 moves. Specifically, in this embodiment, the first guiding member 130 is a slider having a slope 131, and the guiding path 410 is a path extending along the inclined surface 131. The second guiding member 230 is a slider having a sloped surface 231 corresponding to the inclined surface 131 and abutting each other.

The supporting device 300 is disposed between the substrate 100 and the keycap 200 and includes a first end portion 310, a second end portion 320, and a bent portion 330. The first end portion 310 is rotatably coupled to the keycap 200. The second end portion 320 has a second magnetic region 301, and the second magnetic region 301 and the first magnetic region 101 have magnetic attraction and position corresponding thereto. One of the first magnetic region 101 and the second magnetic region 301 may be a magnetic member (for example, a magnet), of which the first magnetic region 101 and the second magnetic region 301 are The other may be a magnetic member (eg, a magnet) or a magnetically conductive material (eg, iron or other metal). The bent portion 330 is disposed between the first end portion 310 and the second end portion 320. The first end portion 310 and the second end portion 320 are at an angle θ of the bent portion, and the angle θ is preferably greater than 90°. Wherein, when the keycap 200 is located at a position other than the unpressed position 510, the magnetic attraction moves the keycap 200 along the guiding path 410 to the unpressed position 510.

Specifically, as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, when the keycap 200 is not pressed by an external force, the bent portion 330 abuts against the substrate 100, and the keycap 200 is located at the unpressed position 510. When the keycap 200 is pressed by the external force F as shown in FIG. 2B, and the external force F is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction existing between the second magnetic region 301 and the first magnetic region 101, the second end portion 320 is bent at the portion 330. The fulcrum rotates to move the second magnetic region 301 away from the first magnetic region 101, and the key cap 200 moves along the guiding path 410 away from the unpressed position 510 shown in FIG. 2A; when the external force F is released, the first magnetic region 101 and the first The second magnetic portion 301 is magnetically attracted, and the second end portion 320 drives the supporting device 300 to rotate with the bending portion 330 as a fulcrum, so that the second magnetic region 301 is close to the first magnetic region 101, and the key cap 200 is pressed along the guiding path 410. Position 510 moves until keycap 200 returns to undepressed position 510 as shown in Figure 2A. The moving direction of the connection portion of the first end portion 310 and the keycap 200 is parallel to the direction of the guiding path 410.

Since the present invention does not need to install the elastic member in the conventional button, it has a long service life. On the other hand, the keycap 200 of the present invention moves along the guiding path 410. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the user generally presses the keycap 200 downward, that is, the direction of the external force F applied is vertical. In the substrate 100, the guiding path 410 is preferably inclined in the direction of the external force F, that is, at an angle γ with the substrate 100. In other words, when the user presses the keycap 200 downward in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 100, the keycap 200 is actually moved in a direction oblique to the guiding path 410 of the substrate 100. Thereby, the movement stroke of the keycap 200 when the user presses the keycap 200 can be increased, so that the user can obtain a better pressing feel.

As shown in the perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2C, the first guiding member 130 and the corresponding second guiding member 230 are each arranged at four positions, and are respectively disposed at positions corresponding to the four corners of the keycap 200. This number and position can be varied as needed to make the movement of the keycap 200 more stable when stressed. On the other hand, the connection of the first end portion 310 to the keycap 200 is not limited to the rotation shaft 210 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and may be achieved by the sleeve hole 311 and the socket member 211 as shown in FIG. 2C.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the second guiding member 230 has The sliders of the inclined surfaces 231 correspond to the inclined surfaces 131 and abut each other, which can increase the contact area between the first guiding member 130 and the second guiding member 230, so that the movement of the keycap 200 relative to the substrate 100 is more stable. However, in various embodiments, the first guide member 130 and the second guide member 230 may have different designs depending on manufacturing or use requirements. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the second guiding member 230 is a slider having no inclined surface, and has a smaller thickness and a smaller volume than the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A. Thereby, the friction between the first guiding member 130 and the second guiding member 230 can be reduced, and the cost of materials can be reduced.

In different embodiments, one of the first guiding member 130 and the second guiding member 230 is a plate-like structure, and the other is a U-shaped groove into which the plate-like structure can be inserted. Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first guiding member 130 is a plate-like structure, and the second guiding member 230 is a U-shaped groove into which the plate-like structure can be inserted. In addition, one of the first guiding member 130 and the second guiding member 230 is a spigot, and the other is a guiding slot for inserting the spigot. Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the second guiding member 230 is a spigot, and the first guiding member 130 is a guiding slot for inserting the spigot.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the bent portion 330 abuts only the substrate 100. However, in different embodiments as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the bent portion 330 and the substrate 100 are rotatably coupled by the rotating shaft 331. Thereby, the keycap 200 can be restricted from being detached from the substrate 100, and the stability of the movement of the keycap 200 when the force is applied can be further improved.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in different embodiments, the first magnetic region 101 can be disposed on the keycap 200, that is, the keycap 200 has a first magnetic region 101 and a second corresponding to the first guiding member 130. Guide member 230. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the keycap 200 is not pressed by an external force, the bent portion 330 abuts against the keycap 200, and the keycap 200 is located at the unpressed position 510. When the keycap 200 is pressed by the external force F as shown in FIG. 7B, and the external force F is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction force, the second end portion 320 is rotated with the bending portion 330 as a fulcrum, so that the second magnetic region 301 is away from the first magnetic region 101. The key cap 200 moves away from the unpressed position 510 along the guiding path 410; when the external force F is released, the first magnetic region 101 and the second magnetic region 301 are magnetically attracted, and the second end portion 320 drives the supporting device 300 to bend the portion 330. Rotating the fulcrum causes the second magnetic zone 301 to approach the first magnetic zone 101, and the keycap 200 moves along the guiding path 410 to the undepressed position 510 until the keycap 200 returns to the undepressed position 510 as shown in Figure 7A. Wherein, the bending portion 330 and the key cap 200 can be further rotatably connected by using a rotating shaft or the like. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, no further description is provided.

While the foregoing description and drawings have disclosed the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that various modifications, and various modifications and substitutions may be used in the preferred embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The spirit and scope of this new principle. Modifications of the various forms, structures, arrangements, ratios, materials, components and components may be made by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered as illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims and covers the legal equivalents thereof and is not limited to the foregoing description.

100‧‧‧Substrate

101‧‧‧First Magnetic Zone

130‧‧‧First guide

131‧‧‧Bevel

200‧‧‧Key Cap

210‧‧‧ shaft

230‧‧‧Second guide

231‧‧‧Bevel

300‧‧‧Support device

301‧‧‧Second magnetic zone

310‧‧‧First end

320‧‧‧second end

330‧‧‧Bends

410‧‧‧Guided path

510‧‧‧Unpressed position

800‧‧‧ button

Γ‧‧‧ angle

Θ‧‧‧ angle

Claims (11)

A button includes: a substrate having a first magnetic region and a first guiding member, the first guiding member defining a guiding path; and a key cap having a corresponding setting with the first guiding member a second guiding member, the key cap is movable along the guiding path relative to the substrate by the second guiding member abutting the first guiding member; and a supporting device disposed on the substrate And the key cap includes: a first end portion rotatably connected to the key cap; a second end portion having a second magnetic region, the second magnetic region and the first magnetic region a magnetic attraction and a corresponding position; and a bent portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion and the second end portion being at an angle to the bent portion; Wherein, when the keycap is located at a position other than the unpressed position, the magnetic force moves the keycap along the guiding path to the unpressed position. A button includes: a substrate having a first guiding member, the first guiding member defining a guiding path; a keycap having a first magnetic region and a corresponding setting with the first guiding member a second guiding member, the key cap is movable along the guiding path relative to the substrate by the second guiding member abutting the first guiding member; and a supporting device disposed on the substrate And the key cap includes: a first end portion rotatably connected to the substrate; a second end portion having a second magnetic region, the second magnetic region and the first magnetic region a magnetic attraction and a corresponding position; and a bent portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are at an angle to the bent portion; When the keycap is located at a position other than the unpressed position, the magnetic force moves the keycap along the guiding path to the undepressed position. The button of claim 1, wherein a moving direction of the first end portion and the key cap connecting portion is parallel to a direction of the guiding path. The button of claim 1, wherein the bent portion abuts the substrate, when the key cap is externally When the force is pressed, and the external force is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction force, the second end portion rotates with the bending portion as a fulcrum, the second magnetic region is away from the first magnetic region, and the keycap moves along the guiding path Leaving the unpressed position; when the external force is released, the first magnetic region and the second magnetic region are magnetically attracted, and the second end portion drives the supporting device to rotate with the bending portion as a fulcrum to make the second magnetic region Adjacent to the first magnetic zone, and the keycap moves along the guiding path to the undepressed position. The button of claim 2, wherein the bending portion abuts the key cap, and when the key cap is pressed by the external force, and the external force is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction force, the second end portion is bent by the bending portion Rotating the fulcrum to move the second magnetic region away from the first magnetic region, and the keycap moves away from the unpressed position along the guiding path; when the external force is released, the first magnetic region and the second magnetic region Magnetically, the second end portion drives the supporting device to rotate with the bending portion as a fulcrum, so that the second magnetic region is adjacent to the first magnetic region, and the key cap moves along the guiding path to the unpressed position. The button of claim 1, wherein a moving direction of the portion where the first end portion is connected to the key cap is parallel to a direction of the guiding path. The button of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first guiding member and the second guiding member is a slider having a slope. The button of claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the first guiding member and the second guiding member is a plate-like structure, and the other is a U-shaped insert for the plate-like structure. groove. The button of claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the first guiding member and the second guiding member is a spigot, and the other is a slot for the insertion of the spigot. The button of claim 4, wherein the bent portion is rotatably coupled to the substrate. The button of claim 5, wherein the bent portion is rotatably coupled to the keycap.