WO2022117886A1

WO2022117886A1 - Mechanical keyboard and corresponding methods

Info

Publication number: WO2022117886A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/084295
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tobias Brinkmann
Original assignee: 360 Service Agency GmbH
Priority date: 2020-12-04
Filing date: 2021-12-04
Publication date: 2022-06-09
Also published as: NL2028932A; NL2028932B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanical keyboard comprising: - a printed circuit board, and - a plate with holes to receive a plurality of switches, wherein the plate is configured to delimit movement of the switches relative to the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board comprises electrical connections to receive corresponding electrical connections of the plurality of switches, and wherein the printed circuit board comprises mechanical connections to receive corresponding mechanical connections of the plurality of switches, which mechanical connections are configured to delimit movement of the switches relative to the printed circuit board.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Mechanical keyboard and corresponding methods

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Keyboards used to provide user input to a computer device are well-known. Keyboards come in two varieties, namely membrane keyboards in which key caps are configured to press down on a thin membrane layer to a conductive circuit underneath registering the key pressed, and mechanical keyboards which use spring-loaded switches to register the key pressed. An advantage of membrane keyboards is that they are lighter, generally more portable, cheaper and quieter than their mechanical counterparts. An advantage of mechanical keyboards is that they provide much more direct feedback and that the switches can be easily designed for a specific feel. As a result, mechanical keyboards are preferred by for instance gamers.

In a mechanical keyboard, the switches are electrically connected to a printed circuit board (PCB). In one type of mechanical keyboard, the switches are of the plate-mounted type in which the switches are secured and aligned relative to the PCB by a plate thereby providing a robust keyboard. In another type of mechanical keyboard, the switches are of the PCB-mounted type in which the switches include guide pins, and the PCB includes holes to receive the guide pins to delimit movement of the switches relative to the PCB. As a result, it is cheaper to produce the mechanical keyboard with PCB-mounted switches compared to the type with the plate-mounted switches.

The switches may be soldered to the PCB to provide robust and fixed electrical connections. The electrical connections may alternatively be temporary using sockets so that a switch can simply be replaced for another switch by unplugging the "old" switch and plugging in the "new" switch, so that a gamer may for instance switch to another feel of the switches without having to replace the entire mechanical keyboard or desoldering the old switch from the PCB and soldering the new switch to the PCB. Another advantage is that switches can easily be removed for maintenance or cleaning. Such a mechanical keyboard may be referred to as a hot-swap or hot-swappable keyboard. Although the hot-swappable keyboard provides flexibility to switch between different feels of the switches by interchanging the switches without having to carry out a lot of soldering, the flexibility is still limited, and gamers are not able to use any kind of switch with any type of mechanical keyboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanical keyboard with improved flexibility.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a mechanical keyboard comprising: a printed circuit board, and a plate with holes to receive a plurality of switches, wherein the plate is configured to delimit movement of the switches relative to the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board comprises electrical connections to receive corresponding electrical connections of the plurality of switches, and wherein the printed circuit board comprises mechanical connections to receive corresponding mechanical connections of the plurality of switches, which mechanical connections are configured to delimit movement of the switches relative to the printed circuit board.

An advantage of the mechanical keyboard according to the invention is that the keyboard can be used with both plate-mounted switches and PCB-mounted switches providing additional flexibility in the configuration of the mechanical keyboard. Also, when replacing a switch, any type of switch can be used. This is in contrast to prior art mechanical keyboards including PCB-mounted switches which cannot be used with platemounted switches, and in contrast to prior art mechanical keyboards including platemounted switches which can only be used with PCB-mounted switches by damaging the PCB-mounted switches in order to remove the mechanical connections. In an embodiment, the mechanical keyboard is provided with one or more plate-mounted switches.

In an embodiment, the mechanical keyboard is provided with one or more PCB-mounted switches.

Hence, it is envisaged that the mechanical keyboard comprises one or more platemounted switches and one or more PCB-mounted switches at the same time.

In an embodiment, the mechanical connections in the printed circuit board are holes configured to receive guide pins of the plurality of switches.

In an embodiment, the electrical connections of the printed circuit board are configured to provide a temporary electrical connection between switch and printed circuit board. This has the advantage that no soldering is required, and switches can easily be replaced or removed for e.g. cleaning purposes.

In an embodiment, the plate comprises holes to receive stabilizer supports for key caps, which holes are configured to delimit movement of the stabilizer supports relative to the printed circuit board.

In an embodiment, the printed circuit board comprises mechanical connections to receive corresponding mechanical connections of stabilizer supports for key caps, which mechanical connections are configured to delimit movement of the stabilizer supports relative to the printed circuit board.

The invention also relates to a method for using the mechanical keyboard according to the invention including one or more plate-mounted switches, comprising the following steps: a. removing a plate-mounted switch, and b. replacing the removed plate-mounted switch with a PCB-mounted switch. The invention further relates to a method for using the mechanical keyboard according to the invention including one or more PCB-mounted switches, comprising the following steps: a. removing a PCB-mounted switch, and b. replacing the removed PCB-mounted switch with a plate-mounted switch.

It is to be noted that the described electrical connections and the mechanical connections are separate components with dedicated functions. Hence, it will be clear to the skilled person that although the electrical connections may delimit movement of the switches relative to the printed circuit board to some extent, the main function of the electrical connections is to provide an electrical connection between a switch and the printed circuit board, and the presence of separate mechanical connections is required to delimit movement of the switches relative to the printed circuit board and for instance to prevent damage to the electrical connections under mechanical load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in a non-limiting way by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are indicated by like reference symbols, and in which:

Fig. 1 schematically depicts a top view of a mechanical keyboard according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 schematically depicts a perspective view of the mechanical keyboard of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 schematically depicts a portion of the mechanical keyboard of Fig. 1 with some of the key caps being omitted;

Fig. 4 schematically depicts a portion of the mechanical keyboard of Fig. 1 with some of the key caps and the plate being omitted;

Fig. 5 schematically depicts a portion of the mechanical keyboard of Fig. 1 with some of the key caps, the plate, some of the switches and a stabilizer support being omitted; and

Fig. 6 schematically depicts a perspective bottom view of a switch suitable for the mechanical keyboard of Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figs. 1 to 5 schematically depict a mechanical keyboard 1 or a portion thereof according to an embodiment of the invention. Figs. 1 and 5 schematically depict a top view. Figs. 2 to 4 schematically depict a perspective view.

The keyboard 1 comprises a main unit la and an extension unit lb that is permanently or removably attached to the main unit la. Both units la, lb include keys to provide input to a computer device (not shown) using the keyboard 1. Keys of the mechanical keyboard 1 include a switch 10 and a key cap 11 supported by the switch 10 and optionally a stabilizer support 12 to provide additional support for a key cap 11' that is significantly larger than a switch 10, e.g. a space bar key.

The main unit la includes a housing 2a accommodating a printed circuit board 3a to be electrically connected to the switches 10 to register keystrokes and output the registered keystrokes to a computer device via a cable 4. The extension unit lb may have a similar construction or configuration with a housing 2a and a printed circuit board. However, the printed circuit board of the extension unit lb may be configured to output the registered keystrokes to the computer device via the printed circuit board 3a of the main unit la. Although a cable 4 is depicted to exchange signals between the keyboard 1 and the computer device, other communication means including wireless principles such as a WIFI, Bluetooth and infrared are also envisaged.

In Figs. 2 and 3, some of the key caps 11 have been omitted to clearly show some of the switches 10 and stabilizer supports 12, and a plate 13. The plate 13 is provided with holes 13a to receive corresponding switches 10 and holes 13b to receive corresponding stabilizer supports 12.

Fig. 4 depicts the same portion of the mechanical keyboard 1 as depicted in Fig. 3 but now also with the plate 3 being omitted thereby revealing the printed circuit board 3a beneath the plate 3. Fig. 5 depicts a top view of the portion of the mechanical keyboard shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with two switches 10 and a stabilizer support 12 being omitted to clearly show details of the printed circuit board 3a.

The printed circuit board 3a includes two electrical connections 30, 31 per switch 10 to receive corresponding electrical connections 10a, 10b of a switch 10 (see Fig. 6). The printed circuit board 3a further comprises mechanical connections 32, 33, 34 to receive corresponding mechanical connections 10c, lOd, lOe of a switch 10.

Mechanical connection 10c acts as an alignment member to align the switch 10 relative to the printed circuit board 3a and to set a vertical position of the switch 10 to a predetermined value.

When the switch 10 is of the plate-mounted type, the mechanical connections 10b, 10c are not present, which is why the mechanical connections 10b, 10c in Fig. 6 are shown in dashed lines. However, in that case, the plate 13 with the holes 13a delimit movement of the switch 10 in a plane parallel to the plate 13.

When the switch 10 is of the PCB-mounted type, the mechanical connections 10b, 10c are present, so that the holes 33, 34 in the printed circuit board are able to receive the mechanical connections 10b, 10c to delimit movement of the switch 10 in a plane parallel to the printed circuit board 3a. The mechanical connections 33, 34 and 10b, 10c may be configured as a snap-fit connection, a friction-based connection, form-fit connection or bayonet mount, preferably preventing a too easy removal of the switch 10, i.e. providing a threshold to remove the switch 10.

The same applies to the stabilizer support 12. The stabilizer support 12 may be of the plate-mounted type in which movement of the stabilizer support 12 is delimited by the plate 13 with the holes 13b. However, the printed circuit board 3a may include mechanical connections 35, 36 to receive mechanical connections of the stabilizer support 12, e.g. bolts or pins. Although a skilled person might recognize a specific layout of the keys on the mechanical keyboard depicted in the examples, it is explicitly noted here that the specific layout of the keys is not relevant, and the invention can be applied to any layout. Although the mechanical connections on the switch and the corresponding mechanical connections on the printed circuit board have a symmetrical arrangement in the drawings, and the electrical connections have an asymmetric arrangement, this is not necessary per se. However, an asymmetric arrangement of the mechanical connections and/or the electrical connections may have the advantage that the corresponding switch can only be placed in one desired orientation thereby reducing the risk of misplacing the switch.

Claims

C L A I M S A mechanical keyboard comprising: a printed circuit board, and a plate with holes to receive a plurality of switches, wherein the plate is configured to delimit movement of the switches relative to the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board comprises electrical connections to receive corresponding electrical connections of the plurality of switches, and wherein the printed circuit board comprises mechanical connections to receive corresponding mechanical connections of the plurality of switches, which mechanical connections are configured to delimit movement of the switches relative to the printed circuit board. A mechanical keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising one or more plate-mounted switches. A mechanical keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising one or more PCB- mounted switches. A mechanical keyboard according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the mechanical connections in the printed-circuit board are holes configured to receive guide pins of the plurality of switches. A mechanical keyboard according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the electrical connections of the printed circuit board are configured to provide a temporary electrical connection between switch and printed circuit board. A mechanical keyboard according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the plate comprises holes to receive stabilizer supports for key caps, which holes are configured to delimit movement of the stabilizer supports relative to the printed circuit board. A mechanical keyboard according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the printed circuit board comprises mechanical connections to receive corresponding mechanical connections of stabilizer supports for key caps, which mechanical connections are configured to delimit movement of the stabilizer supports relative to the printed circuit board.

8. A method for using the mechanical keyboard according to claim 2, comprising the following steps: a. removing a plate-mounted switch, and b. replacing the removed plate-mounted switch with a PCB-mounted switch. 9. A method for using the mechanical keyboard according to claim 3, comprising the following steps: a. removing a PCB-mounted switch, and b. replacing the removed PCB-mounted switch with a plate-mounted switch.