TWM507011U - Button structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A button structure includes a base, at least one connecting structure, a balance bar, a key cap and a buffering film. The connecting structure is disposed on the base. The balance bar includes at least one side bar and a main bar. The side bar is inserted into the connecting structure. The key cap is disposed on the base. The main bar is pivotally connected to the key cap. The connecting structure has a contacting surface. The buffering film is located between the contacting surface and the side bar.

Description

Button structure

This creation relates to a keyboard, and in particular to a key structure of a keyboard.

With the popularity of computers, in addition to the pursuit of computer performance, the convenience of inputting computers has become more and more important to users. Among them, the keyboard is one of the indispensable input devices for computers.

The keyboard mainly includes a substrate and a plurality of buttons. A circuit board can be provided on the substrate. The keycap of the button can be raised and lowered above the circuit board. In use, the user can press the keycap down to touch the electrical contacts on the board to generate a signal.

On the keyboard, some buttons have a long length (such as a blank button), so when the user presses one end of the long button, only the end to be pressed may drop, and the other end that is not pressed will not fall. The button cannot be lowered evenly as a whole. In order to solve such a problem, a balance bar may be disposed in the key cap, and the balance bar extends along the length direction of the key cap and is connected between the key cap and the substrate. In this way, the balance bar enables the long button to be uniformly lowered as a whole.

The opposite ends of the balance bar are inserted into the limit holes on the substrate. When the user presses the keycap, the balance bar moves downward so that the end of the balance bar hits the inner wall of the limiting hole and makes noise.

In view of this, one of the purposes of this creation is to reduce the noise emitted when the button is pressed.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a button structure includes a bottom plate, at least one connecting structure, a balance bar, a key cap, and at least one buffer film. The connection structure is disposed on the bottom plate. The balance bar has at least one side bar and a main shaft connected to each other. The side bars are threaded through the connecting structure. The keycap is located on the bottom plate. The spindle shaft is pivotally connected to the keycap. The connecting structure has an abutting surface. The buffer film is located between the abutting surface and the side bar.

In the above embodiment, since the side bar of the balance bar is disposed in the connecting structure, and the buffer film is located between the abutting surface and the side bar, when the user presses the key cap and moves the side bar toward the abutting surface The buffer film prevents the side bar from directly hitting the abutting surface, thereby reducing the noise generated when the button is pressed.

The above description is only used to explain the problems to be solved by the present invention, the technical means for solving the problems, the effects thereof, and the like, and the specific details of the present invention will be described in detail in the following embodiments and related drawings.

100‧‧‧floor

110‧‧‧ upper surface

200‧‧‧Key Cap

201, 202‧‧‧ long side

203, 204‧‧‧ Short side

300‧‧‧ Connection structure

310‧‧‧Interface

400‧‧‧Balance rod

410‧‧‧ sidebar

411‧‧‧End

420‧‧‧Spindle rod

500‧‧‧ buffer film

510‧‧‧ first surface

520‧‧‧ second surface

600‧‧‧Scissors

700‧‧‧Film board

710‧‧‧Insulated body

711‧‧‧Upper film

712‧‧‧Medium film

713‧‧‧Under film

800‧‧‧After the top piece

A1, A2‧‧‧ arrows

H‧‧‧ Limit hole

L1, L2‧‧‧ length direction

O‧‧‧ openings

P‧‧‧Moving path

T1, T2‧‧‧ thickness

Θ‧‧‧ angle

For the above and other purposes, features, advantages and advantages of this creation The embodiment can be more clearly understood. The description of the drawings is as follows: FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional combination diagram of a button structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the button structure of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing the structure of the button of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the thin film circuit board according to the embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a view showing the thin film circuit board shown in FIG. A partially enlarged view; and a sixth enlarged view of a key structure according to another embodiment of the present creation.

The plural embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the following figures, and for the sake of clarity, many practical details will be described in the following description. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that these practical details are not necessary in the context of this inventive part and therefore are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, some of the conventional structures and elements are shown in the drawings in a simplified schematic manner in order to simplify the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembled view of a button structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the key structure includes a bottom plate 100 and a keycap 200. The keycap 200 is located on the bottom plate 100 and is used for lifting movement relative to the bottom plate 100. Further, the user can press the keycap 200 to move the keycap 200 downward toward the bottom plate 100, and when the user stops pressing the keycap 200, the keycap 200 can move upward and return to the original position. Figure 2 shows the button of Figure 1. An exploded view of the structure. As shown in FIG. 2, the button structure further includes a connection structure 300, a balance bar 400, and a scissor mechanism 600. The scissor mechanism 600 is coupled between the bottom plate 100 and the keycap 200 for lifting movement of the keycap 200 relative to the bottom plate 100. The connecting structure 300 is disposed on the bottom plate 100, and the balance bar 400 is connected to the connecting structure 300, thereby being disposed between the bottom plate 100 and the keycap 200. The balance bar 400 includes a coupled main shaft 420 and two side bars 410. The main shaft 420 is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the keycap 200. One end of the two side rods 410 is connected to the main shaft 420, and the other end is connected to the connecting structure 300. By the arrangement of the balance bar 400, the keycaps 200 can collectively perform the lifting movement together.

Further, the keycap 200 has two long sides 201, 202 and two short sides 203, 204. The side bars 410 are extended by the opposite ends of the main shaft 420 in the same direction. The side bar 410 has a longitudinal direction L1, and the main shaft bar 420 has a longitudinal direction L2. The longitudinal direction L1 of the side bars 410 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L2 of the main shaft 420. The spindle shaft 420 is disposed substantially parallel to the long sides 201 and 202 of the keycap 200. In other words, the longitudinal direction L2 of the main shaft 420 is substantially parallel to the long sides 201 and 202, so that when the user presses the key cap 200 at any position, the main shaft 420 can drive the keycap 200 as a whole to move downward collectively.

When the user presses the keycap 200 to move the keycap 200 downward, the spindle shaft 420 moves downward in conjunction, and the sidebar 410 moves in the connecting structure 300. At this time, the side bar 410 may hit the connection structure 300 to generate noise. Therefore, one embodiment of the present invention proposes the following technical solution to reduce this noise. Further, referring to FIG. 3, this figure shows a partial enlarged view of the button structure of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the button structure includes a buffer film 500 having a contact surface 310 for abutting the side bar 410, and the buffer film 500 It is located between the abutting surface 310 and the side bar 410. In this way, even in the process of pressing the keycap 200 (refer to FIG. 2), the side bar 410 moves toward the abutting surface 310, and the side bar 410 first contacts the buffer film 500 without directly hitting the abutting surface 310. Therefore, the buffer film 500 can prevent the side bar 410 from colliding with the connection structure 300, thereby reducing noise during the process of pressing the keycap 200. It should be noted that although the two side bars 410 are included in the embodiment, the buffer film 500 may be disposed between the single side bar 410 and the connection structure 300, and the buffer may be disposed between the two side bars 410 and the connection structure 300. The film 500 depends on the actual demand.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting structure 300 includes a limiting hole H, and the abutting surface 310 of the connecting structure 300 is a wall of the limiting hole H away from the side of the bottom plate 100. In the present embodiment, the side bar 410 has a distal end portion 411 with respect to the main shaft 420 (see FIG. 2). In other words, the end portion 411 is the portion of the side bar 410 that is farthest from the main shaft 420, and the side bar The end portion 411 of the 410 is bored in the limiting hole H. When the keycap 200 (refer to FIG. 2) is pressed, the side bar 410 is movable in the limit hole H. For example, when the keycap 200 moves in the direction of the arrow A1, the spindle shaft 420 (see FIG. 2) can be moved in the direction of the arrow A1, and the end portion 411 of the side bar 410 can follow the arrow. The direction of A2 moves in the limit hole H. When the distal end portion 411 of the side bar 410 moves a certain distance along the arrow A2, the side bar 410 can contact the buffer film 500 and be blocked by the buffer film 500, so that the side bar 410 does not hit the abutting surface 310 of the connection structure 300. And reduce noise.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the buffer film 500 has an opposite first surface 510 and a second surface 520. The first surface 510 contacts the abutting surface 310 of the connecting structure 300, and the second surface 520 faces Side bar 410. Such a Comes, when the side bar 410 is moved a certain distance in the direction of the arrow A2, the side bar 410 can contact the second surface 520 without directly hitting the connection structure 300. In some embodiments, the hardness of the buffer film 500 can be less than the hardness of the side bar 410 and the connecting structure 300, so that the impact force can be buffered by the relatively soft hardness to prevent the relatively hard side bar 410 from directly connecting the structure 300. It makes a noise when it hits.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 100 has an opening O. The side bar 410 can be obliquely passed through the limiting hole H and placed obliquely on the bottom plate 100 such that the end portion 411 of the side bar 410 projects into the opening O, so that the spindle bar 420 can be moved downward when the key cap 200 is pressed.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 100 has an upper surface 110, and the connecting structure 300 is protruded from the upper surface 110. The side bar 410 is sandwiched by the upper surface 110 by an angle θ , and the included angle θ is not 0 degrees. In this way, the side bar 410 can be obliquely passed through the limiting hole H and placed obliquely on the bottom plate 100.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the button structure can include a thin film circuit board 700. The thin film circuit board 700 is disposed on the bottom plate 100. In the present embodiment, the buffer film 500 is part of the thin film circuit board 700. Further, the thin film circuit board 700 includes an insulative housing 710 and a circuit structure (not shown) printed on the insulative housing 710. In this embodiment, the buffer film 500 can be part of the insulative housing 710. In this way, when the manufacturer cuts the insulating body 710 of the thin film circuit board 700, a part of the insulating body 710 can be retained as the buffer film 500, thereby eliminating the cost of additionally manufacturing and assembling the buffer film 500.

4 is a perspective view of a thin film circuit board 700 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the thin film circuit board 700 shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the insulative housing 710 includes an upper film 711, The intermediate film 712 and the lower film 713 are arranged from top to bottom. The upper film 711 and the lower film 713 are provided with corresponding circuits and contacts, and the intermediate film 712 has through holes corresponding to the positions of the contacts. When the thin film circuit board 700 is triggered, the upper film 711 is elastically deformed and passed down through the through hole of the intermediate film 712 so that the contacts of the upper film 711 and the upper film 711 are in contact with each other, thereby generating a button signal. The buffer film 500 may extend from one of the upper film 711, the middle film 712, and the lower film 713 and pass through the limiting hole H to be sandwiched between the abutting surface 310 and the side bar 410, as shown in FIG. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the buffer film 500 is extended from the upper film 711 and passes through the limiting hole H, and is sandwiched between the abutting surface 310 and the side bar 410, as shown in FIG. . Since the upper film 711, the intermediate film 712, and the lower film 713 are arranged from top to bottom, the upper film 711 is one of the insulating body 710 closest to the contact surface 310. Therefore, the buffer film 500 can be extended from the upper film 711. The buffer film 500 contacts the abutting surface 310 without excessive bending.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the buffer film 500 has a thickness T1, and the thin film circuit board 700 has a thickness T2, and the thickness T1 of the buffer film 500 is smaller than the thickness T2 of the thin film circuit board 700. Therefore, compared with the fact that the relatively thick thin film circuit board 700 is integrally extended into the limiting hole H (refer to FIG. 3), the relatively thin buffer film 500 is extended into the limiting hole H, which is easy to assemble and Convenience. Specifically, in some embodiments, the buffer film 500 is extended only by the upper film 711, and is separated from the intermediate film 712 and the lower film 713. As a result, the maximum thickness T1 of the buffer film 500 is the thickness of the upper film 711 and smaller than the thickness T2 of the thin film circuit board 700 (that is, the upper film 711, medium The thickness of the layer film 712 and the lower film 713 is summed to facilitate assembly of the buffer film 500 in the limiting hole H.

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of a button structure according to another embodiment of the present creation. As shown in FIG. 6, the main difference between the present embodiment and the foregoing embodiment is that the key structure may include the abutting member 800. The abutting member 800 is disposed on the bottom plate 100. The abutting member 800 abuts against the second surface 520 of the buffer film 500. In this way, the abutting member 800 can lift the buffer film 500, and when the assembly is facilitated, the side bar 410 can be easily inserted into the space below the buffer film 500.

In some embodiments, the abutting member 800 is closer to the interface of the buffer film 500 and the thin film circuit board 700 than the connection structure 300. In this way, the buffer film 500 extended by the thin film circuit board 700 can be first lifted by the abutting member 800, and then the first surface 510 of the buffer film 500 contacts the abutting surface 310.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, the abutting member 800 is protruded from the upper surface 110 of the bottom plate 100 , and the connecting structure 300 is also protruded from the upper surface 110 of the bottom plate 100 . The abutting member 800 is protruded from the upper surface 110 at a position closer to the intersection of the buffer film 500 and the thin film circuit board 700, and the connecting structure 300 is protruded from the upper surface 110 away from the buffer film 500 and the thin film circuit board. The position of the 700 junction, and the height of the abutting member 800 is lower than the height of the connection structure 300. In this way, the buffer film 500 extended by the thin film circuit board 700 can be first lifted by the abutting member 800, and then the first surface 510 of the buffer film 500 contacts the abutting surface 310.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the side bar 410 has a moving path P. This movement path P represents the period from when the keycap 200 (see Fig. 2) is pressed to the extreme position, to the time when the keycap 200 is returned to the original position, the sidebar The path traveled by 410. The abutting member 800 is located outside the moving path P. As a result, regardless of how the keycap 200 is pressed, the abutting member 800 does not interfere with the side bar 410, so that the side bar 410 can smoothly move without hitting the abutting member 800.

In the above embodiment, since the buffer film is disposed between the abutting surface and the side bar, when the user presses the key cap and moves the side bar toward the abutting surface, the buffer film can prevent the side bar from directly hitting the abutting surface. Thereby reducing the noise emitted by the button when pressed.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any person skilled in the art can make various changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application attached.

100‧‧‧floor

200‧‧‧Key Cap

201, 202‧‧‧ long side

203, 204‧‧‧ Short side

300‧‧‧ Connection structure

400‧‧‧Balance rod

410‧‧‧ sidebar

420‧‧‧Spindle rod

500‧‧‧ buffer film

600‧‧‧Scissors

L1, L2‧‧‧ length direction

Claims (11)

A button structure, comprising: a bottom plate; at least one connecting structure disposed on the bottom plate; a balance bar comprising a connected main shaft and at least one side rod, the side rod is threaded on the connecting structure; a cap is disposed on the bottom plate, and the main shaft is pivotally connected to the key cap; and at least one buffer film, wherein the connecting structure has an abutting surface, and the buffer film is located between the abutting surface and the side bar. The button structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting structure comprises a limiting hole, and the side bar is disposed in the limiting hole. The button structure of claim 1, further comprising: a thin film circuit board disposed on the bottom plate, wherein the buffer film is part of the thin film circuit board. The key structure of claim 3, wherein the thin film circuit board comprises three layers of an upper film, an intermediate film and a lower film from top to bottom, and the connecting structure comprises a limiting hole, wherein the buffer film is composed of the upper film, One of the middle film and the lower film extends out and passes through the limiting hole, and is sandwiched between the abutting surface and the side bar. The key structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the thin film is electrically The road plate comprises three layers of an upper film, an intermediate film and a lower film from top to bottom. The connecting structure comprises a limiting hole, and the buffer film extends from the upper film and passes through the limiting hole, and is sandwiched by the interference. Between the face and the side bar, the buffer film is separated from the intermediate film and the lower film. The button structure of claim 3, wherein the buffer film has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the film circuit board. The button structure of claim 1, further comprising: an abutting member disposed on the bottom plate, wherein the buffer film has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface contacting the connecting structure The abutting surface abuts against the second surface. The button structure of claim 7, wherein the abutting member is located outside a moving path of the side bar. The button structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom plate has an upper surface, and the connecting structure is protruded from the upper surface, and the side bar is at an angle with the upper surface. The button structure of claim 1, wherein the bottom plate has an opening, and the side bar has a distal end portion opposite to the main shaft, and the end portion of the side bar extends into the opening. The key structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key cap The utility model has two long sides and two short sides, wherein the number of the at least one side rods is two, and the two side rods extend from opposite ends of the main shaft in the same direction, and the length directions of the two side rods are substantially vertical In the longitudinal direction of the main shaft, the longitudinal direction of the main shaft is substantially parallel to the two long sides of the keycap.