Knob button module and keyboard

Abstract

The application is suitable for the technical field of computer input device, and particularly provides a knob key module and a keyboard, which comprise a PCB, an encoder and a conductor. The PCB is positioned and installed on the lower side of an upper cover. The encoder is arranged on the PCB and electrically connected with the PCB. The upper cover covers the encoder. A main shaft of the encoder extends out of the upper cover. A knob is installed on the main shaft. The knob is used to drive the main shaft to rotate and press the pressing key of the encoder. One end of the conductor is electrically connected with the PCB, and the other end of the conductor is electrically connected with a main PCB of the keyboard. The application aims at solving the technical problems that the conventional key only has the switching function, the function is single, and the position of the conventional knob key on the keyboard is fixed, which is inconvenient and inflexible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of computer input device technology, and more specifically, to a rotary button module and a keyboard. Background Technology

[0002] Typical mechanical keyboards only have single-function on / off switches, offering limited functionality. The key operation is monotonous and tedious. To improve the user-friendliness, flexibility, and convenience of keyboard operation, higher-end keyboards may incorporate rotary knob controls. However, the position and style of these knobs are fixed at the factory, meaning they cannot be easily removed or replaced. This only adequately meets the basic user needs of most users, lacking true convenience and flexibility. It fails to address the personalized needs that are currently highly valued. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Firstly, an objective of this invention is to provide a rotary button module that addresses the technical problems of existing technologies where traditional buttons only have a single on / off function, and where the fixed position of traditional rotary buttons on the keyboard makes them inconvenient and inflexible.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: to provide a rotary button module, which is detachably mounted on a keyboard, the rotary button module including a knob and a switch module, the switch module including:

[0005] Top cover;

[0006] A PCB board, which is positioned and installed on the lower side of the upper cover;

[0007] An encoder, mounted on and electrically connected to the PCB board, is covered by a top cover. The encoder's main shaft extends beyond the top cover. A knob is mounted on the main shaft and is used to rotate the main shaft and press the encoder's push button.

[0008] A conductor, one end of which is electrically connected to the PCB board and the other end of which is electrically connected to the main PCB board of the keyboard.

[0009] In one embodiment, the shaft module further includes a lower cover, and the upper cover and the lower cover cover each other to form a receiving cavity, the PCB board and the encoder are located in the receiving cavity, and the PCB board is positioned and installed in the lower cover.

[0010] In one embodiment, the shaft module further includes a fixing plate having an opening, and the lower cover is located within the opening.

[0011] In one embodiment, the bottom of the lower cover is further provided with a first positioning post, which is used to insert into a first positioning hole provided on the main PCB board.

[0012] In one embodiment, the conductor is one or more of a probe, metal spring, pin header, ribbon cable, or FPC film.

[0013] In one embodiment, the conductors are arranged in multiple rows or columns or in a single row or column, and the conductors pass through the main PCB board and through the end connection socket.

[0014] In one embodiment, a second positioning post is provided inside the lower cover, and a second positioning hole is provided on the PCB board. The second positioning post is inserted into the second positioning hole to realize the positioning of the PCB board. The shape of the PCB board is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity of the lower cover.

[0015] In one embodiment, the knob is composed of a cylindrical segment and a frustum segment connected together, the cylindrical segment being connected to the smaller end of the frustum segment, the main shaft extending from the frustum segment into the cylindrical segment and connected to the cylindrical segment, and the cylindrical segment also having anti-slip texture.

[0016] In one embodiment, the upper cover and the lower cover are detachably connected. The upper cover has an elastic arm with a barb, and the outer wall of the lower cover has a groove adapted to the elastic arm, with a protrusion in the groove for engaging with the barb.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the rotary button module provided by this invention are as follows: This rotary button module includes a knob and a shaft module. The shaft module includes an encoder and a PCB board electrically connected to the encoder. The PCB board is electrically connected to the main PCB board of the keyboard. The encoder is equipped with a press key. The knob is located on the encoder's main shaft. By pressing the encoder's press key with the knob and by rotating the knob to drive the encoder's main shaft to rotate, a signal can be input. The encoder then transmits the signal to the PCB board and then to the main PCB board of the keyboard, enabling the operation of corresponding functions. Specifically, pressing the encoder's press key can be used to input corresponding characters, i.e., a switch function, which is equivalent to the function of pressing a traditional key to input characters. The rotation of the encoder, including left and right rotation, can be used to adjust other functions, such as volume and light brightness.

[0018] Therefore, this rotary button module inputs information through signal transmission, making it more user-friendly and feature-rich than traditional mechanical keyboards.

[0019] Furthermore, its modular design ensures compatibility with standard mechanical keyboard switches, meaning this knob / button module can be connected and installed in the same positions on a standard keyboard, and is hot-swappable. Users can replace this knob / button module with ordinary mechanical switches. Users can freely insert and remove this knob / button module from different key positions on the keyboard according to their preferences, fully satisfying their needs for personalization while providing user-friendliness, flexibility, and convenience.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard having a mounting portion for mounting input keys. This mounting portion allows for the detachable mounting of the rotary key module described above. Furthermore, in addition to mounting the rotary key module described above, other input keys, such as conventional mechanical keys, can also be mounted. That is, the rotary key module is interchangeable with conventional mechanical keys.

[0021] The keyboard provided by this invention can be equipped with the rotary button module, which enables the keyboard to have multiple functions. Furthermore, the rotary button module can be removed from the keyboard, realizing a hot-swappable method. Users can choose the button position to which the rotary button module needs to be installed according to their own needs. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the knob and button module provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the top cover;

[0025] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Structural diagram with a bottom cover and a fixing plate;

[0026] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the bottom structure;

[0027] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Structural diagram of the upper and lower cover assembly;

[0028] Figure 6 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the upper and middle covers;

[0029] Figure 7 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the middle and lower cover;

[0030] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in which the PCB board and encoder are installed inside the lower cover.

[0031] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a knob and button module provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the keyboard structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] In the diagram, 1. Lower cover; 2. PCB board; 3. Encoder; 4. Upper cover; 5. Spindle; 6. Knob; 7. Conductor; 8. Main PCB board; 9. Keyboard; 10. Fixing plate; 11. First positioning post; 12. Socket; 13. Second positioning post; 14. Columnar segment; 15. Frustum segment; 16. Elastic arm; 17. Barb; 18. Groove; 19. Protrusion. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0035] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0036] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified. "Several" means one or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0037] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0038] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0039] Please see 1 and Figure 2 The present invention provides a specific embodiment of a rotary button module. In this embodiment, the rotary button module is used to be detachably installed on a keyboard. The rotary button module includes a knob 6 and a switch module. The switch module includes a PCB board 2, an encoder 3, a top cover 4, and a conductor 7.

[0040] In this embodiment, the PCB board 2 is positioned and installed on the lower side of the upper cover 4;

[0041] The encoder 3 is mounted on the PCB board 2 and electrically connected to the PCB board 2; the upper cover 4 covers the encoder 3, the main shaft 5 of the encoder 3 extends out of the upper cover 4, the knob 6 is mounted on the main shaft 5, the knob 6 is used to drive the main shaft 5 to rotate, and is used to press the key of the encoder 3; one end of the conductor 7 is electrically connected to the PCB board 2, and the other end is electrically connected to the main PCB board 8 of the keyboard 9.

[0042] In this embodiment, the encoder 3 has a built-in button with a pressing function, and the knob 6 is the human operating end. When the knob 6 is installed on the main shaft 5 of the encoder 3, pressing the knob 6 can press the button of the encoder 3, realizing the input of the pressing signal. The encoder 3 then transmits the signal to the PCB board 2 and then to the keyboard 9 main PCB board 8. When the knob 6 is manually rotated, it can drive the main shaft 5 of the encoder 3 to rotate. The encoder 3 converts the angular displacement of the rotation into a corresponding electrical signal, which is transmitted to the PCB board 2 and then to the keyboard 9 main PCB board 8, thereby realizing the adjustment or input of specific functions.

[0043] Specifically, when the knob 6 is pressed, the press key of the encoder 3 is pressed. At this time, the main PCB board 8 of the keyboard 9 receives the signal, which can be used for input of a single corresponding character. When the knob button module is located at the position of the corresponding character A on the keyboard 9, the character A will be printed accordingly; the function is similar to the key A on the mechanical keyboard 9.

[0044] Furthermore, when the main shaft 5 of the encoder 3 rotates left or right under the drive of the knob 6, corresponding functional adjustments can be set. For example, the volume can be adjusted (rotating left increases the volume, rotating right decreases the volume), or the brightness of the lights on the keyboard 9 can be adjusted (rotating left brightens, rotating right dims, etc.). These functional adjustments are based on the encoder 3 outputting different electrical signals under the action of the knob 6, which are transmitted to the main PCB board 8 of the keyboard 9 to achieve the corresponding functional adjustments. The specific types of functions are not specifically limited in this invention, and those skilled in the art can set them as needed. Specifically, when adjusting the volume, a corresponding volume adjustment module can be set on the main PCB board 8 of the keyboard 9. The encoder 3 is electrically connected to the volume adjustment module or the light brightness adjustment module. When a signal is input, the resistance value of the circuit where the light-emitting device is located is adjusted to achieve the adjustment of the light brightness. The rotation direction of the encoder 3 is recognized by the CPU and translated into HID key values. The key values ​​determine the function implemented by the rotary encoder 3, and the key values ​​are user-changeable, so they are not limited to fixed functions. Those skilled in the art can set up corresponding functional modules on the PCB board 2 or the main PCB board 8 of the keyboard 9 according to actual needs, and electrically connect them to the encoder 3. Through the electrical signals provided by the encoder 3, corresponding functional adjustments and input of specific signals can be made. The specific implementation will not be described in detail here, and those skilled in the art can implement it.

[0045] PCB board 2 is electrically connected to encoder 3 to realize the functional output of encoder 3, and encoder 3 is set on PCB board 2. In addition, conductor 7 is used to electrically connect PCB board 2 and main PCB board 8 of keyboard 9. Connection circuits and contacts are provided on PCB board 2 and main PCB board 8, which can be electrically connected to conductor 7 to realize functional connection.

[0046] Therefore, the beneficial effect of the knob and button module provided by the present invention is that the knob and button module includes a knob 6 and a shaft module. The shaft module includes an encoder 3 and a PCB board 2 electrically connected to the encoder 3. The PCB board 2 is electrically connected to the main PCB board 8 of the keyboard 9. The encoder 3 is provided with a press key. The knob 6 is located on the main shaft 5 of the encoder 3. By pressing the press key of the encoder 3 through the knob 6 and by rotating the knob 6 to drive the main shaft 5 of the encoder 3 to rotate, a signal can be input. Thus, the encoder 3 transmits the signal to the PCB board 2 and then to the main PCB board 8 of the keyboard 9, which can realize the operation of the corresponding function. Specifically, pressing the press key of the encoder 3 can be the function of inputting the corresponding character, which is equivalent to the function of pressing a traditional key to input and output characters. The rotation of the encoder 3, including left and right rotation, can realize the adjustment of other functions, such as volume, light brightness, etc.

[0047] The knob and button module provided in this embodiment is modularly designed, achieving compatibility with ordinary mechanical keyboard switches. This means the module can be connected and installed to the key positions of a standard keyboard, and hot-swapping is supported. Users can replace the knob and button module with ordinary mechanical switches. Users can insert and remove the module from different key positions on the keyboard according to their preferences, fully satisfying their needs for personalization while providing user-friendliness, flexibility, and convenience.

[0048] In practice, the traditional key structure of a mechanical keyboard can be removed, and then this knob key module can be inserted into the removed position so that the lower end of the conductor 7 contacts the contact point of the main PCB board 8 of the keyboard to achieve electrical connection. In addition, the shape of the switch module provided in this embodiment is similar to the shape of the key structure on a traditional keyboard, and the shape of the top cover 4 is adapted to the shape of the key installation position of the keyboard. It can be inserted into the key port position, realizing hot-swapping, and can be inserted into the removed key port.

[0049] like Figures 3-6 Furthermore, the shaft module also includes a lower cover 1, and the upper cover 4 and the lower cover 1 cover each other to form a receiving cavity. The PCB board 2 and the encoder 3 are located in the receiving cavity, and the PCB board 2 is positioned and installed in the lower cover 1.

[0050] The upper cover 4 covers the lower cover 1 to form a receiving cavity. The PCB board 2 and the encoder 3 are located in the receiving cavity. The main shaft 5 of the encoder 3 extends out of the upper cover 4. The knob 6 is installed on the main shaft 5. The knob 6 is used to drive the main shaft 5 to rotate and to press the key of the encoder 3. One end of the conductor 7 is electrically connected to the PCB board 2, and the other end is electrically connected to the main PCB board 8 of the keyboard 9.

[0051] Specifically, the rotary button module shaft module provided in this embodiment includes an upper cover 4 and a lower cover 1. The upper cover 4 and the lower cover 1 are assembled together to form a housing structure and a receiving cavity. The receiving cavity can hold the PCB board 2 and the encoder 3, thus protecting both and preventing damage from external stress. The PCB board 2 is positioned and installed inside the lower cover 1, which also enables the positioning of the encoder 3.

[0052] like Figure 3 As a preferred embodiment of the knob button module provided by the present invention, the shaft module further includes a fixing plate 10, the fixing plate 10 having an opening, and the lower cover 1 located within the opening.

[0053] To enhance the stability of the shaft module installation and prevent offset or tilting, this embodiment also provides a fixing plate 10. The fixing plate 10 can be rectangular, with an opening at its center that matches the shape of the lower cover 1. Placing the lower cover 1 within the opening ensures sufficient stability for the shaft assembly, guaranteeing good stability during pressing and rotating the knob 6. It should be noted that the presence of the fixing plate 10 does not affect the insertion and removal of the shaft module.

[0054] Alternatively, the fixing plate 10 can also be other shapes, such as circles, triangles, trapezoids, etc.

[0055] In addition, other fixing methods can be used to fix the shaft module. For example, an extended cantilever can be set on the lower cover 1 to achieve the stability of the shaft module.

[0056] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 Furthermore, the bottom of the lower cover 1 is also provided with a first positioning post 11, which is used to insert into the first positioning hole provided on the main PCB board 8.

[0057] In this embodiment, the lower end of conductor 7 needs to be electrically connected or in electrical contact with a specific position on the main PCB board 8. Therefore, the shaft assembly and the main PCB board 8 need to have an accurate relative position. Thus, this embodiment provides a first positioning post 11 at the bottom of the lower cover 1, and a first positioning hole adapted to the first positioning post 11 is formed on the main PCB board 8. When the shaft assembly is installed, the first positioning post 11 is inserted into the first positioning hole, fixing the relative position between the shaft assembly and the main PCB board 8. This achieves the electrical connection between conductor 7 and the main PCB board 8. This allows for easy insertion and removal of the shaft module, accurate positioning during insertion, and electrical connection with the main PCB board 8.

[0058] Alternatively, other positioning methods can be used, such as a card head and a card slot. The card head is located at the bottom of the lower cover 1, and the card slot is located on the main PCB board 8, with the two being positioned and connected.

[0059] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, conductor 7 can be one or more of the following: probe, metal spring, pin header, ribbon cable, or FPC film.

[0060] The probe is formed by riveting and pre-pressing three basic components: a needle shaft, a spring, and a needle tube using precision instruments. It has a precise spring structure inside and a surface coating, which provides good corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and electrical properties.

[0061] Pin headers are a type of connector used to transmit current or signals. They are typically used with female headers to form board-to-board connections, or with electronic wire harness terminals to form board-to-wire connections, or can be used independently for board-to-board connections.

[0062] In addition, metal springs, ribbon cables, and FPC films are also good electrical connection media, enabling electrical connections between two boards.

[0063] like Figure 4 and Figure 9 Furthermore, the conductors 7 are arranged in multiple rows or columns or in a single row or column, and the conductors 7 pass through the main PCB board 8 and through the end connection socket 12.

[0064] The arrangement of conductor 7 can be configured according to specific needs, and can be in multiple rows and columns, such as two rows and four columns, etc. Figure 7 It can also be in a single row or a single column, with four conductors per row. In addition, when conductor 7 is electrically connected to the main PCB board 8, it can pass through the main PCB board 8. A plug socket 12 can be set at the passing end, and the conductor 7 can be inserted into the plug socket 12, which achieves better fixation and positioning of conductor 7 and prevents it from becoming loose.

[0065] Alternatively, the plug socket 12 can be omitted, such as... Figure 9 As mentioned above, the conductors 7 are arranged linearly, and this structure can be applied to non-mechanical keyboard structures such as optical axis keyboards, magnetic axis keyboards, and capacitive axis keyboards.

[0066] The arrangement of conductor 7 can be set as needed, offering flexibility and variety, thus achieving a better connection effect.

[0067] like Figure 8As shown, this embodiment also provides that a second positioning post 13 is provided in the lower cover 1, and a second positioning hole is provided on the PCB board 2. The second positioning post 13 is inserted into the second positioning hole to realize the positioning of the PCB board 2. The shape of the PCB board 2 is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity of the lower cover 1.

[0068] Specifically, PCB board 2 is placed inside the lower cover 1, and the cross-sectional shape of PCB board 2 is adapted to the inner cavity of the lower cover 1. In order to securely position PCB board 2, a second positioning post 13 is provided inside the lower cover 1. The second positioning post 13 is located at the bottom of the lower cover 1 and extends vertically upward from the side wall of the lower cover 1. A second positioning hole is provided on PCB board 2. After PCB board 2 is placed in the lower cover 1, the extended end of the second positioning post 13 enters the second positioning hole to achieve positioning of PCB board 2. In addition, a threaded hole is opened at the top of the extended end of the second positioning post 13, and a screw is threaded into the threaded hole. The nut of the screw can press the PCB board 2, thereby fixing the PCB board 2.

[0069] The advantage of this embodiment is that, since the second positioning post 13 is provided, the second positioning post 13 can be inserted into the second positioning hole of the PCB board 2, and the positioning of the PCB board 2 is realized. This is beneficial for the upper end of the conductor 7 to be electrically connected to the specific connection position of the PCB board 2. Since the shape of the PCB board 2 is adapted to the inner cavity shape of the lower cover 1, the PCB board 2 can be properly positioned when it is placed in the lower cover 1.

[0070] like Figure 1 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the knob and button module provided in this invention, the knob 6 can be formed by connecting a columnar segment 14 and a frustum segment 15, which are connected to each other to form an integral structure. The columnar segment 14 is connected to the smaller end of the frustum segment 15, so that the frustum segment 15 forms an umbrella-like structure. The main shaft 5 extends from the frustum segment 15 into the columnar segment 14 and is connected to the columnar segment 14. The columnar segment 14 is also provided with anti-slip texture.

[0071] Specifically, the diameter of the frustum section 15 increases from top to bottom to form an umbrella-shaped structure. When installed, it can prevent dust or debris from entering the interior of the keyboard 9, thus achieving a dustproof effect. The columnar section 14 is the hand operation end. The cross-section of the columnar section 14 is preferably circular. Both the columnar section 14 and the frustum section 15 are hollow structures, which are used for the entry of the encoder 3 spindle 5. After entering, it connects to the columnar section 14.

[0072] The frustum section 15 can be made of soft plastic or rubber, allowing it to fit well with the surface of the keyboard 9. Its flexibility helps seal openings, preventing impurities or dust from entering. The cylindrical section 14 can be made of hard plastic for easy hand operation. Its outer surface features anti-slip textures to increase friction with the hand, preventing slippage and ensuring accurate operation. The anti-slip textures can be perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the cylindrical section to further enhance friction.

[0073] Furthermore, this embodiment also provides a detachable connection between the upper cover 4 and the lower cover 1. Specifically, the detachable connection can be in the form of snap-fit, screw-fit, or adhesive, with snap-fit ​​being preferred. Snap-fit ​​not only provides a secure connection but also allows for easy disassembly without the aid of tools.

[0074] like Figures 5-7 As shown, the preferred form of the snap-fit ​​is as follows: an elastic arm 16 is provided at the upper cover 4, the elastic arm 16 is provided with a barb 17, a groove 18 adapted to the elastic arm 16 is provided on the outer wall of the lower cover 1, and a protrusion 19 for snapping with the barb 17 is provided in the groove 18.

[0075] Specifically, the elastic arm 16 has a certain elasticity. It is located at the edge of the upper cover 4 and extends to the lower cover 1, hanging down. The groove 18 is opened on the outer wall of the lower cover 1. A protrusion 19 is provided at the top of the groove 18. The elastic arm 16 enters the groove 18 from the top and first encounters the protrusion 19. Under the action of the protrusion 19, the elastic arm 16 undergoes elastic deformation. That is, when the elastic arm 16 slides down, it encounters the protrusion 19 and is pushed up. When the elastic arm 16 continues to slide and jumps over the protrusion 19, the elastic arm 16 returns to its original shape and engages with the side wall of the protrusion 19, so that the elastic arm 16 cannot slide in the opposite direction. It should be noted that multiple elastic arms 16 are provided along each side of the edge of the upper cover 4, and at least one elastic arm 16 is provided on each side. Correspondingly, the same number of grooves 18 and protrusions 19 are also provided on each side wall of the lower cover 1.

[0076] The connection between the upper cover 4 and the lower cover 1 provided in this embodiment is easy to assemble and disassemble without the need for tools, and can form a very stable overall structure when connected.

[0077] Furthermore, the cross-section of the barb 17 is triangular, and the cross-section of the protrusion 19 is also triangular. Furthermore, a hole can be set at the bottom of the groove 18, and the protrusion 19 can extend out of the hole or be fully inserted into the hole. The extent of its extension can be controlled manually. However, the protrusion 19 cannot be completely pulled out of the hole. It has a limiting edge larger than the hole, which can hold it in place. The way to manually control the extent of the protrusion 19's extension is to set a threaded hole on the inner wall of the lower cover 1. The threaded hole connects to the hole, and a screw passes through the threaded hole. One end of the screw located in the hole is connected to the protrusion 19. By turning the screw, the movement of the protrusion 19 is pushed. It should be noted that the connection between the screw and the protrusion 19 is such that it can prevent the two from separating, but the two can rotate relative to each other. Another approach is to have the protrusion 19 and the screw only make contact at one end of the hole. A spring is installed between the protrusion 19 and the inner surface of the hole. When the screw pushes against the protrusion 19, the spring generates a reverse pulling force. When the screw moves away from the protrusion 19, the protrusion 19 moves back under the action of the pulling force. This also allows for adjustment of the position of the protrusion 19. The effect is that the more of the protrusion 19 is exposed, the tighter it engages with the elastic arm 16; the less exposed, the looser it engages with the elastic arm 16, thus achieving adjustment of the force.

[0078] like Figure 4 and Figure 8 Furthermore, the insertion ends of both the first positioning post 11 and the second positioning post 13 are frustum-shaped and can be guided. The insertion ends of the first positioning post 11 and the second positioning post 13, namely the end of the first positioning post 11 used to insert into the first positioning hole on the main PCB board 8 and the end of the second positioning post 13 used to insert into the second positioning hole on the PCB board 2, are both frustum-shaped, giving them a sloping surface that can be used for guidance, so that they are inserted into place.

[0079] like Figure 10 As shown, the present invention also provides a specific embodiment of a keyboard 9, which has a mounting part capable of installing input keys. The mounting part can be detachably mounted with the rotary key module described in the present invention, and in addition to mounting the rotary key module described in the present invention, other input keys, such as traditional mechanical keys, can also be mounted.

[0080] The keyboard 9 provided by this invention can install the rotary button module, making the keyboard 9 more functional. Furthermore, the rotary button module can be removed from the keyboard 9 to install other buttons, such as traditional mechanical buttons, thus realizing the function of installing multiple buttons on one keyboard 9 and increasing its range of use.

[0081] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A knob / button module, characterized in that, The rotary button module is detachably mounted on the keyboard. The rotary button module includes a knob and a switch module, the switch module comprising: Top cover; A PCB board, which is positioned and installed on the lower side of the upper cover; The encoder is mounted on the PCB board and electrically connected to the PCB board. The encoder is covered by a top cover. The encoder's main shaft extends out of the top cover. A knob is mounted on the main shaft. The knob is used to drive the main shaft to rotate and to press the encoder's press button. A conductor, one end of which is electrically connected to the PCB board and the other end of which is electrically connected to the main PCB board of the keyboard; The lower cover, which is fitted together with the upper cover to form a receiving cavity, houses the PCB board and encoder within the receiving cavity, with the PCB board positioned and mounted within the lower cover; the bottom of the lower cover also has a first positioning post for insertion into a first positioning hole on the main PCB board; and A fixing plate having an opening, with the lower cover located within the opening; The knob is composed of a cylindrical section and a frustum section. The cylindrical section is connected to the smaller end of the frustum section. The main shaft extends from the frustum section into the cylindrical section and is connected to the cylindrical section. The cylindrical section is also provided with anti-slip texture. The upper cover and the lower cover are detachably connected. The upper cover is provided with an elastic arm with a barb. The outer wall of the lower cover is provided with a groove that matches the elastic arm, and a protrusion in the groove is provided for engaging with the barb.

2. The knob and button module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The conductor is one or more of the following: probe, metal spring, pin header, ribbon cable, or FPC film.

3. The knob and button module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The conductors are arranged in multiple rows or columns, or in a single row or column, and pass through the main PCB board and through the end connection socket.

4. The knob and button module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A second positioning post is provided inside the lower cover, and a second positioning hole is provided on the PCB board. The second positioning post is inserted into the second positioning hole to realize the positioning of the PCB board. The shape of the PCB board is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity of the lower cover.

5. A keyboard, characterized in that, The keyboard has a mounting portion capable of mounting input keys, the mounting portion being detachably capable of mounting the rotary key module according to any one of claims 1-4.

Images