Key structure and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a key structure and an electronic device. The key structure comprises a key cap, a sealing ring which is arranged around the peripheral side of the key cap, is fixedly connected with the key cap and has elasticity, a sensor which is fixed on the back surface of a pressing surface of the key cap, a metal connecting piece which is fixed on one side, far away from the key cap, of the sensor, and a piezoelectric single crystal assembly which is fixed on one side, far away from the sensor, of the metal connecting piece, the central axis of the sealing ring is perpendicular to the sensor, the sealing ring is used for being fixed to a shell of the electronic equipment when the key structure is embedded into the shell of the electronic equipment, and the piezoelectric single crystal assembly is used for being fixed to the inner side of the shell. The falling reliability of the key structure and the aesthetic feeling of the key structure after the key structure is installed on the shell of the electronic equipment can be improved, the key structure can be matched with various scenes to make various adaptive effects, meanwhile, more direct prompt and feedback beneficial to muscle memory are provided for a user, and in addition, the key structure has a waterproof function.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of key technology, and in particular to a key structure and electronic equipment. Background Art

[0002] Mechanical buttons are a type of control structure that achieves control functions by pressing the corresponding position. They are mainly used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and game consoles.

[0003] In the related technology, mechanical keys mainly include keycaps and pots. The control principle is to achieve displacement by pressing the part of the keycap that protrudes outside the shell of the electronic device. At this time, the displacement generated by the keycap will be transmitted to the pot to turn on the circuit to achieve the control effect. Correspondingly, the feel of the mechanical key is achieved through the force feedback during the deformation of the pot.

[0004] Although the above mechanical keys can provide corresponding control functions for electronic devices, their key caps will protrude outside the housing of the electronic device, thereby affecting the external integration of the mechanical keys and the housing of the electronic device, and affecting the drop reliability of the mechanical keys and the appearance of the housing of the electronic device. In addition, the effects of the above mechanical keys are relatively single, and they cannot produce appropriate effects in various scenarios, and they cannot provide users with more direct prompts and feedback that are conducive to muscle memory.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a key structure and an electronic device to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a key structure and an electronic device to solve the problem that the drop reliability of the mechanical keys in the related art and the appearance of the shell of the electronic device will be affected, and it is impossible to produce appropriate effects in various scenarios, and at the same time it is impossible to provide users with more direct prompts and feedback that are conducive to muscle memory.

[0007] In the first aspect, the present invention provides a key structure for being installed in an electronic device to realize touch feedback of the electronic device, comprising a keycap, an elastic sealing ring which is arranged around the outer circumference of the keycap and is fixedly connected with the keycap, a sensor fixed to the back side of the pressing surface of the keycap, a metal connecting part fixed to the side of the sensor away from the keycap, and a piezoelectric single crystal component fixed to the side of the metal connecting part away from the sensor, the central axis of the sealing ring is perpendicular to the sensor, the sealing ring is used to be fixed to the shell of the electronic device when the key structure is embedded in the shell of the electronic device, and the piezoelectric single crystal component is used to be fixed to the inner side of the shell.

[0008] Preferably, the sealing ring is a silicone ring; the stiffness value of the sealing ring is 50-80N / mm.

[0009] Preferably, the sealing ring is fixedly connected to the keycap by injection molding or gluing.

[0010] Preferably, the sensor is any one of a piezoresistive sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a capacitive sensor and an ionization sensor; the sensor is fixedly connected to the keycap by gluing or laser welding.

[0011] Preferably, the metal connector is a stainless steel connector; the thickness of the metal connector is 0.3-0.5 mm.

[0012] Preferably, the outer circumference of the keycap is recessed inward to form an annular mounting groove; the sealing ring includes an annular ring body with a semi-circular cross-section that is annular and convex outward, an annular upper ring tongue extending upward along the axial direction from the upper side of the ring body, and an annular lower ring tongue extending downward along the axial direction from the lower side of the ring body, the upper ring tongue and the lower ring tongue are closer to the outer side surface of the ring body than the inner side surface of the ring body; the ring body is fixedly accommodated in the mounting groove, the upper ring tongue extends upward along the outer circumference of the keycap to be flush with the pressing surface of the keycap, and the lower ring tongue extends downward along the outer circumference of the keycap and fits the outer circumference of the keycap. Preferably, the piezoelectric single crystal assembly includes a metal substrate fixed to the side of the metal connector away from the sensor and a piezoelectric ceramic sheet fixed to the side of the metal substrate away from the metal connector, the length of the metal substrate is greater than the piezoelectric ceramic sheet, and the parts of the two ends of the metal substrate that are longer than the piezoelectric ceramic sheet are respectively provided with mounting holes passing therethrough; the mounting holes are used to fix the metal substrate to the shell through a fixing member.

[0013] Preferably, the metal substrate is a stainless steel substrate or a beryllium bronze substrate; the thickness of the metal substrate is 0.1-0.5 mm.

[0014] Preferably, the piezoelectric ceramic sheet is a piezoelectric stack structure formed by stacking 3-20 layers in sequence; the piezoelectric ceramic sheet is fixedly connected to the metal substrate by gluing or laser welding.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention provides an electronic device, comprising a shell and a key structure as described above, wherein a fixing hole is provided on the side of the shell, the piezoelectric single crystal component is installed and fixed on the inner side of the shell, the pressing surface of the keycap and the corresponding outer side surface of the shell are in the same horizontal plane, and the sealing ring is clamped between the keycap and the surrounding side of the fixing hole.

[0016] Compared with the related art, the key structure of the present invention provides a sealing ring on the outer peripheral side of the keycap, and the sealing ring is fixedly connected to the housing of the electronic device, and the piezoelectric single crystal component is used to be fixed to the inner side of the housing of the electronic device. In this way, the key structure can be connected to the housing of the electronic device and integrated through the elastic sealing ring, which is equivalent to allowing the key structure to be completely integrated into the housing of the electronic device without the need for the keycap to protrude outside the housing of the electronic device. At the same time, it can provide rigidity support for the keycap when it is pressed, and enable the keycap to have local vibration freedom, which is equivalent to improving the drop reliability of the key structure and its aesthetic feeling after being installed in the housing of the electronic device, and enabling the key structure to adapt to various effects in various scenarios, while providing users with more direct and muscle memory-friendly prompts and feedback; in addition, the sealing ring can also play a waterproof role after being fixed to the housing of the electronic device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for describing the embodiments. 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 work, among which: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a key structure provided in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structural decomposition of the key structure provided in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 For along Figure 1 Sectional view along line AA; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of the structure of part B; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an electronic device provided in Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of partial structural decomposition of an electronic device provided in Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Figure 7 For along Figure 5 Sectional view of the mid-CC line; Figure 8 for Figure 7 A magnified view of the structure of part D.

[0018] Among them, 100, key structure; 1, key cap; 11, mounting groove; 2, sealing ring; 21, ring body; 22, upper ring tongue, 23, lower ring tongue; 3, sensor; 4, metal connector; 5, piezoelectric single crystal component; 51, metal substrate; 52, piezoelectric ceramic sheet.

[0019] 200. Electronic device; 201. Housing; 202. Fixing hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] Embodiment 1 The embodiment of the present invention provides a key structure 100, combined with Figures 1 to 4 As shown, it includes a keycap 1, an elastic sealing ring 2 which is arranged around the outer circumference of the keycap 1 and is fixedly connected with the keycap 1, a sensor 3 fixed to the back of the pressing surface of the keycap 1, a metal connector 4 fixed to the side of the sensor 3 away from the keycap 1, and a piezoelectric single crystal component 5 fixed to the side of the metal connector 4 away from the sensor 3. The central axis of the sealing ring 2 is perpendicular to the sensor 3. The sealing ring 2 is used to be fixed to the housing of the electronic device when the key structure 100 is embedded in the housing of the electronic device, and the piezoelectric single crystal component 5 is used to be fixed to the inner side of the shell.

[0022] Among them, the key structure 100 is used to be installed in an electronic device to realize touch feedback of the electronic device, and when the key structure 100 needs to be installed in the electronic device, the piezoelectric single crystal component 5 is fixed on the inner side of the shell, and the sealing ring 2 is clamped and fixed between the keycap 1 and the shell. At the same time, the pressing surface of the keycap 1 is also in the same horizontal plane as the corresponding outer side surface of the shell. If the outer side surface of the shell is an arc surface or an irregular surface, the side of the keycap 1 away from the sensor 3 matches the outer side surface of the shell.

[0023] The pressing surface of the key cap 1 is the side of the key cap 1 away from the sensor 3 , and the back side of the pressing surface of the key cap 1 is the side of the key cap 1 close to the sensor 3 .

[0024] The outer circumference of the keycap 1 is provided with an inwardly recessed mounting groove 11, and the sealing ring 2 includes a ring body 21 in an annular shape and a semi-circular cross section convex outward, an annular upper ring tongue 22 extending upward along the axial direction from the upper side of the ring body 21, and an annular lower ring tongue 23 extending downward along the axial direction from the lower side of the ring body 21, and the upper ring tongue 22 and the lower ring tongue 23 are closer to the outer side of the ring body 21 than the inner side of the ring body 21; the ring body 21 is fixedly accommodated in the mounting groove 11, the upper ring tongue 22 extends upward along the outer circumference of the keycap 1 to be flush with the pressing surface of the keycap 1, and the lower ring tongue 23 extends downward along the outer circumference of the keycap 1 and fits the outer circumference of the keycap 1. This design can improve the stability between the sealing ring 2 and the keycap 1, and facilitate the sealing ring 2 to form a sealed and stable fixed connection with the housing of the electronic device.

[0025] The sealing ring 2 is a silicone ring. Of course, according to actual needs, the sealing ring 2 can also be a rubber ring or a plastic ring.

[0026] The rigidity value of the sealing ring 2 is 50-80N / mm. Of course, according to actual needs, the rigidity value of the sealing ring 2 can also be appropriately reduced or increased.

[0027] The sealing ring 2 is fixedly connected to the key cap 1 by injection molding or gluing. When the sealing ring 2 is fixedly connected to the key cap 1 by injection molding, the sealing ring 2 is integrally formed with the key cap 1.

[0028] The sensor 3 is any one of a piezoresistive sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a capacitive sensor and an ionization sensor, and is used to detect a pressing action on the keycap 1 .

[0029] The sensor 3 is fixedly connected to the key cap 1 by gluing or laser welding.

[0030] The metal connector 4 is a stainless steel connector, and the metal connector 4 is a sheet structure, which can also be called a welding sheet. Of course, according to actual needs, the metal connector 4 can also be a connector made of other alloy materials, such as a copper sheet.

[0031] The thickness of the metal connector 4 is 0.3-0.5 mm. Of course, the thickness of the metal connector 4 can be appropriately reduced or increased according to actual needs.

[0032] The metal connector 4 is fixedly connected to the sensor 3 and the piezoelectric single crystal component 5 respectively by gluing or laser welding.

[0033] The piezoelectric single crystal assembly 5 includes a metal substrate 51 fixed to a side of the metal connector 4 away from the sensor 3 and a piezoelectric ceramic sheet 52 fixed to a side of the metal substrate 51 away from the metal connector 4 .

[0034] The length of the metal substrate 51 is greater than that of the piezoelectric ceramic sheet 52, and the parts at both ends of the metal substrate 51 that are longer than the piezoelectric ceramic sheet 52 are respectively provided with mounting holes (not shown) passing through them; the mounting holes are used to fix the metal substrate 51 to the shell through fixing parts (not shown), and the fixing parts can be rivets, screws, bolts, etc.

[0035] The metal substrate 51 is a stainless steel substrate or a beryllium copper substrate. Of course, according to actual needs, the metal substrate 51 only needs to be made of metal, and is not limited to stainless steel or beryllium copper.

[0036] The thickness of the metal substrate 51 is 0.1-0.5 mm. Of course, the thickness of the metal substrate 51 can be appropriately reduced or increased according to actual needs.

[0037] The piezoelectric ceramic sheet 52 is a piezoelectric stack structure formed by stacking 3 to 20 layers in sequence; the piezoelectric ceramic sheet 52 is fixedly connected to the metal substrate 51 by gluing or laser welding.

[0038] Compared with the related art, the key structure 100 of the present embodiment is provided with a sealing ring 2 on the outer peripheral side of the keycap 1, and the sealing ring 2 is fixedly connected to the housing of the electronic device, and the piezoelectric single crystal component 5 is used to be fixed to the inner side of the housing of the electronic device, so that the key structure 100 can be connected to the housing of the electronic device and form an integrated body through the elastic sealing ring 2, which is equivalent to making the key structure 100 completely integrated into the housing of the electronic device, without the need for the keycap 1 to protrude out of the housing of the electronic device, and at the same time providing rigidity support for the keycap 1 when it is pressed, and allowing the keycap 1 to have the degree of freedom of local vibration, which is equivalent to that the present invention improves the drop reliability of the key structure 100 and its aesthetic feeling after being installed in the housing of the electronic device, and enables the key structure 100 to adapt to various scenes to make various effects, and at the same time provides users with more direct and muscle memory-friendly prompts and feedback, that is, it can bring rich local vibration feedback to users; in addition, the sealing ring 2 can also play a waterproof role after being fixed to the housing of the electronic device.

[0039] Embodiment 2 The embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device 200, Figures 5 to 8 As shown, it includes a shell 201 and the key structure 100 in the above-mentioned embodiment 1. The side of the shell 201 is provided with a fixing hole 202 passing through it. The piezoelectric single crystal component 5 is installed and fixed on the inner side of the shell 201. The pressing surface of the key cap 1 and the corresponding outer side surface of the shell 201 are in the same horizontal plane. The sealing ring 2 is clamped between the key cap 1 and the surrounding side of the fixing hole 202.

[0040] The electronic device 200 may be a mobile phone, a tablet, a game console, etc.

[0041] The piezoelectric single crystal assembly 5 is fixed to the inner circumference of the housing 201 by means of a fixing member passing through a mounting hole on the metal substrate 51 .

[0042] Since the electronic device 200 in this embodiment includes the key structure 100 in the above-mentioned embodiment 1, it can also achieve the technical effect achieved by the key structure 100 in the above-mentioned embodiment 1, which will not be described in detail here.

[0043] The above description is only an implementation mode of the present invention. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, improvements can be made without departing from the creative concept of the present invention, but these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A key structure, used for installation in an electronic device to realize touch feedback of the electronic device, characterized in that: The key structure includes a keycap, an elastic sealing ring which is arranged around the outer circumference of the keycap and is fixedly connected with the keycap, a sensor fixed to the back of the pressing surface of the keycap, a metal connector fixed to the side of the sensor away from the keycap, and a piezoelectric single crystal component fixed to the side of the metal connector away from the sensor, the central axis of the sealing ring is perpendicular to the sensor, the sealing ring is used to be fixed to the housing of the electronic device when the key structure is embedded in the housing of the electronic device, and the piezoelectric single crystal component is used to be fixed to the inner side of the shell.

2. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing ring is a silicone ring; the stiffness value of the sealing ring is 50-80N / mm.

3. The key structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sealing ring is fixedly connected to the key cap by injection molding or gluing.

4. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensor is any one of a piezoresistive sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a capacitive sensor and an ionization sensor; the sensor is fixedly connected to the keycap by gluing or laser welding.

5. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal connector is a stainless steel connector; the thickness of the metal connector is 0.3-0.5 mm.

6. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer circumference of the keycap is recessed inward to form an annular mounting groove; the sealing ring includes an annular ring body with a semi-circular cross-section that bulges outward, an annular upper ring tongue extending upward along the axial direction from the upper side of the ring body, and an annular lower ring tongue extending downward along the axial direction from the lower side of the ring body, the upper ring tongue and the lower ring tongue are closer to the outer side surface of the ring body than the inner side surface of the ring body; the ring body is fixedly accommodated in the mounting groove, the upper ring tongue extends upward along the outer circumference of the keycap to be flush with the pressing surface of the keycap, and the lower ring tongue extends downward along the outer circumference of the keycap and fits the outer circumference of the keycap.

7. The key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The piezoelectric single crystal assembly includes a metal substrate fixed to the side of the metal connector away from the sensor and a piezoelectric ceramic sheet fixed to the side of the metal substrate away from the metal connector. The length of the metal substrate is greater than the piezoelectric ceramic sheet, and the parts of the two ends of the metal substrate that are longer than the piezoelectric ceramic sheet are respectively provided with mounting holes passing through them; the mounting holes are used to fix the metal substrate to the shell through a fixing member.

8. The key structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: The metal substrate is a stainless steel substrate or a beryllium bronze substrate; the thickness of the metal substrate is 0.1-0.5 mm.

9. The key structure according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The piezoelectric ceramic sheet is a piezoelectric stack structure formed by stacking 3-20 layers in sequence; the piezoelectric ceramic sheet is fixedly connected to the metal substrate by gluing or laser welding.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device includes a shell and a key structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, the side of the shell is provided with a fixing hole passing through it, the piezoelectric single crystal component is installed and fixed on the inner side of the shell, the pressing surface of the keycap and the corresponding outer side surface of the shell are in the same horizontal plane, and the sealing ring is clamped and fixed between the keycap and the surrounding side of the fixing hole.

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