Keycap structure and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a keycap structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The keycap structure comprises a body, a first color layer and a second color layer, the body is made of a light-transmitting base material. The first color layer is arranged on an upper surface of the body. The first color layer is formed by printing low-brightness ink. The second color layer is arranged above the first color layer. The second color layer is formed by printing high-brightness ink, and the area of the second color layer is smaller than that of the first color layer. The first color layer and the second color layer jointly form a character pattern.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a keycap structure and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a keycap structure of a keyboard key and a manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Generally, a keyboard is composed of a plurality of keys. For the convenience of users to operate, the keycaps of the keys are marked with characters or other symbols (hereinafter simply referred to as characters) to indicate the corresponding input signals after pressing. In addition, in order to clearly see the symbols on each key even in a dim environment, a light source technology is introduced, and a backlight module is provided at the bottom of the keyboard.

[0003] Among them, a membrane type illuminated keyboard is composed of a keycap, a scissor link assembly, a reset elastic member (such as a rubber dome), a membrane switch, a bottom plate, and a backlight module. This type of keycap uses a transparent material keycap, and a white primer and a black paint are sprayed on the surface of the keycap by a painting process. Then, characters are engraved by a laser engraving method, so that the white primer is exposed at the character positions. Therefore, when the light of the backlight module is projected onto the keycap, the characters can emit light, enabling the user to clearly see the characters.

[0004] However, the solvents, diluents, and volatile organic compounds contained in the cleaning solvents contained in the paint itself will form carbon dioxide after combustion, causing a large amount of carbon emissions, and thus polluting the environment. Therefore, there is a need for improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above problems, the main object of the present invention is to provide a keycap structure and a manufacturing method thereof, by printing a low-luminance ink and a high-luminance ink to form a character pattern, so as to solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by forming characters by spraying and painting on conventional keycaps.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a keycap structure, which includes a body, a first color layer, and a second color layer. The body is made of a light-transmitting substrate. The first color layer is disposed on an upper surface of the body. The first color layer is printed with a low-luminance ink. The second color layer is disposed above the first color layer. The second color layer is printed with a high-luminance ink, and an area of the second color layer is smaller than an area of the first color layer. The first color layer and the second color layer jointly form a character pattern.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present invention further provides a manufacturing method of a keycap structure, including the following steps: providing a light-transmissive substrate and forming a body; printing a low-brightness ink on an upper surface of the body to form a first color layer; and printing a high-brightness ink above the first color layer to form a second color layer. Also, an area of the second color layer is smaller than an area of the first color layer, and the first color layer and the second color layer together form a character pattern.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the body is a matte surface.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the body includes a plurality of microstructures. The plurality of microstructures form a matte surface.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of forming the body further includes providing a light-transmissive substrate and performing a roughening treatment to form a body having a plurality of microstructures, and the plurality of microstructures form a matte surface.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light-transmissive substrate is mixed with a plurality of diffusion particles to form a matte surface.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of forming the body further includes mixing the light-transmissive substrate and a plurality of diffusion particles to form the body and a matte surface.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light-transmissive substrate further includes a pigment. The color of the pigment is similar to the color presented by the low-brightness ink.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the low-brightness ink or the high-brightness ink further includes an abrasion-resistant additive.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light-transmissive substrate, the low-brightness ink, or the high-brightness ink further includes a thermochromic pigment.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the low-brightness ink and the high-brightness ink are respectively a light-transmissive ink.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the keycap structure further includes a third color layer, which is disposed above the second color layer. Also, an area of the third color layer is smaller than the area of the second color layer.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturing method of the keycap structure further includes the step: disposing a third color layer above the second color layer, and an area of the third color layer is smaller than the area of the second color layer.

[0019] As described above, according to the keycap structure and its manufacturing method of the present invention, the keycap structure includes a body, a first color layer, and a second color layer. Among them, the first color layer is printed with low-brightness ink, and the second color layer is printed with high-brightness ink, and the first color layer and the second color layer jointly form a character pattern. Forming the character pattern by ink printing can achieve the purpose of carbon reduction compared with the conventional spraying and coating method, so as to meet the environmental protection goal. In addition, the first color layer is printed with low-brightness ink (i.e., dark ink), and the area of the second color layer is smaller than that of the first color layer. Therefore, when the keycap structure is applied to a backlit keyboard, the first color layer can absorb most of the light to clearly present the character pattern of the second color layer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 FIG. is a flowchart of the steps of the manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figures 2A to 2B According to Figure 1 FIG. is a schematic diagram of the keycap structure according to the first embodiment prepared by the manufacturing method shown;

[0022] Figure 3 FIG. is a flowchart of the steps of the manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4A According to Figure 3 FIG. is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the keycap structure according to the second embodiment prepared by the manufacturing method shown;

[0024] Figure 4B For Figure 4A FIG. is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the keycap structure shown;

[0025] Figure 5 FIG. is a flowchart of the steps of the manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 According to Figure 5 FIG. is a top view of the keycap structure according to the third embodiment prepared by the manufacturing method shown.

[0027]

SYMBOL DESCRIPTION

[0028] Keycap structures 1, 1a, 1b

[0029] Bodies 10, 10a, 10b

[0030] Upper surfaces 11, 11a

[0031] Microstructures 111a

[0032] First color layers 20, 20a, 20b

[0033] Second color layers 30, 30a, 30b

[0034] Third color layer 40b

[0035] Steps S10 to S40 Detailed implementation manners

[0036] To better understand the technical content of the present invention, specific preferred embodiments are given below for illustration.

[0037] Figure 1 It is a step flow chart of a manufacturing method of a keycap structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2A to 2B According to Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a keycap structure according to an embodiment prepared by the manufacturing method shown. The following further describes the specific structure of the keycap structure 1 of this embodiment according to the step flow shown. Figure 1 Shown in the step flow

[0038] Step S10: Provide a light-transmissive substrate and form a body 10.

[0039] Please first refer to Figure 1 And Figure 2B Shown, the keycap structure 1 of this embodiment includes a body 10, a first color layer 20 and a second color layer 30. Among them, the body 10 is made of a light-transmissive substrate. The light-transmissive substrate is a light-transmissive plastic material, which can be, for example but not limited to, polymethyl methacrylate (abbreviated as PMMA), polycarbonate (abbreviated as PC), or ABS resin (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). Among them, ABS resin is a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene.

[0040] Step S20: Print a low-luminance ink on an upper surface 11 of the body 10 to form a first color layer 20.

[0041] Generally speaking, the lower the lightness of a color, the closer it is to black and is often referred to as a dark color. Conversely, the higher the lightness of a color, the closer it is to white and is often referred to as a light color. Taking the Munsell color model as an example, it divides lightness into 11 levels. The lowest lightness is N0, that is, the value is 0, and the color is pure black. The highest lightness is N10, that is, the value is 10, and the color is pure white. In this embodiment, the low-lightness ink refers to a dark ink with a lower value and is less likely to transmit light. Conversely, the high-lightness ink refers to a light ink with a higher value. Preferably, also taking the Munsell color model as an example, the value of the low-lightness ink in this embodiment can be less than or equal to 1 (i.e., the lightness can be less than or equal to N1), while the value of the high-lightness ink can be greater than or equal to 9 (i.e., the lightness can be greater than or equal to N9).

[0042] In step S20, according to the character pattern to be formed, print the low-lightness ink on the upper surface 11 of the body 10 to form a first color layer 20 with the character pattern. Preferably, the outline of the first color layer 20 corresponds to the character shape. Taking Figure 2A as an example, the character pattern to be formed is "A". Print the low-lightness ink (i.e., dark ink) on the upper surface 11 of the body 10 according to the shape of the character "A" to form the first color layer 20 of the character "A", as Figure 2A shown. In other words, the first color layer 20 is provided on the upper surface 11 of the body 10, and the first color layer 20 is formed by printing the character pattern with low-lightness ink.

[0043] Step 30: Print a high-lightness ink above the first color layer 20 to form a second color layer 30. The area of the second color layer 30 is smaller than the area of the first color layer 20, and they jointly form the character pattern.

[0044] Next, change to printing the character pattern with high-lightness ink. As described above, the high-lightness ink is a light ink with a higher value. In step S30, also according to the character pattern to be formed (such as Figure 2A and Figure 2B the character "A"), print the high-lightness ink (i.e., light ink) above the first color layer 20, and the outline of the second color layer 30 corresponds to the character shape, so that the second color layer 30 of the character pattern is stacked above the first color layer 20, as Figure 2B shown. In other words, the second color layer 30 in this embodiment is provided above the first color layer 20, and the second color layer 30 is formed by printing with high-lightness ink (i.e., light-colored ink).

[0045] In this embodiment, the area of the second color layer 30 is smaller than that of the first color layer 20, such that the darker first color layer 20 with lower brightness surrounds the outer periphery of the second color layer 30 and is not covered by the second color layer 30. Also, since both the low-brightness ink and the high-brightness ink are printed to form the first color layer 20 and the second color layer 30 according to the desired character pattern, the first color layer 20 and the second color layer 30 can jointly form the character pattern, such as Figure 2A and Figure 2B the character "A".

[0046] The keycap structure 1 of this embodiment can be applied to a backlit keyboard. Since the main body 10 of this embodiment is made of a light-transmitting substrate, when the backlight module of the backlit keyboard emits light, the light can be projected onto the main body 10 and cause a part of the main body 10 to emit light. Among them, since the first color layer 20 is printed with a dark low-brightness ink, it can absorb most of the visible light, and the light transmittance of the character pattern (i.e., part of the first color layer 20 and the second color layer 30) is less than that of the part of the main body 10. Through the difference in the light transmittance between the main body 10 and the first color layer 20, the character pattern can be presented when the backlit keyboard emits light.

[0047] Preferably, the first color layer 20 of this embodiment can be printed with black ink to make the first color layer 20 light-impermeable. Therefore, when the backlit keyboard emits light, a part of the main body 10 emits light, and the character pattern does not emit light due to the first color layer 20. This contrast makes the character pattern more clearly presented.

[0048] Preferably, in this embodiment, the light-transmitting substrate used to make the main body 10 further includes a pigment. Among them, the color of the pigment is similar to the color presented by the low-brightness ink. For example, the low-brightness ink of this embodiment is black ink, so the light-transmitting substrate preferably can further include a black pigment. Therefore, the main body 10 made of the light-transmitting substrate and the black pigment presents a light-transmitting grayish black. When the keycap structure 1 is applied to a backlit keyboard, the grayish black main body 10 can cover structures such as the scissor link assembly or the reset elastic member below to achieve an aesthetic effect.

[0049] Also, the second color layer 30 is printed with a high-brightness ink (i.e., a light-colored ink), which can be, for example, white. When the backlit keyboard is not emitting light, since the contrast between the second color layer 30 and the grayish black main body 10 is large, the character pattern can still be clearly presented. On the contrary, when the backlit keyboard emits light, the first color layer 20 (printed with dark ink) also absorbs most of the visible light, so the character pattern can also be clearly presented. It should be noted that if only the second color layer 30 is set (i.e., the first color layer 20 is not set), or the area of the first color layer 20 is smaller than that of the second color layer 30, when the backlit keyboard emits light, the light will interfere with the high-brightness color (i.e., light-colored) second color layer 30, and the character pattern will be unclear instead.

[0050] Preferably, the light-transmitting substrate, the low-brightness ink, or the high-brightness ink further comprises a thermochromic pigment. In one embodiment, the light-transmitting substrate further comprises a thermochromic pigment, and the formed body 10 can change color according to temperature. In one embodiment, the low-brightness ink and / or the high-brightness ink may comprise a thermochromic pigment, such that the printed character patterns (i.e., the first color layer 20 and the second color layer 30) can also change color according to temperature. For example, when the illuminated keyboard emits light, heat energy is also generated, causing the body 10 and / or the character patterns of the keycap structure 1 to change color due to the heat energy, thereby increasing the richness of the appearance.

[0051] Preferably, the low-brightness ink or the high-brightness ink further comprises an abrasion-resistant additive. Among them, the abrasion-resistant additive can be, for example but not limited to, silica. By adding the abrasion-resistant additive, the first color layer 20 and the second color layer 30 printed with the low-brightness ink and the high-brightness ink have better abrasion resistance. In other words, the low-brightness ink or the high-brightness ink contains an abrasion-resistant additive, making the character patterns more abrasion-resistant.

[0052] In this embodiment, the low-brightness ink is a black ink, such that the formed first color layer 20 is an opaque color layer. In other embodiments, the low-brightness ink and the high-brightness ink are respectively a light-transmitting ink, such that the formed first color layer 20 and second color layer 30 are both light-transmitting. When the illuminated keyboard emits light, since the first color layer 20 and the second color layer 30 are both light-transmitting, a color mixing effect can be produced, thereby increasing the richness of the appearance.

[0053] Figure 3 It is a flowchart of the steps of the manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4A is based on Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional schematic view of the keycap structure of the second embodiment prepared according to the shown manufacturing method. Figure 4B is Figure 4A A partially enlarged schematic view of the shown keycap structure. Please refer to Figure 3 、 Figure 4A and Figure 4B shown. The keycap structure 1a of this embodiment also includes a body 10a, a first color layer 20a, and a second color layer 30a. The difference from the first embodiment is that the upper surface 11a of the body 10a of this embodiment is a matte surface. Correspondingly, the manufacturing method of the keycap structure 1a of this embodiment is to form the body 10a in step S11.

[0054] Step S11: Provide a light-transmitting substrate and perform a roughening treatment to form a body 10a having a plurality of microstructures 111a.

[0055] In this embodiment, the roughening treatment can be, for example, texturing. Specifically, the mold for forming the body 10a has rough patterns, which correspond to the upper surface 11a of the body 10a. In step S11, the light-transmissive substrate can be injected into the mold. After waiting for curing and demolding, a plurality of microstructures 111a can be correspondingly formed on the upper surface 11a of the body 10a, as Figure 4B shown. The microstructures 111a are densely distributed on the upper surface 11a of the body 10a, thereby forming a matte surface.

[0056] Next, as in the foregoing embodiment, a low-brightness ink is printed on the upper surface 11a of the body 10a to form a first color layer 20a (step S20); then a high-brightness ink is printed above the first color layer 20a to form a second color layer 30a (step S30), and the keycap structure 1a of this embodiment is manufactured. When the keycap structure 1a of this embodiment is applied to a keyboard, the upper surface 11a of the body 10a is designed to be matte, which can cover structures such as the scissor link assembly or the reset elastic member below to achieve an aesthetic effect.

[0057] In other embodiments, the steps of the first embodiment, S10, can also be referred to. First, a smooth body 10 is made of a light-transmissive substrate, as shown in Figure 2. Next, roughening treatments such as etching are used to form the microstructures 111a, and a body 10a with microstructures 111a on the upper surface 11a is manufactured. The present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, a matte body 10 can also be formed by mixing a light-transmissive substrate with a plurality of diffusion particles. The present invention is not limited thereto.

[0058] Figure 5 is a flowchart of the steps of the manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 is based on Figure 5 The top view of the keycap structure of the third embodiment prepared by the manufacturing method shown, please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown. In this embodiment, in addition to the body 10b, the first color layer 20b, and the second color layer 30b, the keycap structure 1b further includes a third color layer 40b. Among them, the manufacturing steps of the body 10b, the first color layer 20b, and the second color layer 30b are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the manufacturing method of this embodiment further includes step S40.

[0059] Step S40: A third color layer 40b is provided above the second color layer 30b, and the area of the third color layer 40b is smaller than the area of the second color layer 30b.

[0060] In this embodiment, also based on a character pattern (such as the character A), but with an ink of a color different from that of the first color layer 20b and the second color layer 30b, it is stacked and printed on the upper surface of the second color layer 30b, so that the third color layer 40b is disposed above the second color layer 30b. Similar to the relative relationship between the first color layer 20b and the second color layer 30b, the area of the third color layer 40b is smaller than the area of the second color layer 30b, such that the second color layer 30b surrounds the outer periphery of the third color layer 40b, as Figure 6 shown.

[0061] Since the third color layer 40b is located at the uppermost position, the character pattern of the keycap structure 1b presents the color of the third color layer 40b. Therefore, the color of the third color layer 40b can be changed according to manufacturing requirements.

[0062] In summary, according to the keycap structure and its manufacturing method of the present invention, the keycap structure includes a body, a first color layer, and a second color layer. Among them, the first color layer is printed with a low-luminance ink, and the second color layer is printed with a high-luminance ink, and the first color layer and the second color layer jointly form a character pattern. Forming the character pattern by ink printing can achieve the purpose of carbon reduction compared with the conventional spraying and coating method, so as to meet the environmental protection goal. In addition, the first color layer is printed with a low-luminance ink (i.e., a dark ink), and the area of the second color layer is smaller than the area of the first color layer. Therefore, when the keycap structure is applied to a backlit keyboard, the first color layer can absorb most of the light to clearly present the character pattern of the second color layer.

[0063] It should be noted that the above-mentioned many embodiments are for the convenience of description and are examples. The scope of the rights claimed by the present invention should be subject to what is described in the claims, rather than being limited to the above embodiments.

Claims

1. A keycap structure, characterized in that, Comprising: A body made of a light-transmitting substrate; A first color layer disposed on an upper surface of the body, the first color layer being printed with a low-brightness ink; and A second color layer disposed above the first color layer, the second color layer being printed with a high-brightness ink, and an area of the second color layer being smaller than an area of the first color layer, the first color layer and the second color layer jointly forming a character pattern.

2. The keycap structure according to claim 1, wherein, The upper surface of the body is a matte surface.

3. The keycap structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper surface of the body includes a plurality of microstructures, and the plurality of microstructures form the matte surface.

4. The keycap structure according to claim 2, wherein The light-transmitting substrate is mixed with a plurality of diffusion particles to form the matte surface.

5. The keycap structure according to claim 1, wherein The light-transmitting substrate further includes a pigment, and a color of the pigment is similar to a color presented by the low-brightness ink.

6. The keycap structure according to claim 1, wherein, The low-brightness ink or the high-brightness ink further includes an abrasion-resistant additive.

7. The keycap structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light-transmitting substrate, the low-brightness ink, or the high-brightness ink further includes a thermochromic pigment.

8. The keycap structure according to claim 1, wherein, The low-brightness ink and the high-brightness ink are respectively a light-transmitting ink.

9. The keycap structure according to claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: A third color layer disposed above the second color layer, and an area of the third color layer being smaller than the area of the second color layer.

10. A manufacturing method of a keycap structure, characterized in that, Including the following steps: Providing a light-transmitting substrate and forming a body; Printing a low-brightness ink on an upper surface of the body to form a first color layer; and Printing a high-brightness ink above the first color layer to form a second color layer, and an area of the second color layer being smaller than an area of the first color layer, the first color layer and the second color layer jointly forming a character pattern.

11. The manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to claim 10, characterized in that, The upper surface of the body is a matte surface.

12. The manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to claim 11, characterized in that, The step of forming the body further includes providing the light-transmitting substrate and performing a roughening treatment to form the body having a plurality of microstructures, and the plurality of microstructures form the matte surface.

13. The manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to claim 11, characterized in that, The step of forming the body further includes mixing the light-transmitting substrate and a plurality of diffusion particles to form the body and the matte surface.

14. The manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to claim 10, characterized in that, The light-transmitting substrate further includes a pigment, and a color of the pigment is similar to a color presented by the low-brightness ink.

15. The manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to claim 10, characterized in that, The low-brightness ink or the high-brightness ink further includes an abrasion-resistant additive.

16. The manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to claim 10, characterized in that, The light-transmitting substrate, the low-brightness ink, or the high-brightness ink further includes a thermochromic pigment.

17. The manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to claim 10, characterized in that, The low-brightness ink and the high-brightness ink are respectively a light-transmitting ink.

18. The manufacturing method of the keycap structure according to claim 10, characterized in that, Further including the following steps: Disposing a third color layer above the second color layer, and an area of the third color layer being smaller than the area of the second color layer.

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