Button structure with display panel

Abstract

This invention provides a key structure with a display panel, including a display panel, a backlit keycap, and a scissor assembly. The backlit keycap is disposed above the display panel, and the image generated by the display panel is projected onto the key structure through the backlit keycap. The scissor assembly is disposed between the display panel and the backlit keycap and exposes the display surface of the display panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a button structure, and more particularly to a button structure with a display panel. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technology, keyboards have multiple keys, and each keycap has at least one text or pattern printed on it to assign a specific input function and allow the user to identify its input function. However, the text or pattern on each keycap is set at the factory and cannot be customized by the user. Although some keyboards have additional macro keys that allow users to switch the input commands corresponding to keys, the images on these macro keys cannot be changed accordingly, so users cannot immediately see the input command corresponding to each key.

[0003] Furthermore, while existing backlit keyboards can illuminate when in use or when the user requests it, similar to the above, their illumination effect is set at the factory and cannot be adjusted according to the user's needs.

[0004] Therefore, how to improve the visual limitations of keyboards or keys regarding their text or patterns, and how to allow users to freely define keyboards or keys according to their needs, has become a problem that those skilled in the art need to consider and solve. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention relates to a button structure with a display panel that provides both customizable identifiable text or patterns and a stable tactile feel for the user.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a key structure with a display panel includes a display panel, a backlit keycap, and a scissor assembly. The backlit keycap is disposed above the display panel, and the display panel projects an image onto the key structure through the backlit keycap. The scissor assembly is disposed between the display panel and the backlit keycap and exposes the display surface of the display panel.

[0007] Based on the above, the present invention provides a button structure with a display panel. The display panel is located at the base, allowing the image generated by the display panel to be transmitted upwards and projected onto the button structure through a light-transmitting keycap, thereby providing the user with easily identifiable text or patterns. Simultaneously, a scissor assembly is positioned between the light-transmitting keycap and the display panel, providing support while also exposing the display surface of the display panel, allowing the aforementioned image to be transmitted unaffected from the display surface to the light-transmitting keycap. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1An exploded view of one of the key structures on a keyboard;

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the structure of one of the keys on the keyboard;

[0011] Figure 4 This is a top view of a thin-film circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a button structure according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 6A This is a schematic diagram of some components of a button structure according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 6B yes Figure 6A Exploded view of the scissor assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same component reference numerals are used in the drawings and description to denote the same or similar parts.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded view of one of the keycap structures on the keyboard. Please also refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the key structure 100 is, for example, a keyboard adapted to the electronic device 10 (laptop), that is, as shown in the example. Figure 1 The keyboard shown is composed of multiple key structures 100. Each key structure 100 includes a display panel 110, backlit keycaps 120, and a scissor-switch assembly 130. The backlit keycaps 120 are positioned above the display panel 110, and the image generated by the display panel 110 is projected onto the key structures 100 through the backlit keycaps 120. The scissor-switch assembly 130 is positioned between the display panel 110 and the backlit keycaps 120 to support the keycaps 120 on the display panel 110. Simultaneously, the scissor-switch assembly 130 exposes the display surface 111 of the display panel 110.

[0017] Here, the display panel 110 is, for example, an electronic paper or electronic ink (E-paper or E-ink) display panel, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel, or other types of display panel, with its display surface 111 facing the light-transmitting keycap 120 so that the user can see the image generated from the display surface 111 through the light-transmitting keycap 120.

[0018] Please refer to this again. Figure 2In detail, the button structure 100 of this embodiment also includes a base plate 150, a thin-film circuit 160, and a flexible support 140. The base plate 150 is made of metal, for example, and is disposed on the display panel 110 with a cutout structure to expose the display surface 111. The thin-film circuit 160 is disposed on the base plate 150 and also has a cutout structure to expose the display surface 111. The flexible support 140 is disposed on the thin-film circuit 160 and also has a cutout structure to expose the display surface 111.

[0019] Furthermore, the elastic support 140 includes an elastic body 141 and an auxiliary component 142. The elastic body 141 is made of, for example, silicone rubber, and the auxiliary component 142 is made of, for example, plastic. The auxiliary component 142 is attached to the inner side E5 of the elastic body 141 by means of embedding or injection molding. Here, the inner side E5 refers to the inner wall of the hollow structure. Figure 3 yes Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of one of the keys on the keyboard. For ease of identification, only the cross-sectional lines of the relevant components are shown, while the cross-sectional lines of other unrelated components are omitted. Please also refer to... Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the base plate 150 has a pair of guide grooves 151, substantially located on opposite sides E1 and E2 outside the display surface 111, while the elastic body 141 substantially covers the four adjacent sides E1 to E4 outside the display surface 111. The auxiliary component 142 in this embodiment is substantially located on opposite sides E1 and E2, with its left and right ends extending to the other opposite sides E3 and E4, forming a pivotal structure. The scissor assembly 130 includes symmetrical components 131 and 132, wherein the opposite ends of each component 131 and 132 are movably and pivotally connected to the guide grooves 151, and the central sections of each component 131 and 132 have pivotal structures to pivotally engage with the aforementioned auxiliary component 142. The light-transmitting keycap 120 is attached to (attached to) the top surface of the elastic body 141. The assembly relationship between the above components can be determined by… Figure 2 The assembly line in the middle is clearly visible.

[0020] Based on the above component configuration, when the user applies force and presses the backlit keycap 120, it is equivalent to applying force to press down the elastic body 141, causing collapsible elastic deformation (and accumulating elastic force), which in turn drives the scissor assembly 130 to pivot synchronously. The synchronous pivoting of the scissor assembly 130 allows the backlit keycap 120 to move stably downwards without wobbling during the pressing process. Once the user removes the aforementioned force, the elastic body 141 can return (reset) the backlit keycap 120 and the scissor assembly 130 with its elasticity.

[0021] Furthermore, the thin-film circuit 160 of this embodiment also includes a switch 161 located around the display surface 111, and the elastic body 141 of the elastic support 140 also has a protrusion 141a extending toward the switch 161. Here, the switch 161 is an optical switch, for example, composed of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit arranged opposite to each other, and the movement path of the protrusion 141a is on the light path of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. In this way, when the key structure 100 is pressed and the elastic support 140 is elastically deformed, the protrusion 141a can be synchronously driven to move between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit to form a blockage, thereby triggering the switch 161. Once the user removes the aforementioned force, the elastic body 141 can return the light-transmitting keycap 120 to its original position through elasticity, and the protrusion 141a is thus moved away and the trigger switch 161 is released.

[0022] In this embodiment, the thin-film circuit 160 has a pair of switches 161 located on sides E3 and E4 to ensure the triggering effect generated by the user's pressing process. In other words, in this embodiment, only one of the pairs of switches 161 needs to be triggered during the pressing process to complete the triggering action of the button structure 100.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a top view of a thin-film circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 4 Unlike the previous embodiments, the switch 161A of the membrane circuit 160 in this embodiment is a conductive pad switch, which consists of a pair of conductive pads that are electrically disconnected from each other. Another conductive pad is provided at the bottom of the protrusion 141b of the elastic body. Thus, when the button structure is pressed, the protrusion 141b abuts against the aforementioned pair of conductive pads, thereby making the pair of conductive pads electrically connected through the conductive pad of the protrusion 141b, thereby triggering the switch 161A. The positions of the switch 161A and the membrane circuit 160 can be referenced here. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a button structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to it. Figure 5 And compare Figure 2 or Figure 3 Unlike the previous embodiment where the scissor assembly 130 was pivotally connected to the elastic support 140 as an auxiliary component 142, in this embodiment the scissor assembly 130A is directly pivotally connected to the inner surface of the light-transmitting keycap 120A. For example... Figure 5As shown, the inner surface of the translucent keycap 120A has a pair of retaining portions 121 for pivotally retaining the pivot shaft 133 on the component of the scissor assembly 130A. Simultaneously, the translucent keycap 120A in this embodiment is also attached to the top surface of the elastic body 140. Therefore, the key structure of this embodiment can still achieve the same operational process as the aforementioned embodiment.

[0025] Figure 6A This is a schematic diagram of some components of a button structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6B yes Figure 6A An exploded view of the scissor assembly. Please also refer to... Figure 6A and Figure 6B Unlike the previous embodiments, the scissor assembly 230 in this embodiment includes a pair of components pivotally connected to each other, and each component has a corresponding pivot post 231 and pivot hole 232, as shown in the figure. Figure 6A As shown, when the two components are pivotally connected, the exposed portion of the pivot post 231 can be further secured to a pair of hooks 251 on the base plate 250, thereby pivotally mounting the scissor assembly 230 onto the base plate 250. Apart from this, the base plate 250 of this embodiment is the same as the base plate 150 of the aforementioned embodiment.

[0026] Please refer to this again. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, although the above Figures 2 to 6B Only a partial view of a single button structure is shown, but it can still be applied to, for example... Figure 1 The keyboard shown is formed by multiple key structures 100. Furthermore, it is readily apparent that when using a combination of multiple key structures 100, the display panel 110, base plate 150, membrane circuit 160, and flexible support 140 of the key structures can be integrated into a single structure to save manufacturing costs and simplify assembly processes. For example, the display panel 110 can adopt an array structure of multiple display surfaces 111, and the same applies to the aforementioned base plate 150, membrane circuit 160, and flexible support 140, each with a single integrated structure and multiple openings to expose the multiple display surfaces 111.

[0027] In summary, in the above embodiments of the present invention, the button structure with a display panel has a display panel at its base, allowing the image generated by the display panel to be transmitted upwards and projected onto the button structure via the light-transmitting keycaps, thereby providing the user with the text or patterns that are needed and easily identifiable. Simultaneously, a scissor assembly is disposed between the light-transmitting keycaps and the display panel, providing support while also exposing the display surface of the display panel, allowing the aforementioned image to be transmitted unaffected from the display surface to the light-transmitting keycaps.

[0028] Furthermore, the key structure also incorporates a flexible support between the display panel and the keycaps, exposing the display surface of the panel to ensure smooth projection of the image onto the backlit keycaps. Simultaneously, the flexible support serves as a linkage mechanism for the key structure. When a key is pressed, the user applies pressure to the keycap, causing the flexible support to collapse and deform elastically (simultaneously driving the scissor mechanism). Once the user's force is removed, the flexible support uses its elasticity to drive the keycaps (and scissor mechanism) back to their original position.

[0029] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A button structure with a display panel, characterized in that, include: Display panel; A backlit keycap is disposed above the display panel, and the image generated by the display panel is projected onto the key structure through the backlit keycap; A scissor assembly is disposed between the display panel and the light-transmitting keycap and exposes the display surface of the display panel; as well as An elastic bracket is disposed on the display panel and connected to the light-transmitting keycap. The elastic bracket exposes the display surface. A scissor assembly is connected to the inner side of the elastic bracket. The elastic bracket includes an elastic body and at least one auxiliary component. The elastic body is disposed on the display panel, and the light-transmitting keycap is connected to the top surface of the elastic body. The elastic body has an inner side. The at least one auxiliary component is disposed on the inner side and pivotally connected to the scissor assembly. The elastic body is made of silicone rubber, and the auxiliary component is made of plastic and is embedded and injection molded to the elastic body. The elastic body is adapted to undergo collapsible elastic deformation and accumulate elastic force under stress to drive the scissor assembly to pivot synchronously, so that the light-transmitting keycap moves stably downward without swaying during pressing.

2. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A thin-film circuit is disposed on the display panel and exposes the display surface, and the elastic support is located on the thin-film circuit.

3. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The thin-film circuit has a switch located outside the display surface. The elastic bracket also has a protrusion extending toward the switch. When the button structure is pressed, the elastic bracket undergoes elastic deformation and drives the protrusion to move toward and trigger the switch. When the button structure is not pressed, the elastic bracket does not undergo elastic deformation and drives the protrusion to de-trigger and move away from the switch.

4. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The switch mentioned therein is an optical switch.

5. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The switch mentioned therein is a conductive pad switch.

6. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: A base plate is disposed between the thin-film circuit and the elastic support, and the end of the scissor assembly away from the light-transmitting keycap is slidably and pivotally connected to the base plate.

7. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The scissor assembly is pivotally connected to the light-transmitting keycap.

8. A button structure with a display panel, comprising: The display panel has multiple display surfaces; Multiple backlit keycaps are disposed above the display panel, and the multiple display surfaces generate images to project the key structure through the multiple backlit keycaps; Multiple scissor-shaped components are disposed between the display panel and the multiple light-transmitting keycaps, exposing the multiple display surfaces; as well as An elastic bracket is disposed on the display panel and connected to the plurality of light-transmitting keycaps. The elastic bracket has multiple openings to correspond to and expose the plurality of display surfaces. Each of the scissor assemblies is connected to the elastic bracket and located inside the plurality of openings. The elastic bracket includes an elastic body and a plurality of auxiliary components. The elastic body is disposed on the display panel and has the plurality of openings. The plurality of light-transmitting keycaps are connected to the top surface of the elastic body. The plurality of auxiliary components are disposed in pairs at the plurality of openings of the elastic body. Each of the plurality of scissor assemblies is pivotally connected to a pair of auxiliary components in the same opening. The elastic body is made of silicone rubber, and the pair of auxiliary components are made of plastic and are embedded and injection molded to the elastic body. The elastic body is adapted to undergo collapsible elastic deformation and accumulate elastic force under force to drive the plurality of scissor assemblies to pivot synchronously so that the plurality of light-transmitting keycaps move stably downward without swaying during pressing.

9. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 8, characterized in that, Also includes: A thin-film circuit is disposed on the display panel and exposes the plurality of display surfaces, and the elastic support is located on the thin-film circuit.

10. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 9, characterized in that, The thin-film circuit has multiple switches located outside the range of each of the display surfaces. The elastic bracket also has multiple protrusions extending toward the multiple switches. When the button structure is pressed, the elastic bracket undergoes elastic deformation and drives the protrusions to move toward and trigger the switch. When the button structure is not pressed, the elastic bracket does not undergo elastic deformation and drives the protrusions to de-trigger and move away from the switch.

11. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 10, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned switches is an optical switch.

12. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 10, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned switches is a conductive pad type switch.

13. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 9, characterized in that, Also includes: A base plate is disposed between the thin-film circuit and the elastic support, and the end of each scissor assembly away from the light-transmitting keycap is slidably and pivotally connected to the base plate.

14. The button structure with a display panel according to claim 8, characterized in that, The plurality of scissor components are respectively pivotally connected to the plurality of light-transmitting keycaps.

Images