TWM482782U - Keyswitch structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A keyswitch structure includes a base plate, a keycap, a lift mechanism, a lighting element, an opaque cap, and a flexible opaque tubular part. The keycap is capable of moving up and down relative to the base plate by the lift mechanism. The lighting element is disposed under a light transmissive portion of the keycap for emitting light. The opaque cap covers the lighting element such that the light is emitted out of the opaque cap through an opening of the opaque cap to the keycap. The flexible opaque tubular part is disposed between the keycap and the lighting element and around the opaque cap by an opening end thereof for avoiding light leakage. When the keycap moves toward the base plate, the flexible opaque tubular part is constrained by the keycap and the opaque cap to buckle, but the light still can travel through the flexible opaque tubular part toward the keycap and out of the opaque cap.

Description

Button structure

This creation relates to a button structure, especially a button structure with a light indication.

The keyboard is a common input device. The traditional keyboard is printed with text and graphics on the surface of the keycap to remind the user of the function of the button, and a light (such as an LED) is set on the structural frame to prompt the user for a specific function of the keyboard, such as capitalization. Switch prompts, numeric keypad area enable, window scroll lock, etc. At present, some keyboards directly set the indicator light of some specific functions to the function keys that switch the function, such as the uppercase and lowercase switching keys. At this time, the LED is fixedly disposed under the key cap, and the key cap has a corresponding light transmitting portion for the light emitted by the LED to penetrate, thereby achieving the indicated effect. However, the light emitted by the LED generally does not have a specific direction or has a small divergence angle, so that the light emitted by the LED does not pass through the light transmitting portion, and a considerable portion of the light leaks from between the key cap and the bottom plate. To this problem, a mask is currently used to cover the LED to control the divergence angle of the LED after the light is emitted from the mask. Although this solution can reduce the extent of the above-mentioned light leakage, it is inevitable in practice that even if the light that is emitted from the reticle is directed to the light transmitting portion, when the light enters the interface of the light transmitting portion, the light must be Reflection, some of the reflected light will leak from the keycap and the bottom plate, and the light that exits the reticle travels in the air, which will also refract, reflect, etc., and also generate light from the keycap and the bottom plate. Leaked out. Therefore, the foregoing solution cannot effectively and completely solve the problem of light leakage from the key cap and the bottom plate.

In view of the problems in the prior art, one of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a button structure that utilizes a flexible opaque tubular member to prevent light from escaping the button structure, so as to solve the problem that light emitted from the illuminating member is easy to be around the key cap. Leaked out of the problem.

The button structure of the present invention comprises a bottom plate, a key cap, a lifting mechanism, a lighting unit, a light-tight cover and a flexible opaque tubular member. The keycap has a light transmitting portion and a bottom surface. The lifting mechanism is coupled between the bottom surface and the bottom plate such that the key cap is movable through the lifting mechanism to be movable up and down relative to the bottom plate. The light emitting unit is disposed below the light transmitting portion for emitting a light. The opaque cover has an opening facing the keycap, and the opaque cover covers the light emitting unit such that the light exits the opaque cover through the opening toward the keycap. The flexible opaque tubular member is disposed between the bottom surface and the light emitting unit and has an open end, the flexible opaque tubular member surrounds the opaque cover with the open end, wherein when the key cap is When pressed to move toward the bottom plate, the flexible opaque tubular member is restrained from being deformed by the key cap and the opaque cover, and the open end of the flexible opaque tubular member can still remain around the The translucent cover can still effectively prevent the light from leaking from the open end. At this time, the light can still travel toward the key cap via the flexible opaque tubular member and the key cap is ejected from the light transmitting portion, and still retains the function of prompting the user. Therefore, the button structure of the present invention can effectively prevent light from leaking around the keycap, and solves the problem that light is easily leaked around the keycap in the prior art.

The advantages and spirit of this creation can be further understood by the following detailed description of the creation and the drawings.

1, 3, 4‧‧‧ button structure

L1, L2‧‧‧ rays

10, 40‧‧‧ bottom plate

12‧‧‧Key Cap

14‧‧‧ Lifting mechanism

16‧‧‧Film board

18‧‧‧Flexible round

20‧‧‧Lighting unit

22‧‧‧Opacity cover

24, 34‧‧‧Flexible opaque tubular parts

42‧‧‧support plate

122‧‧‧Transmission Department

124‧‧‧ bottom surface

126‧‧‧

128‧‧‧ length

162‧‧‧ switch

222‧‧‧ openings

242, 342‧‧‧ first open end

244, 344‧‧‧ second open end

346‧‧‧ spacing

402‧‧‧through hole

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a button structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the button structure in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the button structure taken along line X-X in Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the key structure of Fig. 3 when the keycap is pressed down.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a key structure according to another embodiment of the present creation.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the key structure of Fig. 5 when the keycap is pressed down.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a key structure according to still another embodiment of the present creation.

Please refer to figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a button junction according to an embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram of the structure 1, FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the button structure 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the button structure 1 along the line X-X. In this embodiment, the key structure 1 is a case switching key of a keyboard, but the creation is not limited thereto, for example, applied to other function keys or letters, numeric keys, and the like. The button structure 1 comprises a bottom plate 10, a keycap 12, a lifting mechanism 14, a film circuit board 16, an elastic circular protrusion 18, an illumination unit 20, an opaque cover 22 and a flexible opaque tubular member. twenty four. The key cap 12 is disposed on the bottom plate 10 and has a light transmitting portion 122 and a bottom surface 124. The lifting mechanism 14 is connected between the bottom surface 124 and the bottom plate 10, so that the key cap 12 passes through the lifting mechanism 14 to be opposite to the bottom plate 10. Moving up and down, in the embodiment, the lifting mechanism 14 is a scissor bracket, but the creation is not limited thereto. The thin film circuit board 16 is disposed on the bottom plate 10, and the light emitting unit 20 is disposed under the light transmitting portion 122 and directly electrically connected to the thin film circuit board 16. The thin film circuit board 16 can provide an input signal (not Shown in the figure) to drive the light emitting unit 20 to emit light. The thin film circuit board 16 also includes a switch 162 (the projection position is indicated by a broken line in FIGS. 2 and 3), and the elastic knob 18 is disposed on the thin film circuit board 16 corresponding to the switch 162, so that the key cap 12 can be lifted and lowered. The mechanism 14 moves toward the bottom plate 10 to squeeze the elastic knob 18 to trigger the switch 162. The opaque cover 22 is disposed (eg, adhered) on the film circuit board 16 to cover the light emitting unit 20, and the opaque cover 22 has an opening 222 facing the keycap 12, so that the light L1 emitted by the light emitting unit 20 can only pass through the opening. The 222 emits the opaque cover 22 toward the light transmitting portion 122.

The flexible opaque tubular member 24 is disposed between the bottom surface 124 and the light emitting unit 20, and the flexible opaque tubular member 24 has a first open end 242 and a second open end 244 opposite the first open end 242. The flexible, opaque tubular member 24 surrounds the opaque cover 22 with a first open end 242. In the present embodiment, the flexible opaque tubular member 24 tightly covers the opaque cover 22 with the first open end 242, so that the light L1 does not exit from the first opening after being emitted from the opening 222 of the opaque cover 22. The end 242 leaks out, but this creation is not limited to this. For example, in practice, a gap may exist between the first open end 242 and the opaque cover 22 as long as the light L1 does not leak from the first open end 242 or the light L1 leaks from the first open end 242. Can be ignored (for example, not easily perceived by the human eye). The second open end 244 faces the light transmitting portion 122 such that the light L1 is emitted from the opening 222 of the opaque cover 22 and enters the flexible opaque tube. After the member 24, the flexible opaque tubular member 24 can be ejected from the second open end 244 to travel toward the light transmitting portion 122, and then the keycap 12 is emitted through the light transmitting portion 122. In this embodiment, the edge of the second open end 244 completely contacts the bottom surface 124, so that the light L1 entering the passage formed by the flexible opaque tubular member 24 does not pass from the second open end 244 and the bottom surface 124. The connection leaked out.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a cross-sectional view of the button structure 1 when the keycap 12 is pressed down. When the keycap 12 is pressed to move toward the bottom plate 10, the flexible opaque tubular member 24 is restrained from being deformed by the keycap 12 and the opaque cover 22. Since the flexible opaque tubular member 24 has flexibility, the flexible opaque tubular member 24 and the opaque cover 22 and the bottom surface 124 remain sealed even when the flexible opaque tubular member 24 is deflected and deformed. The channel formed by the flexible opaque tubular member 24 remains unobstructed, and the light L1 in the channel can smoothly eject the flexible opaque tubular member 24 from the second open end 244 to travel toward the transparent portion 122. Further, the keycap 12 is emitted through the light transmitting portion 122. When the keycap 12 is released (ie, no longer pressed), the keycap 12 is moved back to the original position, and the flexible opaque tubular member 24 is returned to its original shape (in the present embodiment, it is a straight cylinder), that is, As shown in Figure 3. In practice, the flexible opaque tubular member 24 can be made of rubber, silicone or other flexible materials, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the flexible opaque tubular member 24 is integrally formed with the keycap 12 (for example, integrally formed), and the desired flexibility and elasticity can be obtained by controlling the thickness of the wall of the flexible opaque tubular member 24. That is, the rigidity of the flexible opaque tubular member 24 is less than the rigidity of the keycap 12. In the present embodiment, the flexible opaque tubular member 24 is integrally formed with the key member 12, and the second open end 244 of the flexible opaque tubular member 24 can be considered to be sealingly coupled to the bottom surface 124. on.

In addition, in the embodiment, the light-transmitting portion 122, the channel formed by the flexible opaque tubular member 24, the opaque cover 22 and the opening 222 thereof, and the light-emitting unit 20 are disposed substantially in a line, and the light-emitting unit 20 is easily slanted. The light-impermeable tubular member 24 forms a passage and a light-transmitting portion 122 to project the keycap 12; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when the inner wall of the flexible opaque tubular member 24 has a certain reflectivity, the light L1 entering the passage formed by the flexible opaque tubular member 24 can be transmitted through the second inner end of the passage through multiple reflections of the inner wall of the passage. 244, the flexible opaque tubular member 24 is emitted; at this time, the transparent portion 122, the flexible opaque tubular member 24 formed by the channel, the opaque cover 22 and the opening 222 thereof, and the light emitting unit 20 are No need to set in a straight line. The light ray L1 passes through the light transmitting portion 122 to provide a visual indication effect of the user. In the embodiment, the light transmitting portion 122 has a circular contour on the top surface of the key cap 12, for example, when the light ray L1 passes through the light transmitting portion 122. , to indicate that the user's keyboard is in the uppercase input state. In practice, the pattern formed by the light-transmitting portion 122 can be determined according to the requirements of the product, and is not limited to the above-mentioned circle, and can also be limited to letters or other patterns (for example, specific signs and symbols). In addition, in the present embodiment, the light transmitting portion 122 is a light transmissive body, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the light transmitting portion may be formed directly by the key cap 12 to be hollowed out.

In the foregoing embodiment, the two ends of the flexible opaque tubular member 24 (ie, the first open end 242 and the second open end 244) are in close contact (or fixed connection) with the opaque cover 22 and the bottom surface 124, respectively. To form a sealed light path, but this creation is not limited to this. Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view of the button structure 3 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional position can be referred to the position of the line X-X in FIG. The key structure 3 is substantially the same as the structure of the key structure 1. In the key structure 3, the same components in principle still use the component symbols of the same components in the key structure 1. In the following, only the difference between the button structure 3 and the button structure 1 will be described. For other descriptions of the button structure 3, reference may be made to the related description of the button structure 1, and no further details are provided. In this embodiment, the first open end 342 of the flexible opaque tubular member 34 of the button structure 3 remains tightly wrapped around the opaque cover 22, and the second open end 344 is not in close contact (or fixed connection). The bottom surface 124 faces the light transmitting portion 122. When the keycap 12 is not pressed (i.e., the keycap 12 is in a relatively high position relative to the bottom plate 10), there is a spacing 346 between the second open end 344 and the bottom surface 124. The key cap 12 has a periphery 126 extending a length 128 toward the light emitting unit 20 relative to the bottom surface 124 (ie, a vertical distance between the lower edge of the perimeter 126 and the bottom surface 124), and the spacing 346 is less than the length 128, so from the second open end The light ray L2 leaking between the 344 and the bottom surface 124 can still be shielded by the surrounding portion 126, so as not to be perceived by the user above the keycap 12, or the leaked light L2 passes through a plurality of components (for example, the bottom surface 124, The intensity of light that can be perceived by the user after being reflected by the thin film circuit board 16, the bottom plate 10, and the like is negligible (for example, not easily perceived by the human eye).

Please refer to FIG. 6 , which is a cross-sectional view of the button structure 3 when the key cap 12 is pressed down. Like the button structure 1, when the button structure 3 is pressed down by the keycap 12, the flexible opaque tubular member 34 Receiving the buckling deformation of the keycap 12 and the opaque cover 22, the passage formed by the flexible opaque tubular member 34 remains unobstructed, and the light L1 in the passage can smoothly be ejected from the second open end 344. The opaque tubular member 34 travels toward the light transmitting portion 122 and then passes through the light transmitting portion 122 to project the keycap 12. Compared with the flexible opaque tubular member 24 of the button structure 1, when the button structure 3 is pressed down by the keycap 12, the flexible opaque tubular member 34 is less deformed, and the flexible opaque portion can be made opaque. The passage formed by the tubular member 34 is smoother.

Each of the foregoing embodiments is exemplified by the fact that the thin film circuit board 16 is disposed above the bottom plate, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Please refer to FIG. 7 , which is a cross-sectional view of a button structure 4 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The cross-sectional position can be referred to the position of the line X-X in FIG. 1 . The key structure 4 is substantially the same as the structure of the key structure 1. In the key structure 4, the same components in principle still use the component symbols of the same components in the key structure 1. In the following, only the difference between the button structure 4 and the button structure 1 will be described. For other descriptions of the button structure 4, reference may be made to the related description of the button structure 1, and no further details are provided. In this embodiment, the bottom plate 40 of the button structure 3 is disposed on the thin film circuit board 16 and has a through hole 402. The light emitting unit 20 is disposed in the through hole 402, and the opaque cover 22 is disposed on the bottom plate 40 to cover the through hole at the same time. Hole 402 and light emitting unit 20. In practice, the through hole 402 can have a larger aperture to accommodate the opaque cover 22 such that the opaque cover 22 can be disposed directly on the thin film circuit board 16. In addition, the button structure 4 further includes a support plate 42. The film circuit board 16 is disposed on the support plate 42. The support plate 42 can provide overall structural support of the button structure 4. In addition, the configuration of the button structure 3 with respect to the flexible opaque tubular member 34 can also be applied to the button structure 4, which will not be described.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made by the scope of the patent application of the present invention should be covered by the present invention.

1‧‧‧Key structure

L1‧‧‧Light

10‧‧‧floor

12‧‧‧Key Cap

14‧‧‧ Lifting mechanism

16‧‧‧Film board

18‧‧‧Flexible round

20‧‧‧Lighting unit

22‧‧‧Opacity cover

24‧‧‧Flexible opaque tubular parts

122‧‧‧Transmission Department

124‧‧‧ bottom surface

162‧‧‧ switch

222‧‧‧ openings

242‧‧‧first open end

244‧‧‧second open end

Claims (9)

The key structure comprises: a bottom plate; a key cap having a light transmitting portion and a bottom surface; and a lifting mechanism connected between the bottom surface and the bottom plate, so that the key cap passes through the lifting mechanism The light-emitting unit is disposed below the light-transmitting portion for emitting a light; and the light-impermeable cover has an opening facing the keycap, the light-tight cover The light-emitting unit is configured to emit the light through the opening toward the keycap; and a flexible opaque tubular member is disposed between the bottom surface and the light-emitting unit and has a first open end. The flexible opaque tubular member surrounds the opaque cover with the first open end, wherein the flexible opaque tubular member receives the key cap and the non-transmissive tubular member when the key cap is pressed to move toward the bottom plate The translucent cover is restrained and deformed. The button structure of claim 1 further includes a thin film circuit board for providing an input signal, and the thin film circuit board is disposed under the light emitting unit. The button structure of claim 2, wherein the flexible opaque tubular member has a second open end, the flexible opaque tubular member being sealingly coupled to the bottom surface with the second open end. The button structure of claim 3, wherein the flexible opaque tubular member has a rigidity less than a rigidity of the keycap. The button structure of claim 4, wherein the keycap is integrally formed with the flexible opaque tubular member. The key structure of claim 2, wherein the key cap has a circumference extending toward the light emitting unit with respect to the bottom surface, the flexible opaque tubular member having a second open end, the second The open end is facing the light transmitting portion, and when the key cap is not pressed, the second open end has a spacing from the bottom surface, and the pitch is smaller than the length. The button structure of claim 2, wherein the thin film circuit board is disposed on the bottom plate. The button structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bottom plate is disposed on the thin film circuit board and has a through hole, and the light emitting unit is located in the through hole. The button structure as claimed in claim 8 further includes a support board, and the thin film circuit board is disposed on the support board.