Replaceable key keyboard system

Abstract

A keyboard system with replaceable keys includes a magnetic clasp, a circuit board, and a plurality of keys. The circuit board includes a circuit board body stacked on the magnetic clasp, the circuit board body having a plurality of key areas, each key area having a plurality of positioning holes. The keys are respectively disposed on the key areas and can be attracted to the key areas by the magnetic force of the magnetic clasp. Each key includes a keycap and a metal plate with magnetic conductivity that can be attracted to its respective key area by the magnetic force of the magnetic clasp. The metal plate has a plurality of downwardly extending positioning pins, which can be inserted into the positioning holes of the corresponding key areas, so that any key can be easily removed and installed, improving the user's convenience.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a keyboard, and more particularly to a keyboard system with replaceable keys. [Previous Technology]

[0002] A conventional keyboard includes a keyboard frame, a circuit board disposed within the keyboard frame, and a plurality of keys disposed within the keyboard frame. The keyboard frame has a plurality of upward-opening support tubes, each support tube surrounding a through hole. The circuit board has a plurality of trigger buttons corresponding to the through holes. Each key has an extension that can be inserted into its respective through hole. When any key is pressed, its respective extension presses downward against the key, thereby triggering the key.

[0003] However, in order to ensure the structural stability of these buttons, a tight elastic structure is provided between each extension and its respective support tube. This results in a situation where, if any button needs to be disassembled, a great deal of force is required to disassemble the extension of the button from the elastic structure, making disassembly difficult. Excessive force may also cause accidental impact and injury. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard system with replaceable keys that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0005] Thus, the keyboard system with replaceable keys of the present invention includes a magnetic plate, a circuit board, and a plurality of keys.

[0006] The magnetic clasp has magnetic force. The circuit board includes a circuit board body stacked on the magnetic clasp along a vertical direction, and a plurality of trigger elements disposed on the circuit board body. The circuit board body has a plurality of key areas respectively for the trigger elements to be disposed. Each key area has a plurality of positioning holes. The keys are respectively disposed on the key areas along the vertical direction and can be attracted to the key areas by the magnetic force of the magnetic clasp. Each key includes a keycap and a magnetically conductive element disposed below the keycap that can be attracted to the respective key area by the magnetic force of the magnetic clasp. The key area has a metal plate, a scissor-switch assembly disposed between the keycap and the metal plate, and an elastic assembly disposed within the scissor-switch assembly and on the metal plate. The metal plate has a metal body, a plurality of positioning pins extending downward from the metal body, and a plate through hole formed in the metal body. The positioning pins can be inserted into the corresponding positioning holes of the key area. The plate through hole corresponds to the respective trigger. When the keycap is pressed, it will activate the scissor-switch assembly and press against the elastic assembly, so that part of the elastic assembly passes through the plate through hole and presses against the trigger.

[0007] The advantage of the present invention is that by setting the magnetic sheet, the positioning holes of the circuit board, the metal plates of the buttons, and the positioning pins of the buttons, any button can be easily disassembled and installed, thereby improving the user's convenience.

Implementation Method

[0008] Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, an embodiment of the keyboard system with replaceable keys of the present invention includes a magnetic clasp 2, a substrate 3, a circuit board 4, and a plurality of keys 5.

[0009] The magnetic absorbing piece 2 has magnetic force.

[0010] The substrate 3 is disposed below the magnetic absorbing sheet 2 along a vertical direction Z.

[0011] Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, the circuit board 4 includes a circuit board body 41 stacked on the magnetic chuck 2 along the vertical direction Z, a plurality of trigger elements 42 disposed on the circuit board body 41, and a plurality of light-emitting elements 43 disposed on the circuit board body 41. The circuit board body 41 has a plurality of key areas 411 respectively for the trigger elements 42, and each key area 411 has two positioning holes 412. In this embodiment, the total number of the buttons 5, the trigger elements 42, and the key areas 411 is equal. Each key area 411 is provided with two light-emitting elements 43. The circuit board body 41 is a flexible circuit board, and the light-emitting elements 43 are light-emitting diodes. Each trigger element 42 generates a pressing signal when pressed. Since the trigger elements 42 are common technologies in the general keyboard field, they will not be described further.

[0012] The buttons 5 are respectively disposed on the key area 411 along the vertical direction Z, and can be attracted to the key area 411 by the magnetic force of the magnetic sheet 2.

[0013] Each key 5 includes a keycap 51, a metal plate 52 disposed below the keycap 51 and having magnetic conductivity so as to be magnetically attracted to its respective key area 411 by the magnetic force of the magnetic chuck 2, a scissor-switch assembly 53 disposed between the keycap 51 and the metal plate 52, and an elastic assembly 54 passing through the scissor-switch assembly 53 and disposed on the metal plate 52. In this embodiment, the metal plate 52 is made of iron, and the scissor-switch assembly 53 is a common key structure, so it will not be described further.

[0014] Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, each of the metal plates 52 has a metal plate body 521, two positioning pins 522 extending downward from the metal plate body 521, and a plate through hole 523 formed in the metal plate body 521. The positioning pins 522 can be inserted into the positioning holes 412 of the corresponding key area 411, and the plate through hole 523 corresponds to the respective trigger member 42.

[0015] Each elastic assembly 54 has a thin film 541 disposed on the metal plate body 521 of its respective metal plate 52, and an elastic body 542 (DOME) disposed on the thin film 541. The thin film 541 has a thin film perforation 543, and the elastic body 542 has an upper pressing portion 544 disposed on the thin film 541, and a lower pressing portion 545 connected to the upper pressing portion 544 and extending downward and corresponding to the thin film perforation 543. When the elastic body 542 is pressed, it can be linked to cause the lower pressing portion 545 to partially pass downward through the thin film perforation 543.

[0016] When the keycap 51 is pressed, it will activate the scissor arm assembly 53 and press against the elastic assembly 54, so that the lower pressing part 545 of the elastic assembly 54 passes through the plate through hole 523 and presses against the trigger member 42.

[0017] Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, during installation, as long as any button 5 is brought close to the corresponding key area 411, the button 5 will be attracted to the key area 411 by the magnetic force of the magnetic piece 2. After the positioning pins 522 of the button 5 pass through the positioning holes 412 located in the key area 411, the button 5 can be positioned. The installation is very simple. When the button 5 needs to be removed, as long as force is applied to the button 5 to overcome the magnetic force of the magnetic piece 2, the button 5 can be removed. The force required to overcome the magnetic force is not large, so the disassembly is also very simple.

[0018] Since any key 5 can be easily installed and removed, users can easily replace it, and even quickly change the appearance of key 5 according to their mood to achieve a personalized keyboard configuration.

[0019] In summary, by setting the magnetic clasp 2, the positioning holes 412 of the circuit board 4, the metal plates 52 of the buttons 5, and the positioning pins 522 of the buttons 5, any button 5 can be easily disassembled and installed, improving the user's convenience, and thus the purpose of the present invention can be achieved.

[0020] However, the above description is only an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0021] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: FIG1 is a perspective assembly view of an embodiment of the keyboard system with replaceable keys of the present invention; FIG2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment; FIG3 is a partial exploded view illustrating the state of the six keys being disassembled; FIG4 is an exploded perspective view of one of the keys in the embodiment; and FIG5 is an exploded perspective view of a metal plate and an elastic assembly of the key in the embodiment from another perspective.

Claims

1. A keyboard system with replaceable keys, comprising: a magnetic sheet having magnetic force; a circuit board including a circuit board body stacked on the magnetic sheet along a vertical direction, and a plurality of triggers disposed on the circuit board body, the circuit board body having a plurality of key areas respectively for the triggers, each key area having a plurality of positioning holes; and a plurality of keys respectively disposed on the key areas along the vertical direction and respectively attracted to the key areas by the magnetic force of the magnetic sheet, each key including a keycap, a metal plate disposed below the keycap and having magnetic conductivity so as to be attracted to its respective key area by the magnetic force of the magnetic sheet, a scissor-switch assembly disposed between the keycap and the metal plate, and an elastic assembly passing through the scissor-switch assembly and disposed on the metal plate, the metal plate having a metal plate body and a plurality of... The positioning pins extend downwards, and a plate through-hole is formed in the metal plate. The positioning pins can be inserted into the positioning holes of the corresponding key areas. The plate through-hole corresponds to the respective trigger. When the keycap is pressed, it will activate the scissor arm assembly and press against the elastic assembly, so that part of the elastic assembly passes through the plate through-hole and presses against the trigger. Each elastic assembly has a thin film disposed on its respective metal plate and an elastic body disposed on the thin film. The thin film has a thin film through-hole. The elastic body has an upper pressing part disposed on the thin film and a lower pressing part connected to the upper pressing part and extending downwards and corresponding to the thin film through-hole. When the elastic body is pressed, it can activate the lower pressing part to pass downwards through the thin film through-hole and the respective plate through-hole and press against the respective trigger.

2. A keyboard system with replaceable keys as described in claim 1, wherein, The circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

3. A keyboard system with replaceable keys as described in claim 1, wherein, The metal plate is made of iron.

4. A keyboard system with replaceable keys as described in claim 1, wherein, The circuit board also includes a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on the circuit board body.

5. A keyboard system with replaceable keys as described in claim 4, wherein, Each key area is equipped with two such light-emitting elements.

6. The keyboard system with replaceable keys as described in claim 1 further includes a substrate disposed below the magnetic piece along the vertical direction.

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