Key structure

Abstract

The present application provides a key structure, comprising a bottom plate, a switch piece, a key cap, a positioning piece and a linkage rod. The switch piece is arranged on the bottom plate. The key cap is arranged on the switch piece, and the switch piece is located between the bottom plate and the key cap. The positioning piece is connected to the bottom plate and located between the bottom plate and the key cap. The linkage rod is arranged between the key cap and the positioning piece, wherein the linkage rod passes through a through slot, and opposite ends of the linkage rod respectively contact the key cap and the positioning piece.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a key structure, and more particularly to a key structure applied to a keyboard. BACKGROUND

[0002] A keyboard is a common physical input device to assist a user to operate or input a signal to a personal computer, a notebook computer or a tablet computer, or other electronic devices with a keyboard or a peripheral keyboard. Specifically, the keyboard is composed of a plurality of key structures, and can be divided into short keys and long keys according to the length of the keycaps. Generally, a long key has a linkage rod (or a balance rod) under the keycap, so that when any position of the keycap is pressed, the linkage rod can drive the keycap to sink smoothly, thereby avoiding the keycap from tilting or shaking. However, due to the development trend of product thinning, the space under the keycap of the long key is continuously reduced, which causes the linkage rod (or the balance rod) to be improperly arranged, thereby failing to meet the development trend of product thinning and affecting the operation reliability of the long key. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application is directed to a key structure, which not only meets the development trend of product thinning, but also helps to improve the operation reliability.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the present application, a key structure includes a bottom plate, a switch member, a keycap, a positioning member and a linkage rod. The bottom plate has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a through slot penetrating the first surface and the second surface. The switch member is disposed on the first surface. The keycap is disposed on the switch member, and the switch member is located between the bottom plate and the keycap. The positioning member is connected to the second surface. The linkage rod is disposed between the keycap and the positioning member, wherein the linkage rod penetrates the through slot, and opposite ends of the linkage rod contact the keycap and the positioning member, respectively.

[0005] In the key structure according to an embodiment of the present application, the switch member includes a base, two supports and an elastic return body, wherein the base is fixed to the bottom plate, and the two supports contact the keycap. The two supports are movably connected to the base, and opposite ends of the elastic return body are connected to the two supports, respectively.

[0006] In the key structure according to an embodiment of the present application, each support has a first clamping portion, a second clamping portion opposite to the first clamping portion and a third clamping portion located between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion, wherein the first clamping portion of each support is movably clamped to the keycap, and the third clamping portion of each support is movably clamped to the base. The two second clamping portions of the two supports are movably clamped to each other.

[0007] In the key structure according to one embodiment of the present application, the switch member further includes a trigger body and a trigger contact, wherein the trigger body is disposed between the two supports and the base, and the trigger contact is disposed on the bottom plate corresponding to the trigger body.

[0008] In the key structure according to one embodiment of the present application, the elastic return body is a tension spring, and two ends of the tension spring are connected to upper portions of the two supports, respectively.

[0009] In the key structure according to one embodiment of the present application, a reciprocating member is disposed on the first surface, wherein the reciprocating member is located between the key cap and the bottom plate, and is located on one side of the switch member.

[0010] In the key structure according to one embodiment of the present application, the positioning member has a positioning slot, and one end of the connecting rod is slidingly disposed in the positioning slot.

[0011] In the key structure according to one embodiment of the present application, the connecting rod includes a lifting rod portion contacting the key cap and a sliding rod portion contacting the positioning member, and the through slot is located on a lifting path of the lifting rod portion.

[0012] In the key structure according to one embodiment of the present application, a light-emitting member is further included and is disposed on the first surface of the bottom plate. The light-emitting member is disposed in a projection range of the key cap projected to the bottom plate.

[0013] In the key structure according to one embodiment of the present application, the switch member includes an elastic return body, a trigger contact covered by the elastic return body, and two supports located at the periphery of the elastic return body, wherein opposite ends of the elastic return body contact the key cap and the bottom plate, respectively, and the two supports are pivotally connected to each other. One end of each support contacts the key cap, and the other end of each support contacts the bottom plate.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the present application, a key structure includes a bottom plate, a switch member, a key cap, a positioning member, and a connecting rod. The switch member is disposed on the bottom plate. The key cap is disposed on the switch member, and the switch member is located between the bottom plate and the key cap. The positioning member is connected to the bottom plate and is located between the bottom plate and the key cap. The connecting rod is disposed between the bottom plate and the key cap, and opposite ends of the connecting rod contact the key cap and the positioning member, respectively.

[0015] In the key structure according to another embodiment of the present application, each support has a first clamping portion, a second clamping portion opposite to the first clamping portion, and a third clamping portion located between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion, wherein the first clamping portion of each support is movably clamped to the key cap, and the third clamping portion of each support is movably clamped to the base. The two second clamping portions of the two supports are movably clamped to each other.

[0016] In the key structure according to another embodiment of the present application, the positioning member extends toward the key cap and is located outside the base.

[0017] In another embodiment of the button structure according to the present invention, a light-emitting element is further included, disposed on the base plate. The light-emitting element is located on one side of the switch element or within the projection range of the switch element onto the base plate.

[0018] Based on the above, in one embodiment of the button structure of the present invention, the linkage rod can pass through the base plate to reduce the gap between the keycap and the base plate, and ensure that the linkage rod has sufficient travel. This not only conforms to the trend of product thinning, but also helps to improve operational reliability. In another embodiment of the button structure of the present invention, the gap between the keycap and the base plate is reduced to accommodate the linkage rod, and ensures that the linkage rod has sufficient travel. This not only conforms to the trend of product thinning, but also helps to improve operational reliability.

[0019] To make the above features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of the button structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 1B yes Figure 1A A schematic diagram of the button structure from another perspective;

[0022] Figure 1C yes Figure 1A An exploded view of the button structure;

[0023] Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram of the button structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A A schematic diagram of the button structure from another perspective;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the button structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0026] 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 element references are used in the drawings and description to denote the same or similar parts.

[0027] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of the button structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1B yes Figure 1A A schematic diagram of the button structure from another perspective. Figure 1C yes Figure 1A An exploded view of the button structure. To clearly illustrate the configuration relationships between the components,Figure 1A The keycap 130 is indicated by a dashed line. Please refer to this. Figures 1A-1C In this embodiment, the key structure 100 can be the space bar or other long keys on a keyboard. Specifically, the key structure 100 includes a base plate 110, a switch 120, a keycap 130, a positioning member 140, and a linkage 150. The base plate 110 can be a combination of a metal support plate, a thin-film circuit board, and a circuit board, and the switch 120 is disposed between the keycap 130 and the base plate 110. For example, the base plate 110 can be a circuit board with high rigidity; the base plate 110 can also be a combination of a metal support plate and a circuit board stacked from top to bottom (e.g., from the keycap 130 towards the base plate 110); the base plate 110 can also be a thin-film circuit board and a metal support plate stacked from top to bottom; or the base plate 110 can be a combination of a thin-film circuit board, a metal support plate, and a circuit board stacked from top to bottom.

[0028] The base plate 110 has a first surface 111 facing the keycap 130, a second surface 112 opposite to the first surface 111, and a through groove 113 passing through the first surface 111 and the second surface 112. The switch member 120 is disposed on the first surface 111 and supports the keycap 130. A positioning member 140 connects to the second surface 112 and protrudes from it. For example, the positioning member 140 is made of metal and can be fixed to the base plate 110 using surface bonding technology; the positioning member 140 can also be made of plastic and can be fixed to the base plate 110 by injection molding or snap-fit. On the other hand, a linkage 150 is disposed between the keycap 130 and the positioning member 140, wherein one end of the linkage 150 contacts the keycap 130, and the other end contacts the positioning member 140. Furthermore, the linkage 150 extends from the keycap 130 to the positioning member 140 and passes through the base plate 110. The slot 113 is configured to correspond to the linkage 150, serving as a channel for the linkage 150 to pass through the base plate 110.

[0029] Continuing from the above, the linkage 150 can pass through the base plate 110 to reduce the gap between the keycap 130 and the base plate 110, and ensure that the linkage 150 has sufficient travel, which not only conforms to the trend of product thinning, but also helps to improve operational reliability.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 1AIn this embodiment, the switch member 120 can be a mechanical switch, and includes a base 121, two supports 122, an elastic return body 123, a trigger body 124, and a trigger contact 125. The base 121 is fixed to the bottom plate 110, and the two supports 122 contact the key cap 130. In this embodiment, the bottom plate 110 includes a metal support plate and a circuit board. The base 121 can be connected to the metal support plate, and the trigger contact 125 is disposed on the circuit board and corresponds to an opening of the metal support plate. The two supports 122 are movably connected to each other and have a V-shaped structure. The two supports 122 are movably connected to the base 121 and are used to support the key cap 130. In addition, the elastic return body 123 has opposite ends movably connected to the two supports 122, and can be a tension spring. The two ends of the tension spring are movably connected to the upper portions of the two supports 122. When the key cap 130 is pressed, the key cap 130 drives the two supports 122 to sink, and the elastic return body 123 is stretched by the two supports 122. Once the pressing force applied to the key cap 130 is removed, the elastic force of the elastic return body 123 drives the two supports 122 to rise, thereby driving the key cap 130 to rise to the initial position.

[0031] The trigger body 124 is disposed between the two supports 122 and the base 121, and the trigger contact 125 is disposed on the bottom plate 110 (e.g., the circuit board or the thin film circuit board) corresponding to the trigger body 124. For example, the trigger body 124 contacts one of the supports 122 or is located in the lifting path of one of the supports 122, and the trigger contact 125 is located in the movement path of the trigger body 124 or is located in the range of the orthographic projection of the trigger body 124 on the bottom plate 110. When the key cap 130 is pressed, the two supports 122 sink, and one of the supports 122 drives the trigger body 124 to move toward the bottom plate 110, so that the trigger body 124 contacts the trigger contact 125 to turn on the circuit. In another embodiment, the trigger body can also be disposed on at least one of the supports 122. When the key cap 130 is pressed, the two supports 122 sink and move toward the bottom plate 110, so that the trigger body of the support 122 contacts the trigger contact to turn on the circuit.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 1A Each of the supports 122 has a first clamping portion 122a, a second clamping portion 122b opposite to the first clamping portion 122a, and a third clamping portion 122c between the first clamping portion 122a and the second clamping portion 122b. The first clamping portion 122a of each of the supports 122 is movably clamped to the key cap 130, and the third clamping portion 122c is movably clamped to the base 121, so as to avoid the two supports 122 from being separated from the base 121 when sinking or rising. In addition, the two second clamping portions 122b of the two supports 122 are movably clamped to each other, so as to avoid the two supports 122 from being separated from each other when sinking or rising.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 1A and Figure 1B In this embodiment, the linkage 150 includes a lifting rod portion 151 that contacts the keycap 130 and a sliding rod portion 152 that contacts the positioning member 140. The lifting rod portion 151 extends from the keycap 130 toward the base plate 110 and passes through the through slot 113 to connect with the sliding rod portion 152. Additionally, the positioning member 140 has a positioning groove 141 for the sliding rod portion 152 to be slidably engaged with the positioning member 140. That is, a portion of the sliding rod portion 152 is slidably disposed within the positioning groove 141.

[0034] Please refer to Figure 1A The lifting rod 151 is an L-shaped rod, and the slot 113 is an L-shaped slot. When the keycap 130 is pressed down, the keycap 130 moves the lifting rod 151 towards the base plate 110, and the lifting rod 151 can move into the slot 113. That is, the slot 113 is located on the lifting path of the lifting rod 151 and is used to accommodate the lowered lifting rod 151. In other embodiments, as long as sufficient travel of the lifting rod can be provided, the slot can be a linear slot or a slot with other geometric contours to accommodate the entire or part of the lowered lifting rod.

[0035] Please refer to Figure 1A Since the linkage 150 maintains a sliding contact with the base plate 110 through the positioning member 140, the space between the keycap 130 and the base plate 110 is released to accommodate other components, such as the light-emitting element 160. The light-emitting element 160 can be a light-emitting diode and is disposed on the first surface 111 of the base plate 110, electrically connected to the circuit board or thin-film circuit board of the base plate 110. In this embodiment, the light-emitting element 160 is disposed within the projection range of the keycap 130 onto the base plate 110 and is located on one side of the switch member 120. The light emitted by the light-emitting element 160 can be emitted into the light-transmitting area of ​​the keycap 130. In another embodiment, the light-emitting element 160 can also be disposed at the relative center of the corresponding keycap 130, such as within the projection range of the switch member 120 onto the base plate 110, so that the light emitted by the light-emitting element 160 can have a uniform light effect.

[0036] Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram of the button structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2B yes Figure 2A A schematic diagram of the button structure from another perspective. To clearly illustrate the configuration relationships between the components, Figure 2A The keycap 130 is indicated by a dashed line. Please refer to this. Figure 2A and Figure 2BThe switch member 170 of the present embodiment is different from the switch member 120 of the first embodiment. In detail, the switch member 170 comprises an elastic return body 171, a trigger contact 172 covered by the elastic return body 171, and two supports 173 located at the periphery of the elastic return body 171, wherein the opposite ends of the elastic return body 171 respectively contact the key cap 130 and the bottom plate 110, and can be rubber dome or silicone dome. The elastic return body 171 further comprises a trigger body for triggering the trigger contact 172 to turn on the circuit when the key cap 130 is pressed down, and providing the elastic force required when the key cap 130 is lifted up.

[0037] On the other hand, the two supports 173 are pivotally connected to each other to form a scissor structure. In detail, one end of each support 173 contacts the key cap 130, and the other end contacts the bottom plate 110. When the key cap 130 is pressed down, the two supports 173 and the linkage rod 150 can drive the key cap 130 to stably sink down, avoiding the key cap 130 from tilting or shaking. In the present embodiment, the slot 113a can be a linear slot, and is located on the lifting path of the lifting rod portion 151 for accommodating part of the lifting rod portion 151 after sinking down. As shown in Figure 2B The positioning member 140 protruding from the second surface 112 is, for example, integrally connected to the bottom plate 110. In the present embodiment, the bottom plate 110 comprises a circuit board and a metal support plate, and the positioning member 140 can be integrally punched and bent from the metal support plate material to the second surface 112.

[0038] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the key structure of the third embodiment of the present application. In order to clearly show the arrangement relationship between the components, Figure 3 The key cap 130 is shown by dashed lines. Please refer to Figure 3 Unlike the key structure 100 of the first embodiment, the key structure 100B of the present embodiment further comprises a reciprocating member 180 arranged on the first surface 111 of the bottom plate 110, wherein the reciprocating member 180 is located between the key cap 130 and the bottom plate 110, and can be a scissor structure composed of two supports 181 pivotally connected to each other, to jointly support the key cap 130 with the two supports 122 of the switch member 120. For example, two reciprocating members 180 are arranged on the opposite sides of the switch member 120, to improve the actuation stability of the key structure 100B.

[0039] In another aspect, the gap between the key cap 130 and the bottom plate 110 is reduced to accommodate the linkage rod 1501 and ensure that the linkage rod 1501 has sufficient movement stroke. Thus, the positioning member 1401 can be connected to the first surface 111 of the bottom plate 110 and protrude from the first surface 111 so that one end of the linkage rod 1501 is slidably arranged in the positioning groove 1411 of the positioning member 1401. That is, the linkage rod 1501 does not pass through the second surface 112 of the bottom plate 110 and is arranged between the key cap 130 and the bottom plate 110. In this embodiment, the bottom plate 110 includes a thin film circuit board, a metal support plate and a circuit board, the positioning member 1401 is connected to the metal support plate and extends upward through the thin film circuit board toward the key cap 130 and is located outside the base 121, the trigger contact 125 and the light emitting member 160 are arranged on the circuit board and correspond to the openings of the metal support plate. As shown in Figure 3 FIG. 15, the light emitting member 160 is arranged between the switch member 120 and the reciprocating member 180. In another embodiment, the light emitting member 160 can also be arranged at the opposite middle of the key cap 130, i.e., within the projection range of the switch member 120 projected toward the bottom plate 110.

[0040] It is particularly noted that the positioning member 141 of the key structure 100 of the first embodiment and the key structure 100A of the second embodiment can also adopt the arrangement of the positioning member 1401 of the third embodiment so that the linkage rod 150 is arranged between the key cap 130 and the bottom plate 110.

[0041] In summary, in the key structure of one embodiment of the present application, the linkage rod can pass through the bottom plate to reduce the gap between the key cap and the bottom plate and ensure that the linkage rod has sufficient movement stroke, which not only meets the development trend of product thinning, but also helps to improve the operation reliability. In the key structure of another embodiment of the present application, the gap between the key cap and the bottom plate is reduced to accommodate the linkage rod and ensure that the linkage rod has sufficient movement stroke, which not only meets the development trend of product thinning, but also helps to improve the operation reliability.

[0042] Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, but not to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent replacement for part or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A key structure characterized by comprising: The application relates to a switch, which comprises: a bottom plate having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a through slot penetrating the first surface and the second surface; a switch element arranged on the first surface; a key cap arranged on the switch element, and the switch element is located between the bottom plate and the key cap; a positioning element connected to the second surface; and a linkage rod arranged between the key cap and the positioning element, wherein the linkage rod penetrates the through slot, and opposite ends of the linkage rod respectively contact the key cap and the positioning element. The switch element comprises a base, two supports and an elastic return body, wherein the base is fixed on the bottom plate, the two supports contact the key cap, the two supports are movably connected to the base, and opposite ends of the elastic return body are respectively connected to the two supports.

2. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein Each support has a first clamping portion, a second clamping portion opposite to the first clamping portion, and a third clamping portion located between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion, wherein the first clamping portion of each support is movably clamped on the key cap, the third clamping portion of each support is movably clamped on the base, and the two second clamping portions of the two supports are movably clamped to each other.

3. The key structure according to claim 2, wherein The switch element further comprises a trigger body and a trigger contact point, wherein the trigger body is arranged between the two supports and the base, and the trigger contact point is arranged on the bottom plate corresponding to the trigger body.

4. The key structure according to claim 2, wherein The elastic return body is a tensile spring, and two ends of the tensile spring are respectively connected to upper portions of the two supports.

5. The key structure according to claim 2, wherein The application further comprises a reciprocating element arranged on the first surface, wherein the reciprocating element is located between the key cap and the bottom plate, and is located on one side of the switch element.

6. The key structure according to claim 2, wherein The positioning element has a positioning slot, and one end of the linkage rod is slidingly arranged in the positioning slot.

7. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein The linkage rod comprises a lifting rod portion contacting the key cap and a sliding rod portion contacting the positioning element, and the through slot is located on a lifting path of the lifting rod portion.

8. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein The switch element comprises an elastic return body, a trigger contact point covered by the elastic return body, and two supports located at the periphery of the elastic return body, wherein opposite ends of the elastic return body respectively contact the key cap and the bottom plate, one end of each support contacts the key cap, and the other end of each support contacts the bottom plate.

9. The key structure according to claim 1, wherein The application further comprises a light-emitting element arranged on the first surface of the bottom plate, and the light-emitting element is arranged in a projection range of the key cap projected to the bottom plate.

10. The key structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein The application relates to a switch, which comprises:

11. A key structure characterized by comprising: a bottom plate; a switch element arranged on the bottom plate; a key cap arranged on the switch element, and the switch element is located between the bottom plate and the key cap; a positioning element connected to the bottom plate; and a linkage rod arranged between the bottom plate and the key cap, and opposite ends of the linkage rod respectively contact the key cap and the positioning element, the linkage rod penetrates the bottom plate, and is clamped on the positioning element protruding from the bottom plate on a side opposite to the key cap. ​ ​ The switch piece comprises a base, two supports and an elastic reset body, wherein the base is fixed on the bottom plate, the two supports contact the key cap, the two supports are movably connected to the base, and opposite ends of the elastic reset body are respectively connected to the two supports.

12. The key structure according to claim 11, wherein Each of the supports has a first clamping portion, a second clamping portion opposite to the first clamping portion, and a third clamping portion between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion, wherein the first clamping portion of each of the supports is movably clamped to the key cap, the third clamping portion of each of the supports is movably clamped to the base, and the two second clamping portions of the two supports are movably clamped to each other.

13. The key structure according to claim 11, wherein The switch piece further comprises a trigger body and a trigger contact, wherein the trigger body is arranged between the two supports and the base, and the trigger contact is arranged on the bottom plate corresponding to the trigger body.

14. The key structure according to claim 11, wherein The elastic reset body is a tensile spring, and two ends of the tensile spring are respectively connected to upper portions of the two supports.

15. The key structure according to claim 11, wherein A reciprocating piece arranged on the bottom plate is further included, wherein the reciprocating piece is located between the key cap and the bottom plate, and on one side of the switch piece.

16. The key structure according to claim 11, wherein The positioning piece has a positioning groove, and one end of the connecting rod is slidably arranged in the positioning groove.

17. The key structure according to claim 11, wherein A light-emitting piece arranged on the bottom plate is further included, wherein the light-emitting piece is located on one side of the switch piece or in a projection range of the switch piece projected to the bottom plate.

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