Key structure

Abstract

The present application provides a key structure, which includes a bottom plate, a thin film circuit, a dome switch, a scissors leg structure, an elastic sheet and a key cap. The thin film circuit is arranged on the bottom plate. The dome switch is arranged on the thin film circuit. The scissors leg structure is arranged on the bottom plate, wherein the scissors leg structure includes a first support and a second support pivoted to the first support, and the second support surrounds the first support. The first support has a trigger portion, and the second support has a cavity corresponding to the trigger portion. The elastic sheet is engaged in the cavity, wherein the elastic sheet has an interference portion outside the cavity, and the interference portion is located on a moving path of the trigger portion. The key cap is arranged on the scissors leg structure and the dome switch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a key structure, and more particularly to a key structure for use in a keyboard. Background Technology

[0002] Keyboards are a common physical user interface, widely used in desktop computers, laptops, and other electronic devices. Based on differences in structural design, travel distance, and triggering mechanisms, keyboards can be broadly categorized into membrane keyboards and mechanical keyboards, with scissor-switch keyboards being a common type of membrane keyboard. Generally, mechanical keyboards have springs inside the key switches. When a user presses a key, the springs are compressed, causing elastic deformation and producing a sound, thus enhancing the user experience. However, limited by the travel distance of the key switches, the overall thickness of mechanical keyboards is much greater than that of scissor-switch keyboards, making them unable to meet the design requirements for thinner and lighter designs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a button structure that not only meets the design requirements for a thin and light design, but also helps to improve the user's operating experience.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the key structure includes a base plate, a membrane circuit, a dome switch, a scissor-switch structure, a spring, and a keycap. The membrane circuit is disposed on the base plate. The dome switch is disposed on the membrane circuit. The scissor-switch structure is disposed on the base plate, wherein the scissor-switch structure includes a first bracket and a second bracket pivotally connected to the first bracket, and the second bracket surrounds the first bracket. The first bracket has a trigger portion, and the second bracket has a cavity corresponding to the trigger portion. The spring engages within the cavity, wherein the spring has an interference portion located outside the cavity, and the interference portion is located on the movement path of the trigger portion. The keycap is disposed on the scissor-switch structure and the dome switch.

[0005] Based on the above, the button structure of the present invention integrates the sound structure into the scissor mechanism. During the raising and lowering of the scissor mechanism, the sound structure can be triggered to emit a sound, thereby enhancing the user's operating experience (e.g., auditory experience). Furthermore, compared to button structures using mechanical switches, the button structure of the present invention uses a scissor mechanism, thus meeting the design requirements for a thinner and lighter design. Attached Figure Description

[0006] The accompanying drawings are included to further illustrate the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0007] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a button structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] Figure 2 for Figure 1A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the button structure;

[0009] Figure 3 and Figure 4 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the button structure when it is pressed down;

[0010] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the button structure when it is lifted.

[0011] Explanation of icon numbers

[0012] 100: Button structure;

[0013] 110: Base plate;

[0014] 120: Thin-film circuits;

[0015] 130: Dome switch;

[0016] 140: Scissor-type structure;

[0017] 141: First support;

[0018] 142: Second support;

[0019] 141a, 142a: First end;

[0020] 141b, 142b: Second end;

[0021] 141c: Groove;

[0022] 141d: Trigger unit;

[0023] 142c: Chamber;

[0024] 142c1: Bottom surface;

[0025] 142c2: Top surface;

[0026] 142e: Positioning recess;

[0027] 150: Keycaps;

[0028] 160: Shrapnel;

[0029] 161: Interference section;

[0030] 162: Positioning hook;

[0031] 163: First contact convex portion;

[0032] 164: second contact convex portion;

[0033] H1, H2: Difference in elevation. Detailed Implementation

[0034] 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.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a button structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the button structure. To clearly show the internal structural configuration, Figure 1 The keycap 150 is indicated by a dashed line. Please refer to this. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the key structure 100 can be applied to a keyboard and includes a base plate 110, a membrane circuit 120, a dome switch 130, a scissor-switch mechanism 140, and keycaps 150. The membrane circuit 120 is disposed on the base plate 110, and the keycaps 150 are disposed above the membrane circuit 120. The dome switch 130 is disposed on the membrane circuit 120 and located between the membrane circuit 120 and the keycaps 150. In addition, the opposite ends of the dome switch 130 abut against the membrane circuit 120 and the keycaps 150, respectively.

[0036] A keycap 150 is disposed on a dome switch 130 and a scissor-switch structure 140, the scissor-switch structure 140 including a first bracket 141 and a second bracket 142 pivotally connected to each other. Further, the first bracket 141 may be an inner bracket surrounding the dome switch 130, and the second bracket 142 may be an outer bracket surrounding the first bracket 141. The first bracket 141 has a first end 141a and a second end 141b opposite to each other, and correspondingly, the second bracket 142 has a first end 142a and a second end 142b opposite to each other. The first end 141a of the first bracket 141 and the first end 142a of the second bracket 142 are connected to the keycap 150, and the second end 141b of the first bracket 141 and the second end 142b of the second bracket 142 are connected to the base plate 110.

[0037] In this embodiment, the button structure 100 integrates the sound structure into the scissor-switch structure 140. During the raising and lowering of the scissor-switch structure 140, the sound structure can be triggered to emit a sound, thereby enhancing the user's operating experience (e.g., auditory experience). Further, the sound structure includes a trigger portion 141d located on the first support 141 and a spring piece 160 disposed on the second support 142, with a portion of the spring piece 160 located along the movement path of the trigger portion 141d. During the raising and lowering of the scissor-switch structure 140, the trigger portion 141d moves through the spring piece 160 and pushes the spring piece 160, causing the spring piece 160 to strike the second support 142 and emit a sound. Compared to button structures using mechanical shafts, the button structure 100 uses a scissor-switch structure 140, thus meeting the design requirements for a thinner and lighter design.

[0038] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the trigger portion 141d can be a trigger protrusion on the first end 141a of the first bracket 141, and the spring piece 160 is disposed on the second end 142b of the second bracket 142. Further, the second bracket 142 has a chamber 142c corresponding to the trigger portion 141d, and the chamber 142c is located at the second end 142b of the second bracket 142. Even further, the spring piece 160 engages within the chamber 142c and has an interference portion 161 located outside the chamber 142c.

[0039] On the other hand, the first bracket 141 also has a groove 141c located at the first end 141a, wherein the trigger part 141d is located in the groove 141c, and the outward protrusion length of the trigger part 141d is less than the depth of the groove 141c, that is, the trigger part 141d does not protrude outside the groove 141c.

[0040] Figure 3 and Figure 4 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the button structure when pressed down. Please refer to... Figures 2 to 4 As the first end 141a of the first support 141 moves toward the base plate 110, the trigger part 141d moves synchronously toward the base plate 110. The trigger part 141d moves through the interference part 161 of the spring piece 160 and pushes the interference part 161 of the spring piece 160, causing the spring piece 160 to undergo elastic deformation and rotate in the cavity 142c. After rotating, the spring piece 160 strikes the inner wall surface (e.g., the bottom surface 142c1) of the cavity 142c and emits the first sound. On the other hand, the cavity 142c can serve as a resonant cavity to amplify the sound generated when the spring piece 160 strikes the bottom surface 142c1 of the cavity 142c.

[0041] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the button structure when it is lifted. Please refer to... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As the first end 141a of the first support 141 moves away from the base plate 110, the trigger part 141d moves away from the base plate 110 simultaneously. The trigger part 141d moves through the interference part 161 of the spring piece 160 and pushes the interference part 161 of the spring piece 160, causing the spring piece 160 to undergo elastic deformation and rotate in the cavity 142c. After rotating, the spring piece 160 strikes the inner wall surface (e.g., the top surface 142c2) of the cavity 142c and emits a second sound. On the other hand, the cavity 142c can serve as a resonant cavity to amplify the sound generated when the spring piece 160 strikes the top surface 142c2 of the cavity 142c.

[0042] In other words, during the pressing and lifting of the button structure 100, the spring 160 is pushed twice by the first bracket 141, resulting in two strikes on the second bracket 142, producing two operating sounds. Figures 2 to 5 As shown.

[0043] Please refer to Figure 2 In this embodiment, the spring piece 160 further includes a positioning hook 162, a first contact protrusion 163, and a second contact protrusion 164. The second bracket 142 also includes a positioning recess 142e connecting to the chamber 142c, and the positioning hook 162 engages with the positioning recess 142e to prevent the spring piece 160 from easily ejecting from the chamber 142c. Furthermore, the first contact protrusion 163 faces the bottom surface 142c1 of the chamber 142c, and the second contact protrusion 164 faces the top surface 142c2 of the chamber 142c.

[0044] In the horizontal direction, the first contact protrusion 163 and the second contact protrusion 164 are located between the interference portion 161 and the positioning hook portion 162, wherein the first contact protrusion 163 is located between the interference portion 161 and the second contact protrusion 164, and the second contact protrusion 164 is located between the first contact protrusion 163 and the positioning hook portion 162. On the other hand, the second contact protrusion 164 is arranged relative to the positioning hook portion 162 and the first contact protrusion 163. In the vertical direction, there is a height difference between the second contact protrusion 164 and the first contact protrusion 163, and the height difference H1 between the interference portion 161 and the second contact protrusion 164 is smaller than the height difference H2 between the interference portion 161 and the first contact protrusion 163. Conversely, in the vertical direction, the height difference between the positioning hook portion 162 and the second contact protrusion 164 is greater than the height difference between the positioning hook portion 162 and the first contact protrusion 163.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, the first contact protrusion 163 of the spring 160 is separated from the bottom surface 142c1 of the chamber 142c. As... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, during the process of the first end 141a of the first bracket 141 moving towards the base plate 110, the trigger part 141d moves towards the base plate 110 simultaneously. The trigger part 141d moves through the interference part 161 of the spring piece 160 and pushes the interference part 161 of the spring piece 160, so that the first contact protrusion 163 rotates around the positioning hook part 162 as the rotation fulcrum and strikes the bottom surface 142c1 of the chamber 142c to produce the first sound.

[0046] like Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, during the process of the first end 141a of the first bracket 141 moving away from the base plate 110, the trigger part 141d moves away from the base plate 110 simultaneously. The trigger part 141d moves through the interference part 161 of the spring piece 160 and pushes the interference part 161 of the spring piece 160, so that the second contact protrusion 164 rotates with the positioning hook part 162 as the rotation fulcrum and strikes the top surface 142c2 of the chamber 142c to produce a second sound.

[0047] In summary, the button structure of this invention integrates a sound mechanism into a scissor-operated mechanism. During the raising and lowering of the scissor-operated mechanism, the sound mechanism can be triggered to emit a sound, thereby enhancing the user's operating experience (e.g., auditory experience). Furthermore, the sound mechanism includes a trigger portion located on a first support and a spring disposed on a second support, with a portion of the spring located along the movement path of the trigger portion. During the raising and lowering of the scissor-operated mechanism, the trigger portion moves through the spring and pushes it, causing the spring to strike the second support and produce a sound. Additionally, compared to button structures using mechanical shafts, the button structure of this invention employs a scissor-operated mechanism, thus meeting the design requirements for a thinner and lighter design.

[0048] 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, characterized in that, include: Base plate; Thin-film circuitry is disposed on the substrate; A dome switch is disposed on the thin-film circuit; A scissor-leg structure is disposed on the base plate, wherein the scissor-leg structure includes a first bracket and a second bracket pivotally connected to the first bracket, and the second bracket surrounds the first bracket, the first bracket has a trigger portion, and the second bracket has a chamber corresponding to the trigger portion; A spring clip engages within the cavity, wherein the spring clip has an interference portion located outside the cavity and situated on the movement path of the trigger portion. During the sequential movement of the trigger portion toward and away from the base plate and the pushing of the interference portion, the spring clip rotates within the cavity around a pivot point, causing two different portions located on opposite sides of the pivot point to sequentially strike the top and bottom surfaces of the cavity; and The keycap is disposed on the scissor-switch structure and the dome switch.

2. The button structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two opposite ends of the dome switch contact the thin-film circuit and the keycap, respectively.

3. The button structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first bracket has its opposite ends connected to the base plate and the keycap, respectively, and the second bracket has its opposite ends connected to the base plate and the keycap, respectively.

4. The button structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The trigger portion is located at one end of the first bracket that connects to the keycap, and the chamber is located at one end of the second bracket that connects to the base plate.

5. The button structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first bracket also has a groove, and the groove is located at one end of the first bracket that connects to the keycap, and the trigger portion is located in the groove.

6. The button structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second bracket also has a positioning recess for connecting the chamber, and the spring also has a positioning hook that engages with the positioning recess.

7. The button structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The spring also has a first contact protrusion located between the interference portion and the positioning hook portion, and the first contact protrusion faces the bottom surface of the cavity. The first contact protrusion is separated from the bottom surface of the cavity. During the process of the trigger portion moving towards the base plate and pushing the interference portion, the first contact protrusion moves towards the bottom surface of the cavity and contacts the bottom surface.

8. The button structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The spring also has a second contact protrusion located between the interference portion and the positioning hook portion, and the second contact protrusion faces the top surface of the cavity. The second contact protrusion is separated from the top surface of the cavity. During the process of the trigger portion moving away from the base plate, the second contact protrusion moves toward the top surface of the cavity and contacts the top surface.

9. The button structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second contact protrusion is located between the first contact protrusion and the positioning hook.

10. The button structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The height difference between the interference portion and the second contact protrusion is less than the height difference between the interference portion and the first contact protrusion.

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