TWM508059U - Membrane key structure and membrane keyboard - Google Patents

Description

Membrane button structure and membrane keyboard

The authoring department is related to the button structure and keyboard, especially regarding the membrane type button structure and the membrane type keyboard.

The keys of the existing keyboard are all digital switches. In other words, the keys of the existing keyboard have only two states of ON and OFF. When the button is in the open state (ie, pressed by the user), the corresponding button signal can be triggered (the signal value is ON at this time); when the button is in the off state (ie, no user is pressed), the button signal is not triggered (this The signal value is OFF).

Since the existing keyboard can only output a digital signal (ON or OFF), the corresponding analog signal cannot be further output according to the power of the user pressing the button, which will reduce the practicability of the existing keyboard.

For example, when using a conventional keyboard for a racing game, when the user presses the button multiple times with different powers (using the forward button to control the car in the game as an example), the button signals output are the same each time (all are ON), the effect of the triggered game is the same (for example, the cars in the game are moving at the same speed), and can not trigger different game effects corresponding to different forces (such as the car in the game can advance at different speeds with the strength of the pressing force) This makes the game entertaining Poor music.

Therefore, the existing keyboard has the above problem that the digital signal and the analog signal cannot be synchronously outputted, and a more effective solution is proposed.

The main purpose of this creation is to provide a membrane type button structure and a membrane type keyboard with analog signal output and digital signal output.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention mainly provides a film type button structure, comprising a lower film, an upper film laid on the lower film, and a pressure sensing film stacked on the upper film and the lower film. The lower film includes a lower joint. The upper film is pressed by an external force to deform and approach the lower contact, and the upper film includes an upper contact. The upper contact triggers a digital signal when the upper contact is connected to the lower contact. The pressure sensing film includes a sensing region. The sensing area is configured to change an impedance according to the magnitude of the external force and trigger an analog signal corresponding to the impedance. The sensing area, the upper contact and the lower contact are vertically aligned.

The present invention further provides a membrane type keyboard, comprising a connection module for connecting an external computer, a membrane type button structure as described in the foregoing paragraph, electrically connecting the connection module, the pressure sensing film, the upper film And a circuit board of the lower film; and electrically connected to the circuit board, and electrically connected to the connection module, the pressure sensing film, the upper film and a microfilm of the lower film via the circuit board. The microcontroller transmits the digital signal and the analog signal triggered by the membrane type button structure to the external computer via the connection module.

The membrane type button structure and the membrane type keyboard of the present invention can output a digital signal and an analog signal corresponding to the strength of the user to press the button, and have better practicability.

1‧‧‧ keyboard

10‧‧‧Connecting module

12‧‧‧Microcontroller

14‧‧‧ boards

140a‧‧‧Wire

140b‧‧‧Wire

140c‧‧‧ wire

16‧‧‧Mode switch

18‧‧‧Lighting elements

2‧‧‧Film button structure

20‧‧‧Upper film

200‧‧‧Contacts

22‧‧‧ Lower film

220‧‧‧Contacts

24‧‧‧ Pressure sensing film

240‧‧‧Sensing area

260‧‧‧Barrier film

2600‧‧‧Positioning holes

262‧‧‧Substrate

28‧‧‧Key Module

280‧‧‧Key Cap

282‧‧‧Flexible components

3‧‧‧External computer

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a thin film keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a film type button according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a first schematic view showing the operation of the membrane type button structure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a second schematic view showing the operation of the membrane type button structure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3C is a third schematic view showing the operation of the membrane type button structure of the first embodiment.

For a more detailed understanding of the features and technical aspects of the present invention, reference should be made to the description and the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a thin film keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the membrane keyboard 1 (hereinafter referred to as the keyboard 1 ) of the present invention mainly comprises a connection module 10 , a microcontroller 12 , a circuit board 14 and a membrane button structure 2 . The micro-controller 12, the connection module 10 and the membrane-type button structure 2 are disposed on the same circuit board 14 . The microcontroller 12 is electrically connected to the connection module 10 and the film type through the circuit board 14 . The button structure 2 (such as electrically connecting one of the pressure sensing film 24, the upper film 20 and the lower film 22) shown in FIG.

The connection module 10 is used for wired/wireless connection of an external computer 3 for signal transmission. Specifically, the connection module 10 can be a wireless transmission module (such as a Bluetooth wireless transmission module or an infrared wireless transmission module), and can directly establish a wireless connection with the external computer 3, or The external computer 3 is connected via a wireless connection with a wireless transmitter that detachably connects the external computer 3. Alternatively, the connection module 10 can be detachably connected to the external computer 30 via a transmission line such as a universal serial bus (USB) connection.

When receiving a pressing operation from a user, the membrane type button structure 2 can trigger a digital signal and an analog signal corresponding to an external force of the pressing operation, and output to the circuit board 14 (detailed later).

The microcontroller 12 can pass through a plurality of lower contacts (such as the plurality of lower contacts 220 shown in FIG. 2) and the plurality of upper contacts of the circuit board 14 from the thin film type button structure 2 (as shown in FIG. 2) The contact 200) receives the digital signal and the analog signal that are triggered, and transmits the digital signal and the analog signal to the external computer 3 via the connection module 10. Preferably, the microcontroller 12 can first digitize the analog signal (for example, convert the analog signal to a value of 0-15) and then transmit the signal to the external computer 3.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard 1 further includes a mode switch 16 electrically connected to the microcontroller 12. Specifically, the mode switch 16 is disposed on the circuit board 14 and electrically connected to the microcontroller 12 through the circuit board 14. The mode switch 16 is configured to accept a mode switching operation from the user, and send a single output mode signal or a pair of output mode signals to the microcontroller 12 according to the mode switching operation.

Then, the microcontroller 12 can enter a single output mode according to the received single output mode signal, or enter a dual output mode according to the received dual output mode signal. In the single output mode, the microcontroller 12 transmits only the digital signal or the analog signal to the external computer 3. In the dual output mode, the microcontroller 12 can simultaneously transmit the digital signal and the analog signal to the external computer 3.

In the embodiment, the single output mode signal and the dual output mode signal are triggered by operating the mode switch 16, but should not be limited thereto.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the single output mode is triggered when at least one set of keys of the membrane type button structure 2 (the button includes one of the upper contacts 200 and one of the lower contacts 220) is pressed. The signal or the dual output mode signal is such that the microcontroller 12 can switch between the single output mode and the dual output mode. In other words, this embodiment regards the button as the mode switch 16.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 12 can also receive the single output mode signal or the dual output mode signal from the external computer 30 via the connection module 10. Specifically, the external computer 30 can execute a keyboard control program, and the user can input the mode switching operation to the external computer 30, so that the keyboard control program sends the single output mode signal or the pair according to the mode switching operation. Output mode signal to the keyboard 1.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard 1 further includes a light emitting element 18. The light emitting device 18 is electrically connected to the circuit board 14 and electrically connected to the microcontroller 12 via the circuit board 14.

Preferably, the light-emitting element 18 is a light-emitting diode (LED) and the microcontroller 12 can control the light-emitting element when receiving the digital signal or the analog signal triggered from the thin-film key structure 2 18 light.

Preferably, the keyboard 1 includes a plurality of the light-emitting elements 182. Further, the plurality of light-emitting elements 182 are respectively provided corresponding to the plurality of keys. The plurality of light-emitting elements 182 can be disposed on a substrate (such as one of the substrates 262 shown in FIG. 2) adjacent to the corresponding position of the button, and electrically connected to the circuit board 14 via a plurality of light-emitting element wires (not shown). Accepted via the circuit board 14 The microcontroller 12 controls.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a film type button according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The membrane type button structure 2 mainly includes the upper film 20, the lower film 22 and the pressure sensing film 24.

The upper film 20 includes the plurality of upper contacts 200 (in the present embodiment, four of the upper contacts 200 are taken as an example). The plurality of upper contacts 200 are electrically connected to the circuit board 14 via a plurality of wires 140a.

The lower film 22 is laid under the upper film 20 and includes the plurality of lower contacts 220 (in the present embodiment, four of the lower contacts 220 are taken as an example). The plurality of lower contacts 220 are electrically connected to the circuit board 14 via a plurality of wires 140b, respectively. Preferably, the upper film 20 and the lower film 22 are flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Preferably, the plurality of upper contacts 200 are respectively disposed corresponding to the lower contacts 220. Moreover, when the corresponding upper contact 200 is connected to the lower contact 220, the upper contact 200 can trigger the digital signal. In more detail, the upper contact 200 outputs a first current to the circuit board 14 via the lower contact 220 as the digital signal (described in detail later).

The pressure sensing film 24 includes a plurality of sensing regions 240 (in the present embodiment, four sensing regions 240 are taken as an example). Each of the sensing regions 240 can change an impedance when an external force is applied, and trigger an analog signal corresponding to the impedance.

Specifically, the plurality of sensing regions 240 are electrically connected to the circuit board 14 via a plurality of wires 140c, respectively, and are made of a variable impedance material (such as a polymer material such as urea resin or polyester resin). When the external force is applied to each of the sensing regions 240, the impedance of the sensing region 240 will be The intensity of the second current output to the circuit board 14 is varied as the external force changes, and the intensity of the second current is analogous to the analog signal. Thereby, the membrane type button structure 2 of the present invention can trigger and output the analog signal.

In the present creation, the smaller the external force is, the smaller the impedance of the sensing region 240 is, and the stronger the intensity of the second current is generated. Conversely, the smaller the external force is, the more the impedance of the sensing region 240 is. The intensity of the second current, which is large, and thus generated, is weaker. However, the above is only one embodiment of the present creation, but is not limited thereto.

Preferably, the pressure sensing film 24 is stacked vertically with the upper film and the lower film. Moreover, each of the sensing regions 240, the upper contacts 200, and the lower contacts 220 are vertically aligned.

Preferably, the pressure sensing film 24 is stacked on the upper film 20, and the external force received can be transmitted downward to the upper film 20, but should not be limited thereto.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the pressure sensing film 24 further includes an upper pressure film (not shown) electrically connected to the circuit board 14 and electrically connected to the circuit board 14 and perpendicular to the upper pressure film. Stacked lower pressure film (not shown). And the at least one of the upper pressure film and the lower pressure film is provided with the plurality of sensing regions 240 (eg, the upper pressure film is provided with the plurality of sensing regions 240, and the lower pressure film is provided with the plurality of sensing regions 240 Or the upper pressure film and the lower pressure film are provided with the plurality of sensing regions 240). Further, the upper pressure film can be pressed by the external force to deform and trigger the analog signal when contacting the lower pressure film. In another embodiment of the present invention, the pressure sensing film 24 is stacked under the lower film 22, and the external force is applied to the upper film 20, and is transmitted to the pressure through the upper film 20 and the lower film 22. The film 24 is sensed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the membrane type button structure 2 further includes a resistor The barrier film 260. The barrier film 260 is disposed between the upper film 20 and the lower film 22 to block the upper film 20 (including the plurality of upper contacts 200 and the plurality of lines 140a) and the lower film 22 (including the plurality of lower contacts 220) And the complex line 140b). Specifically, the barrier film 260 is disposed to prevent the contacts or wires of the upper film 20 and the lower film 22 from being directly connected by the stack, and the digital button structure 2 erroneously triggers the digital position when the external force is not received. Signal.

Preferably, the barrier film 260 is made of an insulating material and includes a plurality of positioning holes 2600 respectively aligning the plurality of upper contacts 200 and the plurality of lower contacts 220 (in this embodiment, four of the positionings are used) The hole 2600 is taken as an example for explanation). Therefore, when the external force is applied to the membrane-type button structure 2, deformation can be generated, and each of the upper contacts 200 is respectively passed through each of the positioning holes 2600 directly below to be connected with the corresponding lower contacts 220. .

In another embodiment of the present invention, the membrane type button structure 2 further includes the substrate 262 (such as a plastic hard board). The substrate 262 is disposed on the bottom layer of the film-type button structure 2 (eg, disposed under the lower film 22) to support the layers of the film-type button structure 2 when the film-type button structure 2 is applied with the external force (eg, The pressure sensing film 24, the upper film 20, the barrier film 260, and the lower film 22).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the membrane button structure 2 further includes a plurality of button modules 28 (in the present embodiment, four button modules 28 are taken as an example), the plurality of button modules 28 The upper part of the film type button structure 2 (in the embodiment, is disposed above the pressure sensing film 24) for directly receiving the external force and pressing down the lower layer component (in the embodiment, The pressure senses the film 24) such that the underlying element continues to transmit the external force downward. In this embodiment, the setting positions of the button modules 28 are respectively vertically aligned with the respective sensing regions 240 of the lower layer, the positioning holes 2600 and the lower contacts 220 of the upper contact 200, thereby The external force Pass straight down to each component.

Preferably, the plurality of button modules 28 can include a keycap 280 and a resilient member 282 (such as a rubber cap or spring) disposed corresponding to the keycap 280. Each of the keycaps 280 can press the corresponding elastic member 282 downward when the external force is applied to deform the elastic member 282 and transmit the external force to the lower layer member via contact.

Preferably, the plurality of keycaps 280 are constructed using a scissor-foot button structure or a guide sleeve (such as a cross-axis guide sleeve).

It is worth mentioning that, in this embodiment, the membrane type button structure 2 is provided with four groups of buttons (ie, four of the key caps 280, four of the elastic members 282, four of the sensing regions 240, and four. The upper contact 200, the four positioning holes 2600 and the four lower contacts 220 are described as an example, but should not be limited thereto, and those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present invention can be arbitrarily changed according to requirements. The number of buttons included in the membrane type button structure 2 (for example, the membrane type button structure 2 includes only a single group of buttons, or includes 104 groups of buttons).

Please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C simultaneously. FIG. 3A is a first schematic view showing the operation of the membrane type button structure of the first embodiment. FIG. 3B is a second schematic view showing the operation of the membrane type button structure of the first embodiment. FIG. 3C is a third schematic diagram of the operation of the membrane-type button structure of the first embodiment of the present invention for explaining how the membrane-type button structure 2 of the present invention triggers the digital signal and the analog signal.

In this embodiment, the membrane type button structure 2 includes only a single set of buttons (ie, a single keycap 280, a single elastic element 282, a single sensing area 240, a single upper contact 200, and a single positioning). The hole 2600 and the single lower contact 220) are described as an example.

Moreover, in the embodiment, the membrane type button structure 2 is based on the pressure sense. The order of the film 24, the upper film 20, the barrier film 260, the lower film 22, and the substrate 262 is stacked from top to bottom.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the user does not press the keycap 280, the keycap 280 is in a reset position. At this time, since the sensing area 240 is not applied with any external force, the impedance of the sensing area 240 does not change, and the analog signal is not triggered. Moreover, in this state, due to the blocking of the barrier film 260, the upper contact 200 does not lead to the lower contact 220, and the thin film type button structure 2 does not trigger the digital signal.

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the user applies the external force to the key cap 280, the key cap 206 presses the elastic member 282, the pressure sensing film 24 and the upper film 20 downward to make the elastic member. 282. The pressure sensing film 24 and the upper film 20 are deformed and the upper contact 200 is approached toward the lower contact 220. At this time, since the external force is applied to the sensing region 240, the impedance of the sensing region 240 changes, and the analog signal corresponding to the current external force can be triggered. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3B, since the upper contact 200 is still not connected to the lower contact 220, the thin film type button structure 2 does not trigger the digital signal.

As shown in FIG. 3C, when the user continuously increases the external force, the key cap 206 moves down to a trigger position, and presses the elastic member 282, the pressure sensing film 24, and the upper film 20, thereby The elastic member 282, the pressure sensing film 24 and the upper film 20 are deformed, and the upper contact 200 is guided to the lower contact 220 through the positioning hole 2600. At this time, since the sensing region 240 is applied with the external force, the impedance of the sensing region 240 changes again, and the analog signal corresponding to the current external force is triggered (ie, different from that in FIG. 3B). The analog signal). Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3C, since the upper contact 200 and the lower contact 220 are directly connected, the thin film type button structure 2 triggers the digital signal.

The membrane type button structure and the membrane type keyboard of the present invention can output a digital signal and an analog signal corresponding to the strength of the user to press the button, and have better practicability.

The above is only a specific description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the patents of the present invention, and any other equivalent transformations are within the scope of the patent application described below.

140a‧‧‧Wire

140b‧‧‧Wire

140c‧‧‧ wire

2‧‧‧Film button structure

20‧‧‧Upper film

200‧‧‧Contacts

22‧‧‧ Lower film

220‧‧‧Contacts

24‧‧‧ Pressure sensing film

240‧‧‧Sensing area

260‧‧‧Barrier film

2600‧‧‧Positioning holes

262‧‧‧Substrate

28‧‧‧Key Module

280‧‧‧Key Cap

282‧‧‧Flexible components

Claims (11)

A film type button structure comprising: a lower film comprising a lower contact; an upper film laid over the lower film, pressed by an external force to deform and approach the lower contact, and the upper film includes an upper film a contact, the upper contact triggers a digital signal when the upper contact is connected with the lower contact; and a pressure sensing film stacked with the upper film and the lower film, including a sensing area, the sensing The area is adapted to change an impedance according to the magnitude of the external force, and trigger a similar type of signal corresponding to the impedance; wherein the sensing area, the upper contact and the lower contact are vertically aligned. The membrane-type button structure of claim 1, wherein the membrane switch further comprises a barrier film disposed between the upper film and the lower film, the barrier film comprising one of the upper contact and the lower contact A positioning hole is passed through the positioning hole to be in contact with the lower contact. The membrane type button structure according to claim 2, wherein the pressure sensing film is stacked above the upper film, receives the external force and is transmitted downward to the upper film. The membrane type button structure of claim 3, wherein the membrane switch further comprises a substrate disposed under the lower film to support the pressure sensing film, the upper film, the barrier film and the lower film. The film type button structure of claim 4, wherein the upper film and the lower film are flexible printed circuit boards. The film type button structure according to claim 5, wherein the sensing area is made of a polymer material. The membrane button structure of claim 6, further comprising a button module structure disposed above the pressure sensing film, receiving the external force and pressing the pressure sensing film downward to make the pressure sensing The film is deformed and the external force is transmitted downward to the upper film. The membrane-type button structure of claim 7, wherein the pressure sensing film comprises: a lower pressure film; and an upper pressure film stacked vertically with the lower pressure film, wherein the upper pressure film and the lower pressure film are at least The sensing area is disposed, and the upper pressure film is pressed by the external force to generate deformation and triggers the analog signal when contacting the lower pressure film. A membrane type keyboard comprising: a connection module for connecting an external computer; a membrane type button structure as claimed in claim 1; a circuit board electrically connecting the connection module, the pressure sensing film, The upper film and the lower film; and a microcontroller electrically connected to the circuit board, and electrically connected to the connection module, the pressure sensing film, the upper film and the lower film via the circuit board, The digital controller transmits the digital signal and the analog signal triggered by the membrane type button structure to the external computer via the connection module. The membrane keyboard of claim 9, further comprising a mode switch, electrically connected to the circuit board, and electrically connected to the microcontroller via the circuit board, accepting a mode switching operation and transmitting a single output Mode signal to the microcontroller, so that the microcontroller transmits the digital signal or the analog signal to the external computer according to the single output mode signal, or sends a pair of output mode signals to the microcontroller to enable the micro The controller transmits the signal according to the dual output mode simultaneously Send the digital signal and the analog signal to the external computer. The thin film keyboard of claim 10, further comprising a light emitting component electrically connected to the circuit board and electrically connected to the microcontroller via the circuit board to be controlled by the microcontroller The controller emits light when the digital signal structure receives the digital signal or the analog signal that is triggered.