Buttons and keyboards

Abstract

The present invention discloses a key and a keyboard. The key comprises a light emitter; a light receiver, the light receiver and the light emitter being spaced apart; a base, the base being formed with a light-transmitting portion and a reflective portion, the light-transmitting portion and the reflective portion being arranged corresponding to the light emitter, the reflective portion being capable of transmitting the optical signal emitted by the light emitter to the light receiver; and a pressing mechanism, the pressing mechanism comprising a pressing assembly and a light-blocking member, the pressing assembly being movably disposed on the base and covering the light-transmitting portion, the light-transmitting portion being capable of transmitting the optical signal emitted by the light emitter to the pressing mechanism; the light-blocking member being connected to the pressing assembly, and when the pressing assembly is driven, the light-blocking member being capable of conducting or blocking the optical path between the reflective portion and the light receiver. The technical solution of the present invention reduces the manufacturing cost of the keyboard.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of keyboards, and in particular to a key and a keyboard using the key. Background Art

[0002] Currently, keyboard keys in related technologies can both achieve key functions and illuminate the keys through optical pathways. Specifically, when a key is pressed, the key function is achieved by connecting or disconnecting the optical pathway between a reflective light emitter and a reflective light receiver, while the key illumination is achieved by connecting the optical pathway of a second light emitter. However, since keyboard-like keys require corresponding light emitters for both function and illumination, and keyboards have a large number of keys, this necessitates a large number of light emitters, resulting in a more complex keyboard structure and increased manufacturing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a key to reduce the manufacturing cost of a keyboard.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the key provided by the present invention includes:

[0005] Light transmitter;

[0006] A light receiver, wherein the light receiver and the light transmitter are spaced apart from each other;

[0007] a base, wherein the base is formed with a light-transmitting portion and a reflecting portion, wherein the light-transmitting portion and the reflecting portion are arranged corresponding to the light emitter, and the reflecting portion can transmit the optical signal emitted by the light emitter to the light receiver; and

[0008] A pressing mechanism includes a pressing component and a light blocking member. The pressing component is movably arranged on the base and covers the light-transmitting portion. The light-transmitting portion can transmit the light signal emitted by the light emitter to the pressing mechanism; the light blocking member is connected to the pressing component. When the pressing component is driven, the light blocking member can conduct or block the light path between the reflecting portion and the light receiver.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base has two opposite sides, the base is provided with a first light-transmitting hole and a pass-through hole penetrating the two opposite sides of the base, the first light-transmitting hole forming the light-transmitting portion, and the reflective portion is provided on one of the two opposite sides of the base and is partially located within the first light-transmitting hole;

[0010] The light transmitter and the light receiver are located on a side of the base facing the reflecting portion;

[0011] The pressing assembly is located at a side of the base away from the reflecting portion. When the pressing assembly is driven, the light blocking member can pass through the hole to block the light path between the reflecting portion and the light receiver.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, a light-collecting boss is provided on a side of the base facing the light emitter, the light-collecting boss is arranged around the light emitter, and a light-avoiding hole is provided that passes through the inner and outer sides of the light-collecting boss, and the light-avoiding hole and the light receiver are arranged opposite to each other;

[0013] The reflecting portion is located in the light focusing platform.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, a reflective plate is further provided on the side of the base facing the light emitter, the reflective plate forms the reflective portion, the reflective plate is connected to the inner side wall of the focusing boss, and the reflective plate has a reflective surface.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the button further includes a light guide member, and the light guide member is at least partially embedded in the first light-transmitting hole.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, a receiving cavity having a cavity opening is formed on a side of the base facing the pressing assembly, and the first light-transmitting hole and the light-releasing hole are both provided on the bottom wall of the receiving cavity;

[0017] The pressing component is movably disposed in the accommodating cavity and abuts against the cavity side wall of the accommodating cavity; the light blocking member is connected to a side of the pressing component facing the cavity bottom wall of the accommodating cavity.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressing assembly includes a pressing member and a keycap;

[0019] The pressing member is movably disposed in the accommodating cavity and is provided with a second light-transmitting hole penetrating a side of the pressing member facing the cavity bottom wall of the accommodating cavity and a side of the pressing member facing away from the cavity bottom wall of the accommodating cavity, wherein the second light-transmitting hole is arranged opposite to the first light-transmitting hole;

[0020] The keycap is arranged on a side of the component away from the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity and covers the second light-transmitting hole;

[0021] The light blocking member is connected to a side of the pressing member facing the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity;

[0022] The light guide has two oppositely arranged ends. One end of the light guide is inserted into the first light-transmitting hole, and the other end is inserted into the second light-transmitting hole.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressing mechanism further includes an elastic member, which is sleeved on the side circumference of the light guide member and abuts against the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity and the side of the pressing member facing the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity is further provided with a mounting column;

[0025] The button further includes a torsion spring, which includes a torsion spring body, a first elastic arm, and a second elastic wall. The torsion spring body is sleeved on the side surface of the mounting post. The first elastic arm and the second elastic wall are connected to the torsion spring body and are arranged at an angle. The first elastic arm is fixed to the base.

[0026] The light blocking member is provided with a guiding structure. When the pressing assembly is driven, the second elastic wall abuts against the guiding structure and rotates.

[0027] The present invention further provides a keyboard, comprising a keyboard body and keys mounted on the keyboard body; the keys comprising:

[0028] Light transmitter;

[0029] A light receiver, wherein the light receiver and the light transmitter are spaced apart from each other;

[0030] a base, wherein the base is formed with a light-transmitting portion and a reflecting portion, wherein the light-transmitting portion and the reflecting portion are arranged corresponding to the light emitter, and the reflecting portion can transmit the optical signal emitted by the light emitter to the light receiver; and

[0031] A pressing mechanism includes a pressing component and a light blocking member. The pressing component is movably arranged on the base and covers the light-transmitting portion. The light-transmitting portion can transmit the light signal emitted by the light emitter to the pressing mechanism; the light blocking member is connected to the pressing component. When the pressing component is driven, the light blocking member can conduct or block the light path between the reflecting portion and the light receiver.

[0032] When used in a keyboard, the key of the present invention can emit a light signal via a light emitter, which is then transmitted to a light receiver via a reflective surface of a reflective portion located on the base. When the pressing assembly of the pressing mechanism is pressed, the pressing assembly can move relative to the base, driving a light barrier connected to the pressing assembly to move accordingly. When the light barrier moves to a certain distance and is positioned between the reflective portion and the light receiver, it can open or block the light path between the reflective portion and the light receiver, thereby achieving the key function. Simultaneously, the light signal emitted by the light emitter can be transmitted to the pressing assembly via the light-transmitting portion, thereby illuminating the pressing assembly and enabling the user to operate the key in dimly lit environments. Because the key of the present invention can achieve both key function and key illumination using a single light emitter, the number of light emitters used can be reduced compared to conventional keys that require two light emitters for both key function and key illumination. This effectively simplifies the structure of a keyboard with a large number of keys, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the keyboard. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a key button according to an embodiment of the present invention from a different perspective;

[0035] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A diagram showing another perspective of the middle button;

[0036] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the middle button;

[0037] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional diagram of the middle button;

[0038] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Another partial cross-sectional diagram of the middle button.

[0039] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0040] Label name Label name 10 Optical Transmitter 58 Limit slot 30 Optical Receiver 59 Activity slot 50 base 70 Pressing mechanism 51 Translucent part 71 Press components 511 light hole 711 Press piece 52 Reflector 7111 The second light hole 521 reflector 73 Light blocking parts 5211 reflective surface 731 Boot structure 53 pass hole 75 elastic parts 54 Focusing boss 77 torsion spring 541 Light avoidance hole 771 Torsion spring body 55 Accommodation cavity 773 First elastic arm 56 Mounting Column 775 Second elastic arm 57 Mounting slot 90 Light guide

[0041] The purpose, features and advantages of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with the embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0043] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of the present invention (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the various components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0044] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "connection" and "fixation" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "fixation" can mean fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0045] In addition, the descriptions of "reflecting portion" and "second" in the present invention are for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "reflecting portion" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the fact that they can be implemented by ordinary technicians in this field. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0046] The present invention provides a key.

[0047] Please refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 as well as Figure 3In one embodiment of the present invention, the button includes a light emitter 10, a light receiver 30, a base 50 and a pressing mechanism 70; wherein the light receiver 30 and the light emitter 10 are arranged at intervals; the base 50 is formed with a light-transmitting portion 51 and a reflecting portion 52, and the light-transmitting portion 51 and the reflecting portion 52 are arranged corresponding to the light emitter 10, and the reflecting portion 52 can transmit the light signal emitted by the light emitter 10 to the light receiver 30; the pressing mechanism 70 includes a pressing component 71 and a light blocking member 73, the pressing component 71 is movably provided on the base 50 and covers the light-transmitting portion 51, and the light-transmitting portion 51 can transmit the light signal emitted by the light emitter 10 to the pressing mechanism 70; the light blocking member 73 is connected to the pressing component 71, and when the pressing component 71 is driven, the light blocking member 73 can conduct or block the light path between the reflecting portion 52 and the light receiver 30.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical transmitter 10 is primarily used to emit a light signal to the optical receiver 30. This can be an LED (Light Emitting Diode), making the optical transmitter 10 energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, easy to install, and having a long lifespan. The optical receiver 30 is primarily used to receive the light signal emitted by the optical transmitter 10 and trigger key functions. Specifically, the optical receiver 30 can be electrically connected to the keyboard's circuit board. When the optical path between the optical receiver 30 and the optical transmitter 10 is open or blocked, the optical signal information is transmitted to the circuit board. The circuit board then controls the display to display the input information based on the optical signal information, thereby realizing the key function. Since achieving key functions through optical paths is currently available, this method will not be described in detail. The optical transmitter 10 and optical receiver 30 can be mounted on the circuit board, or alternatively, on the base 50. This is not limited in this application; the only requirement is that the optical receiver 30 can trigger the circuit board to realize the key function. The base 50 is primarily used to mount and support the pressing assembly 71 and light blocking member 73 of the pressing mechanism 70, forming a single unit that can be installed in the keyboard body of the keyboard at one time, thereby improving the convenience of key installation. Furthermore, the transparent portion 51 and reflective portion 52 formed by the base 50 allow a portion of the optical signal emitted by the optical transmitter 10 to be transmitted to the optical receiver 30 via the reflective portion 52, while the remaining portion is transmitted to the pressing assembly 71 of the pressing mechanism 70 via the transparent portion 51, thereby achieving a dual-purpose optical effect. The projection of the base 50 on a horizontal plane can be square, providing a relatively large installation area and facilitating the distribution of the pressing mechanism 70. Of course, in other embodiments, the projection of the base 50 on a horizontal plane can also be circular or elliptical, etc. The base 50 can be made of plastic, such as ABS, POM, PS, PMMA, PC, PET, etc., to reduce the weight of the base 50 and make the keyboard easy to carry; of course, it can also be made of metal, such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, iron, stainless steel, to increase the strength of the base 50 and extend its service life. The pressing component 71 of the pressing mechanism 70 is mainly used to be pressed and driven by the keyboard user to drive the light blocking member 73 to move and conduct or block the light path between the light emitter 10 and the reflective portion 52. Specifically, when the pressing component 71 is not pressed and driven, the light path between the light receiver 30 and the reflective portion 52 is in a conducting state; after the pressing component 71 is pressed and driven, the light blocking member 73 moves downward to block the light path between the two. Of course, when the pressing assembly 71 is not pressed, the light path between the light receiver 30 and the reflecting portion 52 is in a blocked state; after the pressing assembly 71 is pressed, the light blocking member 73 moves downward to open the light path between the two.Furthermore, the projection of the pressing assembly 71 onto a horizontal plane can also be arranged in a square shape, or alternatively, a circular or elliptical shape, etc. Specifically, the projection of the pressing assembly 71 onto a horizontal plane can be arranged according to the shape of the projection of the base 50 onto a horizontal plane, so that the two are arranged more compactly and the overall volume of the key is reduced. To enhance the connection strength between the pressing assembly 71 and the light shield 73, the pressing assembly 71 and the light shield can be arranged as an integral structure. This also allows the two to be manufactured through integral molding, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0049] When the key of the technical solution of the present invention is applied to a keyboard, the light emitter 10 can emit a light signal, which can be transmitted to the light receiver 30 through the reflective surface 5211 of the reflective portion 52 provided on the base 50. When the pressing assembly 71 of the pressing mechanism 70 is pressed and driven, the pressing assembly 71 can move relative to the base 50, driving the light blocking member 73 connected to the pressing assembly 71 to move accordingly. When the light blocking member 73 moves to a certain distance and is located between the reflective portion 52 and the light receiver 30, it can open or block the light path provided between the reflective portion 52 and the light receiver 30, thereby realizing the key function. At the same time, the light signal emitted by the light emitter 10 can also be transmitted to the pressing assembly 71 through the light-transmitting portion 51, thereby illuminating the pressing assembly 71, so that the user can operate the key in a dimly lit environment. Because the keys in this embodiment can realize key functions and illuminate the keys through the same light emitter 10, compared with the prior art that requires two light emitters 10 to realize key functions and illuminate the keys, the keys in this embodiment can reduce the number of light emitters 10 used. This can effectively simplify the structure of the keyboard when a large number of keys are installed, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the keyboard.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one embodiment of the present invention, the base 50 has two opposite sides. The base 50 is provided with a first light-transmitting hole 511 and a clearance hole 53 that pass through the opposite sides of the base 50. The first light-transmitting hole 511 forms a light-transmitting portion 51. The reflective portion 52 is provided on one of the two opposite sides of the base 50 and is partially located within the first light-transmitting hole 511. The light emitter 10 and the light receiver 30 are located on the side of the base 50 facing the reflective portion 52. The pressing component 71 is located on the side of the base 50 away from the reflective portion 52. When the pressing component 71 is driven, the light blocking member 73 can pass through the clearance hole 53 to block the light path between the reflective portion 52 and the light receiver 30.

[0051] It can be understood that distributing the pressing assembly 71, light emitter 10, and light receiver 30 on opposite sides of the base 50 allows for a more compact layout, thereby reducing space usage and enabling the keyboard to meet consumer demand for ultra-thin designs. Of course, in other embodiments, the pressing assembly 71 can be located on the outside of the base 50, while the light emitter 10 and light receiver 30 are located on the inside of the base 50. Forming the light-transmitting portion 51 through a light-transmitting hole can simplify the structure of the light-transmitting portion 51 and reduce the complexity of its molding. Of course, the present application is not limited to this. In other embodiments, a transparent material can be embedded in the position corresponding to the light emitter 10 during the molding process of the base 50. Part of the first reflective portion 52 extends into the light-transmitting hole, allowing the first reflective portion 52 and the light-transmitting portion 51 to be more closely distributed on the base 50, thereby facilitating that the light signal emitted by a light emitter 10 simultaneously illuminates both the first reflective portion 52 and the light-transmitting portion 51. Of course, when the illumination range of the light emitter 10 is wide, the light-transmitting portion 51 and the first reflective portion 52 may be spaced apart. The opening of the aperture 53 may be square or circular, depending on the shape of the light-blocking plate. The aperture 53 guides the light-blocking member 73 through its wall, thereby improving the stability of the pressing assembly 71 and the light-blocking member 73 when pressed.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention, a focusing boss 54 is provided on the side of the base 50 facing the light emitter 10. The focusing boss 54 is arranged around the light emitter 10 and is provided with a light avoidance hole 541 that passes through the inner and outer sides of the focusing boss 54. The light avoidance hole 541 and the light receiver 30 are arranged opposite to each other; the reflecting portion 52 is located inside the focusing boss.

[0053] It can be understood that when the focusing boss 54 is made of a reflective material, the light signal emitted by the light emitter 10 can be reflected by the inner wall of the focusing boss 54, so that the light signal irradiated on the inner wall of the focusing boss 54 can be reflected to the light-transmitting portion 51 and the reflective portion 52, thereby reducing the energy loss of the light signal emitted by the light emitter 10 and improving the utilization efficiency of the light signal. At the same time, the focusing boss 54 can also have a certain protective effect on the light emitter 10, improving the sealing of the installation of the light emitter 10. In addition, the focusing boss 54 and the base 50 can be set as an integrated structure to improve the connection strength between the two, and at the same time, it can also be manufactured by integral molding. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the light blocking member 73 to cover the light avoidance hole 541 to ensure the blocking effect between the light receiver 30 and the reflective portion, the light blocking member 73 can be set in a plate shape.

[0054] In one embodiment of the present invention, a reflector 521 is further provided on the side of the base 50 facing the light emitter 10 . The reflector 521 forms the reflective portion 52 . The reflector 521 is connected to the inner side wall of the focusing boss 54 and has a reflective surface 5211 .

[0055] Specifically, the reflector 521 can be roughly triangular in shape, with its slope facing the light receiver 30 to form a reflective surface 5211. This allows the light signal emitted by the light transmitter 10 to be reflected toward the light receiver 30 when it strikes the slope of the reflector 521. Furthermore, because the reflector 521 is connected to the inner sidewall of the focusing boss 54, the reflective portion 52 can both reflect the light signal emitted by the light transmitter 10 and strengthen the connection between the focusing boss 54 and the base 50. Of course, the present application is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the side of the base 50 facing the light transmitter 10 may further include a groove with a triangular longitudinal cross-section, where the inclined bottom wall of the groove reflects the light signal emitted by the light transmitter 10, thereby forming the reflective portion 52.

[0056] In one embodiment of the present invention, the key further includes a light guide member 90 , and the light guide member 90 is at least partially embedded in the first light-transmitting hole 511 .

[0057] It is understood that since the light guide 90 is generally made of a material with a relatively high reflectivity and light absorption, the light signal emitted by the light emitter 10 is transmitted to the pressing assembly 71 via the guide, which can further improve the efficiency of the light signal emitted by the light emitter 10. The guide can be cylindrical, so that the first light transmission hole 511 can be configured as a circular shape, which facilitates the processing and forming of the first light transmission hole 511. Furthermore, since portions of the light guide 90 and the reflector 521 are both located within the first light transmission hole 511, when the two are relatively close, the light guide 90 can be provided with an escape groove, and a portion of the reflector 521 is embedded in the escape groove. In this way, the locking and limiting effect of the escape groove can also improve the stability of the installation of the light guide 90. Furthermore, to enhance the illumination of the pressing assembly 71, the first light-transmitting hole 511 can be located at the center of the base 50, thereby enabling the light guide 90 to be located at the center of the base 50. This allows the light signal to be transmitted to the center area of ​​the pressing assembly 71, thereby providing a brighter and more uniform illumination of the entire pressing assembly 71. Of course, the present application is not limited thereto; in other embodiments, the light guide 90 can be located at a side of the base 50, while the light receiver 30 can be located at the base 50.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, a accommodating cavity 55 with a cavity opening is formed on the side of the base 50 facing the pressing component 71, and the first light-transmitting hole 511 and the let-through hole 53 are both arranged on the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 55; the pressing component 71 is movably arranged in the accommodating cavity 55 and abuts against the cavity side wall of the accommodating cavity 55; the light blocking member 73 is connected to the side of the pressing component 71 facing the cavity bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 55.

[0059] It can be understood that the setting of the accommodating cavity 55 provides installation space for the pressing assembly 71 and the light blocking member 73, which can make the pressing assembly 71 and the light blocking member 73 installed more compactly with the base 50, thereby reducing the space occupied. At the same time, the side walls of the accommodating cavity 55 can reflect part of the light signal refracted by the side surface of the light guide 90 and reflect it to the pressing assembly 71, thereby further improving the utilization efficiency of the light signal. In addition, the side walls of the accommodating cavity 55 can also guide the movement process of the pressing assembly 71 and the light blocking member 73, improving the stability of the pressing assembly 71 and the light blocking member 73 during the movement process, so that they can accurately move to the preset position and block the light path between the light receiver 30 and the reflective portion 52, thereby ensuring the normal and stable implementation of the key function. Furthermore, the side walls of the accommodating cavity 55 can be provided with a slide groove, which extends along the movement direction of the pressing assembly 71, and the pressing assembly 71 can be provided with a slider, which is slidably connected in the slide groove. In this way, the stability of the pressing assembly 71 and the light blocking member 73 during the movement process can be further improved through the cooperation between the slider and the sliding groove.

[0060] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressing assembly 71 includes a pressing member 711 and a keycap; the pressing member 711 is movably disposed in the accommodating cavity 55, and is provided with a second light-transmitting hole 7111 passing through the side of the cavity bottom wall facing the accommodating cavity 55 and the side of the cavity bottom wall away from the accommodating cavity 55, and the second light-transmitting hole 7111 and the first light-transmitting hole 511 are arranged opposite to each other; the keycap is arranged on the side of the cavity bottom wall away from the accommodating cavity 55, and covers the second light-transmitting hole 7111; the light blocking member 73 is connected to the side of the cavity bottom wall facing the accommodating cavity 55 of the pressing member 711; the light guide member 90 has two ends arranged opposite to each other, one end of the light guide member 90 is inserted in the first light-transmitting hole 511, and the other end is inserted in the second light-transmitting hole 7111.

[0061] It can be understood that the pressing assembly 71 is configured as a pressing member 711 and a keycap, so that the pressing assembly 71 can be removably connected to the base 50 through the pressing member 711, realizing the pressing function of the pressing assembly 71. The keycap can increase the contact area between the keyboard user and the pressing assembly 71 when pressing the pressing assembly 71, allowing the user to apply pressing force and improving the convenience of keyboard use. At the same time, the keycap's covering effect on the pressing member 711 can also provide a sealed protection for the pressing member 711, reducing the possibility of dust or debris entering the accommodating cavity 55 of the base 50. The provision of the second light-transmitting hole 7111 allows the light signal emitted by the light emitter 10 to be directly transmitted to the keycap, thereby increasing the intensity of the illumination of the keycap and facilitating identification by the keyboard user. At the same time, the cooperation between the second light-transmitting hole and the light guide 90 can also provide guidance during the downward movement of the pressing member 711, thereby further improving the stability of the pressing member 711 during movement. In addition, it should be noted that the present application is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the light emitter 10 may first transmit the optical signal to the pressing member 711 , and then the pressing member 711 may transmit the optical signal to the keycap.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressing mechanism 70 further includes an elastic member 75 , which is sleeved on the side circumference of the light guide member 90 and abuts against the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 55 and the side of the pressing member 711 facing the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 55 .

[0063] It can be understood that the setting of the elastic member 75 allows the pressing mechanism 70 to automatically reset after the pressing is completed, thereby improving the convenience of using the keyboard. Specifically, after the pressing mechanism 70 is pressed, the elastic member 75 is compressed and generates a deformation elastic force. When the external force acting on the pressing mechanism 70 disappears, the elastic member 75 is driven by the deformation elastic force to reset and drive the pressing mechanism 70 to its initial position. The elastic member 75 is sleeved on the side surface of the light guide 90, so that the light guide 90 has a guiding effect on the elastic member 75, so that the elastic member 75 moves downward for compression and upward for reset along the extension direction of the guide member, thereby ensuring that the elastic member 75 drives the pressing mechanism 70 stably. Among them, the elastic member 75 can be a spring, and of course it can also be a plastic member with a certain elasticity.

[0064] Please refer to Figure 3 、 Figure 4 as well as Figure 5In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 55 is further provided with a mounting post 56; the button also includes a torsion spring 77, which includes a torsion spring body 771, a first elastic arm 773 and a second elastic wall. The torsion spring body 771 is sleeved on the side surface of the mounting post 56, and the first elastic arm 773 and the second elastic wall are connected to the torsion spring body 771 and are arranged at an angle. The first elastic arm 773 is limited and fixed to the base 50; the light blocking member 73 is provided with a guide structure 731. When the pressing assembly 71 is driven, the second elastic wall and the guide structure 731 abut and rotate.

[0065] It can be understood that the setting of the torsion spring 77 allows the key to emit a prompt sound by colliding with the cavity wall of the accommodating cavity 55 after being pressed. The keyboard user can determine whether the key is pressed effectively through the prompt sound, avoiding the phenomenon of repeated pressing or missing pressing of the key, thereby further improving the convenience of keyboard use. Specifically, the guide structure 731 can be roughly trapezoidal in shape, and a first guide surface and a second guide surface can be formed on opposite sides parallel to the moving direction of the pressing member 711. When the pressing assembly 71 is driven, the light blocking member 73 moves downward, and the first guide surface of the guide structure 731 can drive the second elastic arm 775 to twist in a direction away from the light blocking member 73, that is, to rotate. When the light blocking member 73 descends to the second elastic arm 775, the second elastic arm 775 can return to its original state under the driving force of the restoring elastic force and collide with the cavity wall of the accommodating cavity 55, thereby generating a prompt sound. The second guide surface allows the guide structure 731 to twist the second elastic arm 775 again via the second guide surface when the pressing assembly 71 is reset after the external force is removed, allowing the guide structure 731 to pass through the second elastic arm 775 more smoothly. This also allows the warning sound to be emitted again, providing a secondary user reminder. The mounting post 56 limits the rotational origin of the torsion spring 77, allowing the torsion spring 77 to complete its rotation process around the side surface of the mounting post 56. The mounting post 56 can be cylindrical in shape to better match the torsion spring body 771.

[0066] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 55 is further provided with a mounting groove 57, a limiting groove 58 connected to the mounting groove 57, and a movable groove 59; the mounting column 56 and the torsion spring body 771 are embedded in the mounting groove 57; the first elastic arm 773 is embedded in the limiting groove 58 and abuts against the groove side wall of the limiting groove 58; the second elastic arm 775 is embedded in the movable groove 59, and when the second elastic wall and the guide structure 731 abut, the second elastic arm 775 rotates in the movable groove 59.

[0067] It can be understood that the arrangement of the mounting groove 57, the limiting groove 58, and the movable groove 59 provides installation space for the mounting post 56 and the torsion spring 77, so that they are installed without protruding from the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 55. This can prevent the pressing member 711 from colliding with the mounting post 56 and the torsion spring 77 during the downward movement, thereby improving the safety of the pressing member 711 during the downward movement. The limiting groove 58 can simplify the limiting and fixing structure of the first elastic arm 773, that is, the first elastic arm 773 can be installed by being snapped into the limiting groove 58, thereby improving the limiting and fixing efficiency of the first elastic arm 773 and reducing manufacturing costs. Of course, the present application is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the first elastic arm 773 and the base 50 can also be fixed by welding.

[0068] The present invention also proposes a keyboard, which includes a keyboard body and keys. The specific structure of the keys refers to the above-mentioned embodiments. Since this keyboard adopts all the technical solutions of all the above-mentioned embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here one by one.

[0069] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's description and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, within the scope of the present invention are included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A button, characterized in that: include: Light transmitter; A light receiver, wherein the light receiver and the light transmitter are spaced apart from each other; A base, wherein the base is formed with a light-transmitting portion and a reflecting portion, wherein the light-transmitting portion and the reflecting portion are arranged corresponding to the light emitter, and the reflecting portion can transmit the optical signal emitted by the light emitter to the light receiver; as well as A pressing mechanism, the pressing mechanism comprising a pressing component and a light blocking member, the pressing component being movably disposed on the base and covering the light-transmitting portion, the light-transmitting portion being capable of transmitting the light signal emitted by the light emitter to the pressing mechanism; the light blocking member being connected to the pressing component, and being capable of conducting or blocking the light path between the reflecting portion and the light receiver when the pressing component is driven; The base has two opposite sides, and the base is provided with a first light-transmitting hole and a pass-through hole penetrating the two opposite sides of the base, the first light-transmitting hole forming the light-transmitting portion, and the reflective portion is provided on one of the two opposite sides of the base and is partially located in the first light-transmitting hole; The light transmitter and the light receiver are located on a side of the base facing the reflecting portion; The pressing assembly is located on a side of the base away from the reflecting portion. When the pressing assembly is driven, the light blocking member can pass through the hole to block the light path between the reflecting portion and the light receiver. A light-collecting boss is provided on a side of the base facing the light emitter, the light-collecting boss is arranged around the light emitter, and a light-avoiding hole is provided which passes through the inner and outer sides of the light-collecting boss, and the light-avoiding hole and the light receiver are arranged opposite to each other; The reflecting portion is located in the light-focusing boss; A reflective plate is further provided on the side of the base facing the light emitter. The reflective plate forms the reflecting portion. The reflective plate is connected to the inner side wall of the light-focusing boss and has a reflecting surface.

2. The key according to claim 1, wherein: The button further includes a light guide member, and the light guide member is at least partially embedded in the first light-transmitting hole.

3. The key according to claim 2, wherein: A receiving cavity with a cavity opening is formed on a side of the base facing the pressing assembly, and the first light-transmitting hole and the light-releasing hole are both provided on the bottom wall of the receiving cavity; The pressing component is movably disposed in the accommodating cavity and abuts against the cavity side wall of the accommodating cavity; the light blocking member is connected to a side of the pressing component facing the cavity bottom wall of the accommodating cavity.

4. The key according to claim 3, wherein: The pressing assembly includes a pressing member and a keycap; The pressing member is movably disposed in the accommodating cavity and is provided with a second light-transmitting hole penetrating a side of the pressing member facing the cavity bottom wall of the accommodating cavity and a side of the pressing member facing away from the cavity bottom wall of the accommodating cavity, wherein the second light-transmitting hole is arranged opposite to the first light-transmitting hole; The keycap is arranged on a side of the pressing member away from the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity and covers the second light-transmitting hole; The light blocking member is connected to a side of the pressing member facing the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity; The light guide has two oppositely arranged ends. One end of the light guide is inserted into the first light-transmitting hole, and the other end is inserted into the second light-transmitting hole.

5. The key according to claim 4, wherein: The pressing mechanism further includes an elastic member, which is sleeved on the side circumference of the light guide member and abuts against the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity and the side of the pressing member facing the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity.

6. The key according to claim 3, wherein: The bottom wall of the accommodating cavity is further provided with a mounting column; The button further includes a torsion spring, which includes a torsion spring body, a first elastic arm, and a second elastic wall. The torsion spring body is sleeved on the side surface of the mounting post. The first elastic arm and the second elastic wall are connected to the torsion spring body and are arranged at an angle. The first elastic arm is fixed to the base. The light blocking member is provided with a guiding structure. When the pressing assembly is driven, the second elastic wall abuts against the guiding structure and rotates.

7. A keyboard, characterized in that: The invention comprises a keyboard body and a key according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the key is installed on the keyboard body.

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