TWM535344U - Keycap and keyswitch device - Google Patents

Abstract

A keycap includes a main body and a light-shielding paint layer. The main body has a plurality of light-permeable portions and a non-light-permeable portion. The non-light-permeable portion separates the light-permeable portions. The light-shielding paint layer is disposed on a top surface of the main body and has a plurality of light-passing portions. The light-passing portions are respectively located over the light-permeable portions.

Description

Key cap and button device

This creation is about a keycap and button device.

In terms of the current usage habits of personal computers, the keyboard is one of the indispensable input devices for inputting text or numbers. Moreover, the consumer-grade electronic 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.

In order to increase the application of the keyboard (for example, in order to conveniently use the keyboard in a darker place, or for the keyboard to have a bright display, easy to distinguish, etc.), the market has developed an illuminated keyboard, so that users can also Use in places with dark lighting. At present, it is known to set a backlight module in the keyboard to project the light emitted by the light source to the periphery of each button of the keyboard through the backlight module, so that the light passes through the gap between the plurality of buttons or the key cap of the button. The light department is emitted.

At present, the key caps used in general illuminating keyboards are mostly made of a permeable material having a single color. In the case where there are a plurality of characters on the keycap, if each character is to have a different light effect (for example, brightness), one method is to adjust the position of the reflection portion of the reflection portion on the light guide plate of the backlight module correspondingly. Of course However, this method is not easy to control the light effect, because the two-character light effect adjacent to each other often interferes with each other.

Therefore, how to propose a keycap and button device that can solve the above problems is one of the problems that the industry is currently eager to invest in research and development resources.

In view of this, one of the purposes of the present invention is to propose a keycap and button device that can effectively control the light effects of different characters on the keycap.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a keycap includes a body and a light-shielding lacquer layer. The body has a plurality of light transmitting portions and a light blocking portion. The light blocking portion is separated from the light transmitting portion. The light-shielding lacquer layer is disposed on the top surface of the body and has a plurality of light crossing portions. The light crossing portions respectively correspond to the upper portion of the light transmitting portion.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the body is a two-shot plastic piece.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the light blocking portion is a lightning-blocking structure.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the light passing portion is a Ray-cut hollow structure.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, each of the light crossing portions described above includes a pattern. The drawings are numbers, symbols, words or graphics.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the keycap further includes a protective layer covering the top surface. The lacquer layer is located between the body and the protective layer.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the keycap further includes a light transmissive lacquer layer disposed between the body and the light shielding lacquer layer.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the light transmissive portion of the body is transparent and the light transmissive lacquer layer has a color.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the light transmissive portion of the body has a color.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the body has a bottom surface opposite to the top surface. The light blocking portion extends from the top surface to the bottom surface.

In order to achieve the above object, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a button device includes a bottom plate, a circuit board, a key cap, a connecting member, and a backlight module. The circuit board is disposed on the bottom plate. The keycap includes a body and a light-shielding lacquer layer. The body is disposed above the circuit board and has a plurality of light transmitting portions and a light blocking portion. The light blocking portion is separated from the light transmitting portion. The light-shielding lacquer layer is disposed on the top surface of the body and has a plurality of light crossing portions. The light crossing portions respectively correspond to the upper portion of the light transmitting portion. The connecting member is connected between the bottom plate and the key cap, and is configured to guide the key cap to lift and lower relative to the bottom plate. The backlight module is disposed under the keycap and includes a light source and a light guide plate. The light guide plate is configured to guide the light emitted by the light source to the keycap and has a plurality of reflection portions. The reflecting portion corresponds to the light transmitting portion.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the backlight module is disposed under the bottom plate.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the backlight module is disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the area of the reflecting portion directly under one of the light transmitting portions is different from the area of the reflecting portion directly under the other of the light transmitting portions.

In summary, the key cap and button device of the present invention utilizes a key cap. The light blocking portion provided on the body separates the body from the plurality of light transmitting portions to respectively correspond to characters on the key cap. Therefore, the key cap can make a clear distinction between the light effect or the color of each character by the light blocking portion, thereby effectively avoiding mutual interference. Thereby, under the structural configuration of the keycap and the button device of the present invention, the light effect of each character can be conveniently adjusted separately.

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, 200‧‧‧ button device

110‧‧‧floor

111‧‧‧ hook

120‧‧‧ boards

121‧‧‧ Lower film layer

122‧‧‧Upper film layer

123‧‧‧ spacer

123a‧‧‧Perforation

130, 230‧‧‧ keycaps

131, 231‧‧‧ ontology

131a, 231a‧‧‧Transmission Department

131b‧‧‧Light Blocking Department

131c‧‧‧ top surface

131d‧‧‧ bottom

132‧‧‧Transparent paint layer

133‧‧‧ shading paint layer

133a‧‧‧Light Crossing Department

134‧‧‧Protective layer

140‧‧‧Connecting parts

150‧‧‧Reset parts

160‧‧‧Backlight module

161‧‧‧Light source

162‧‧‧Light guide

162a‧‧‧Reflection Department

163‧‧‧reflective layer

The above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent and understood. The description of the drawings is as follows: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a key device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the keycap of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a top view showing the body of the keycap in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top view showing the key cap of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the keycap of another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a key device of another embodiment of the present invention.

In the following, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed in the drawings. For the sake of clarity, a number of practical details will be described in the following description. However, it should be understood that these practical details are not applied to limit the creation. In other words, in the implementation part of this creation, these practical details are not necessary. need. 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.

Please refer to Figure 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a key device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the button device 100 of the present embodiment may be a button for a desktop computer to use a keyboard (for example, a keyboard of a PS2 interface or a keyboard of a USB interface) or a button including an input device in a keyboard form. But it is not limited to this. In other words, the concept of the key device 100 of the present invention can be applied to any electronic product that uses a button as an input interface.

As shown in FIG. 1 , in the present embodiment, the key device 100 includes a bottom plate 110 , a circuit board 120 , a key cap 130 , a connector 140 , a reset member 150 , and a backlight module 160 . The circuit board 120 is disposed on the bottom plate 110. The connecting member 140 is coupled between the bottom plate 110 and the keycap 130 and configured to guide the keycap 130 to move up and down relative to the bottom plate 110. The backlight module 160 is disposed under the keycap 130 and includes a light source 161, a light guide plate 162, and a reflective layer 163. The light guide plate 162 is configured to guide the light emitted by the light source 161 to the keycap 130. The reflective layer 163 is disposed under the light guide plate 162 and configured to reflect the light reaching the bottom of the light guide plate 162 in the light guide plate 162 upward. In the embodiment, the backlight module 160 is disposed under the bottom plate 110, and the bottom plate 110 is permeable to light. For example, the bottom plate 110 is made of an opaque material and has an opening (not shown) for light to pass through, or is made of a light transmissive material, which is not limited thereto. Moreover, the circuit board 120 as a whole is permeable to light. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 161 into the light guide plate 162 can then reach the key cap 130 through the bottom plate 110 and the circuit board 120 after leaving the light exit surface of the light guide plate 162.

Specifically, the bottom plate 110 extends with a hook 111. Circuit board 120 Correspondingly, there is a through hole (not shown) for the hook 111 of the bottom plate 110 to pass through. The connecting member 140 is connected between the key cap 130 and the hook 111 of the bottom plate 110, and is pivotally connected by the two links, so as to drive and guide the key cap 130 to move up and down with respect to the bottom plate 110. The reset member 150 is disposed above the circuit board 120 and between the key cap 130 and the circuit board 120. When the keycap 130 is pressed down by receiving an external force, the resetting member 150 will generate a resistance to the keycap 130, thereby providing a user's feeling of pressing, and when the external force applied to the keycap 130 is released, the resetting member 150 can provide the lowering The pressing key cap 130 returns to the restoring force of the original unpressed position. In the embodiment, the resetting member 150 may be a rubber elastic body.

In practical applications, the connecting member 140 can also be replaced with other supporting structures having similar functions (ie, driving the keycap 130 to move up and down relative to the bottom plate 110), such as a V-shaped, A-shaped or two-parallel connecting rod structure. The reset member 150 can also be replaced with other components having similar functions, such as metal domes or magnetic components.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the circuit board 120 includes a lower film layer 121, an upper film layer 122, and a spacer layer 123. The lower film layer 121 is located on the bottom plate 110. The upper film layer 122 is located above the lower film layer 121. The lower film layer 121 and the upper film layer 122 are separated from opposite sides of the spacer layer 123. That is, the spacer layer 123 separates the lower film layer 121 from the upper film layer 122 by its thickness. The spacer layer 123 has a through hole 123a. The through hole 123a is located directly below the keycap 130.

In some embodiments, the lower film layer 121 and the upper film layer 122 respectively include a circuit and a plurality of guiding points (not shown). The conductive contacts of the upper film layer 122 are configured to contact the conductive contacts of the lower film layer 121 via the through holes 123a. Specifically, when the keycap 130 is not pressed, the guiding points on the upper film layer 122 and the guiding points of the lower film layer 121 are electrically separated from each other on both sides of the spacer layer 123. when When the keycap 130 is pressed to move toward the bottom plate 110, the keycap 130 directly or indirectly pushes the upper film layer 122 partially into the through hole 123a of the spacer layer 123, so that the guiding point on the upper film layer 122 passes through the spacer layer 123. The perforations 123a contact the conductive contacts of the lower film layer 121 (i.e., the triggering behavior, in the present embodiment, the upper film layer 122 is pushed through the reset member 150 to trigger the switching circuit). Thereby, the circuit board 120 then generates a trigger signal corresponding to the pressed button device 100.

Please refer to Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the keycap 130 of an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a top view showing the body 131 of the keycap 130 in FIG. 2. Fig. 4 is a top view showing the keycap 130 in Fig. 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , in the present embodiment, the key cap 130 includes a body 131 , a light transmissive lacquer layer 132 , a light shielding lacquer layer 133 , and a protective layer 134 . The body 131 is disposed above the circuit board 120 and has a plurality of light transmitting portions 131a and a light blocking portion 131b. The light blocking portion 131b separates the main body 131 from the plurality of light transmitting portions 131a (in the third embodiment, the light blocking portion 131b partitions the four light transmitting portions 131a, but the present invention is not limited thereto). The light-shielding lacquer layer 133 is disposed on the top surface 131c of the body 131 and has a plurality of light crossing portions 133a (in FIG. 4, the light-shielding lacquer layer 133 has four light crossing portions 133a, but the present invention is not limited thereto) . The light passing portions 133a correspond to the upper portions of the light transmitting portions 131a, respectively. The light transmissive lacquer layer 132 is disposed between the body 131 and the light shielding lacquer layer 133. The protective layer 134 covers the top surface 131c of the body 131 such that the light-shielding lacquer layer 133 is located between the body 131 and the protective layer 134. The protective layer 134 is configured to protect the light transmissive lacquer layer 132 and the light shielding lacquer layer 133 disposed on the top surface 131c of the body 131. In other words, the light-transmitting varnish layer 132, the light-shielding lacquer layer 133, and the protective layer 134 are sequentially laminated by the top surface 131c of the body 131.

In some embodiments, the light transmitting portion 131a of the body 131 is transparent. The clear lacquer layer 132 has a color (eg, red) and the protective layer 134 is also made of a light transmissive material. Therefore, when the light reaches the keycap 130 from below, it will reach the light-transmitting lacquer layer 132 through the body 131 of the keycap 130 and change color (for example, from white light to red light) when passing through the light-transmitting lacquer layer 132. The light of the changed color will then pass through the light-passing portion 133a of the light-shielding lacquer layer 133 and the protective layer 134 away from the keycap 130 for viewing by the user.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the light guide plate 162 further has a reflection portion 162a provided at a bottom portion thereof, and the reflection portion 162a may be a reflection point formed by a reflective ink or a microstructure. The reflecting portion 162a corresponds to the light transmitting portion 131a of the body 131 of the keycap 130. In some embodiments, the area of the reflective portion 162a directly under the light transmitting portion (for example, the area coated by the reflective ink) is different from the reflecting portion 162a directly under the other of the transparent portions 131a. area. For example, the area of the reflecting portion 162a directly below the light transmitting portion 131a in the lower left portion of FIG. 3 can be designed to be twice the area of the reflecting portion 162a directly below the light transmitting portion 131a at the lower right side, and then the second pass can be designed. The light of the light passing portion 133a at the lower left in the figure (i.e., the light crossing portion 133a corresponding to the character "5") may be brighter than the light passing through the light passing portion 133a of the lower right (i.e., the light crossing portion 133a corresponding to the character "王"). Brightness.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, all of the light transmitting portions 131a can be separated by the light blocking portion 131b, so that the brightness of each character can be clearly distinguished, and the situation in which the luminances interfere with each other can be effectively prevented. Thereby, in the configuration of the keycap 130 and the key device 100 of the present embodiment, the brightness of each character can be easily adjusted individually.

In some embodiments, the reflective portion 162a of the light guide plate 162 can be A dot-like reflection pattern is formed or a recessed structure.

In some embodiments, the light-transmitting varnish layer 132 may also include a plurality of sub-blocks having different colors (not shown), and the sub-blocks respectively correspond to the light-transmitting portions 131a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, all of the light transmitting portions 131a can be separated by the light blocking portion 131b, so that the color of each character can be clearly distinguished, and the situation in which the colors interfere with each other can be effectively prevented. Thereby, in the configuration of the keycap 130 and the key device 100 of the present embodiment, the color of each character can be easily adjusted individually.

In some embodiments, each of the light traversing portions 133a of the light-shielding lacquer layer 133 includes a pattern. For example, the pattern is a number, a symbol, a word, or a graphic. Thereby, the light transmitted by the light passing portion 133a can clearly indicate the input character represented by the user of the button device 100.

In some embodiments, the body 131 of the keycap 130 is a two-shot plastic piece. That is, the material of the light transmitting portion 131a of the body 131 may include a light transmissive plastic, and the material of the light blocking portion 131b may include a non-transmissive plastic, and the two plastics integrally form the cost body 131 through a two-material injection process.

In some embodiments, the light blocking portion 131b of the body 131 is a lightning-blocking structure. Specifically, the body 131 can be deformed into the light blocking portion 131b by a laser engraving process (for example, the light transmitting portion 131a is zoomed black without light transmission by the high temperature of the laser).

In some embodiments, the light crossing portion 133a of the light-shielding lacquer layer 133 is a embossed hollow structure. Specifically, a portion of the light-shielding lacquer layer 133 can be removed by a laser engraving process to form a light-passing portion 133a. However, in practical applications, the light crossing portion 133a may be formed by other processing methods, and is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the body 131 further has a bottom surface 131d opposite to the top surface 131c, and the light blocking portion 131b extends from the top surface 131c to the bottom surface 131d. Therefore, after the light is incident into the body 131 of the keycap 130 from below, the light blocking portion 131b can completely prevent the light from entering the other light transmitting portion 131a from one of the light transmitting portions 131a, thereby controlling the key more effectively. The effect of different characters on the cap 130.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view showing the keycap 230 of another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the keycap 230 includes a body 231, a light-shielding lacquer layer 133, and a protective layer 134. The light-shielding lacquer layer 133 and the protective layer 134 are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. Reference may be made to the foregoing related descriptions, and details are not described herein again. It is to be noted that, in comparison with the keycap 130 shown in FIG. 2, the keycap 230 of the present embodiment omits the light-transmitting lacquer layer 132 and causes the light transmitting portion 231a of the body 231 to have a color (for example, red). Therefore, when the light reaches the keycap 230 from below, the color changes (for example, from white light to red light) when passing through the light transmitting portion 231a of the body 231. The light of the changed color will then pass through the light-passing portion 133a of the light-shielding lacquer layer 133 and the protective layer 134 away from the keycap 230 for viewing by the user.

Please refer to FIG. 6 , which is a cross-sectional view showing a button device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6 , in the present embodiment, the button device 200 also includes a bottom plate 110 , a circuit board 120 , a key cap 130 , a connector 140 , a reset member 150 , and a backlight module 160 , and these components are the same as those in FIG. 1 . The embodiments are the same, so reference may be made to the foregoing related descriptions, and details are not described herein again. It is to be noted that, in comparison with the button device 100 shown in FIG. 2, the button device 200 of the present embodiment sets the backlight module 160 to the bottom plate 110 and the key cap. The backlight module 160 can be disposed between the circuit board 120, the circuit board 120, or the circuit board 120. The present invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the backlight module 160 is disposed on the circuit board 120. The description will be made below. Similarly, the circuit board 120 is permeable to light. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 161 into the light guide plate 162 can be passed through the circuit board 120 to the key cap 130 after leaving the light exit surface of the light guide plate 162.

From the above detailed description of the specific implementation of the present invention, it can be clearly seen that the key cap and the button device of the present invention utilizes the light blocking portion of the body of the key cap to separate the body from the plurality of light transmitting portions to respectively correspond to The character on the keycap. Therefore, the key cap can make a clear distinction between the light effect or the color of each character by the light blocking portion, thereby effectively avoiding mutual interference. Thereby, under the structural configuration of the keycap and the button device of the present invention, the light effect of each character can be conveniently adjusted separately.

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 creation. The scope is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application.

130‧‧‧Key Cap

131‧‧‧Ontology

131a‧‧‧Transmission Department

131b‧‧‧Light Blocking Department

131c‧‧‧ top surface

131d‧‧‧ bottom

132‧‧‧Transparent paint layer

133‧‧‧ shading paint layer

133a‧‧‧Light Crossing Department

134‧‧‧Protective layer

Claims (23)

A key cap comprising: a body having a light blocking portion and a plurality of light transmitting portions, wherein the light blocking portion is separated from the light transmitting portions; and a light shielding lacquer layer disposed on a top surface of the body and having a plurality of light crossing portions respectively corresponding to the light transmitting portions. The keycap of claim 1, wherein the body is a two-shot plastic piece. The keycap of claim 1, wherein the light blocking portion is a lightning blocking structure. The keycap of claim 1, wherein the light crossing portions are a stenciled hollow structure. The keycap of claim 4, wherein each of the light crossing portions comprises a pattern selected from the group consisting of a number, a symbol, a word, and a graphic. The keycap of claim 1, further comprising a protective layer covering the top surface, wherein the light shielding lacquer layer is located between the body and the protective layer. The keycap of claim 1, further comprising a light-transmissive lacquer layer disposed between the body and the light-shielding lacquer layer. The keycap of claim 7, wherein the light transmissive portion of the body is transparent, and the light transmissive lacquer layer has a color. The keycap of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive portion of the body has a color. The keycap of claim 1, wherein the body further has a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and the light blocking portion extends from the top surface to the bottom surface. A button device comprising: a bottom plate; a circuit board disposed on the bottom plate; a key cap comprising: a body disposed above the circuit board and having a light blocking portion and a plurality of light transmitting portions, wherein the The light blocking portion is disposed apart from the light transmitting portions; and a light shielding lacquer layer is disposed on a top surface of the body and has a plurality of light crossing portions respectively corresponding to the light transmitting portions respectively; a piece, connected between the bottom plate and the key cap, and configured to guide The keycap is raised and lowered relative to the bottom plate; and a backlight module is disposed under the keycap and includes: a light source; and a light guide plate configured to guide the light emitted by the light source to the keycap, And having a plurality of reflecting portions corresponding to the light transmitting portions. The button device of claim 11, wherein the body is a two-shot plastic member. The button device of claim 11, wherein the light blocking portion is a lightning blocking structure. The button device of claim 11, wherein the light crossing portions are a stenciled hollow structure. The button device of claim 14, wherein each of the light traversing portions comprises a pattern selected from the group consisting of a number, a symbol, a word, and a graphic. The key device of claim 11, wherein the keycap further comprises a protective layer covering the top surface, wherein the light shielding lacquer layer is located between the body and the protective layer. The key device of claim 11, wherein the keycap further comprises a light-transmissive lacquer layer disposed between the body and the light-shielding lacquer layer. The button device of claim 17, wherein the light transmissive portion of the body is transparent, and the light transmissive lacquer layer has a color. The button device of claim 11, wherein the light transmitting portion of the body has a color. The button device of claim 11, wherein the body further has a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and the light blocking portion extends from the top surface to the bottom surface. The button device of claim 11, wherein the backlight module is disposed under the bottom plate. The button device of claim 11, wherein the backlight module is disposed between the bottom plate and the key cap. The button device of claim 11, wherein an area of the reflection portions directly under one of the light transmitting portions is different from the other one of the light transmitting portions The area of the reflecting portion.