Key structure of keyboard

Abstract

A key structure of a keyboard comprises a bottom plate, a light-emitting element, a supporting piece and a key cap. The light-emitting element and the support member are respectively disposed on the base plate. The keycap is disposed on the support member. The surface of the key cap is provided with a pattern, and the pattern is composed of a first paint layer and a second paint layer. The first paint layer is coated on the surface, and the second paint layer is coated on the first paint layer. For visible light, the light absorptivity of the first paint layer is greater than the light reflectivity, and the light reflectivity of the second paint layer is greater than the light absorptivity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a key structure, and in particular to a key structure of a keyboard. Background Art

[0002] Most electronic products today are equipped with keyboards or buttons to facilitate user operation and maintain the device's practicality. Keyboards are also often equipped with internal light sources to project light onto the keycaps for identification, aesthetics, or to enhance the user's operating environment.

[0003] For example, in laptops, current technology for illuminated keyboards involves placing light-emitting elements at the base of the keys, as mentioned above, to project light onto the keycaps. However, this approach faces the problem of structural obstruction along the projection path, resulting in significantly insufficient brightness actually projected onto the keycaps. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a keyboard key structure, which can make patterns clearly recognizable in response to external ambient light and the lighting conditions of internal lighting elements.

[0005] The keyboard key structure of the present invention includes a base plate, a light-emitting element, a support member, and a keycap. The light-emitting element and the support member are respectively disposed on the base plate. The keycap is disposed on the support member. The surface of the keycap has a pattern, and the pattern is composed of a first paint layer and a second paint layer. The first paint layer is applied to the surface, and the second paint layer is applied on the first paint layer. With respect to visible light, the light absorption of the first paint layer is greater than the light reflection, and the light reflection of the second paint layer is greater than the light absorption.

[0006] Based on the above, in a key structure with a light-emitting element arranged inside, the keycap forms a pattern on its surface with a first paint layer and a second paint layer, wherein the first paint layer is coated on the surface, and the second paint layer is coated on the first paint layer, and for visible light, the light absorption of the first paint layer is greater than the light reflection, and the light reflection of the second paint layer is greater than the light absorption.

[0007] In this way, the layered first and second paint layers can adapt to different usage environments. When the keyboard key structure is in a dark room and the light-emitting element is activated, the pattern is displayed by the first paint layer. When the light-emitting element is not activated in a bright room, the ambient light is displayed by the second paint layer. When the keyboard key structure is in a semi-dark room and the light-emitting element is activated, the light generated by the light-emitting element is partially blocked by the first paint layer, while the second paint layer reflects the ambient light, so that the pattern is displayed by both the first and second paint layers.

[0008] Thus, the keycap, through the arrangement of the first and second paint layers on the surface, allows the pattern to be displayed on at least one of the first and second paint layers. In other words, the present invention, through the arrangement of the paint layers as described above, allows the key structure to be simple and adaptable to different usage environments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a key structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded diagram of the key structure.

[0011] Figure 3A This is a simple schematic diagram of the key structure activating the light-emitting element.

[0012] Figure 3B It is a simple schematic diagram of the key structure corresponding to the external ambient light.

[0013] Figures 4 to 6 This is a photo of the keyboard key structure, corresponding to the usage status in different usage environments.

[0014] Figure 7 It is a partial side view of a key structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] in,

[0016] 100: button structure;

[0017] 110: keycap;

[0018] 111: pattern;

[0019] 111a: first paint layer;

[0020] 111b: second paint layer;

[0021] 112: surface;

[0022] 120: bottom plate;

[0023] 121: circuit board;

[0024] 130: support member;

[0025] 140: light emitting element;

[0026] R1: concave;

[0027] S1: upper surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a key structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2yes Figure 1 Exploded diagram of the key structure. Figure 3A This is a simple diagram of the key structure activating the light-emitting element, in which multiple arrows represent the light and its direction. Please also refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3A In this embodiment, the key structure 100 of the keyboard (hereinafter referred to as the key structure 100) can serve as a physical operating interface for users to input signals to a desktop computer, a notebook computer or other electronic devices. The key structure 100 includes a base plate 120, a light-emitting element 140, a support member 130 and a keycap 110. The light-emitting element 140 (for example, an LED) and the support member 130 (for example, a scissor-leg structure) are respectively arranged on the base plate 120. The keycap 110 is arranged on the support member 130. The base plate 120 includes a circuit board 121 and a support plate (not shown), wherein the support member 130 is pivotally disposed on the support plate, and the light-emitting element 140 is packaged (and electrically connected) to the circuit board 121. Here, the support plate, the circuit board 121 and the corresponding relationship between it and the light-emitting element 140 and the support member 130 (and its reset structure) are already known in the prior art, so they are not repeated here.

[0029] In this embodiment, the surface 112 of the keycap 110 has a pattern 111. Pattern 111 is formed from a first paint layer 111a and a second paint layer 111b. The first paint layer 111a is applied to the surface 112, and the second paint layer 111b is applied to the first paint layer 111a. With respect to visible light, the first paint layer 111a has a higher light absorption than light reflection, while the second paint layer 111b has a higher light reflection than light absorption.

[0030] Figure 3B This is a simple schematic diagram of the key structure in response to ambient light, with multiple arrows representing the light and its direction. Specifically, the first paint layer 111a of this embodiment is black paint, and the second paint layer 111b of this embodiment is white paint. The first paint layer 111a has a recess R1, and the second paint layer 111b is accommodated within the recess R1. Importantly, the orthographic projection of the second paint layer 111b on surface 112 is within the range of the orthographic projection of the first paint layer 111a on surface 112. In other words, the coating area of ​​the first paint layer 111a is larger than that of the second paint layer 111b, so that the outer edge of the second paint layer 111b is surrounded by the first paint layer 111a.

[0031] Due to the above-mentioned paint layer configuration, and the fact that the keycap 110 of this embodiment is transparent or translucent black (where the transmittance of translucent black is less than 50%, while the transmittance of transparent is required to be greater than 90%), when the light-emitting element 140 is activated to generate light, the light will partially penetrate the keycap 110, while part of the light will be absorbed and reflected. When the light penetrating the keycap 110 reaches the surface 112 of the keycap 110, it will obviously be absorbed by the first paint layer 111a and thus produce a shielding effect, while the other parts of the surface 112 without the first paint layer 111a allow the light to pass through smoothly. In addition, if Figure 3B As shown, it represents the state when the light-emitting element 140 is not activated and there is only external ambient light. Part of the external ambient light will penetrate the keycap 110, the part of the external ambient light projected onto the first paint layer 111a will be absorbed by the first paint layer 111a, and the part of the external ambient light projected onto the second paint layer 111b will be reflected by the first paint layer 111a.

[0032] The CIELAB color space (also known as L*a*b*) was defined by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) in 1976. It is the most comprehensive color model commonly used to describe all colors visible to the human eye. Therefore, the color difference between the first paint layer 111a and the second paint layer 111b required in this embodiment, based on the aforementioned L*a*b* color space, must be greater than 50% to produce the desired effect. This embodiment uses black and white paint as examples. However, in other embodiments not shown, black paint and green paint, or green paint and white paint, can also be used.

[0033] Figures 4 to 6 This is a photo of the keyboard key structure to correspond to the usage status in different usage environments. Please refer to Figure 4 and compare Figure 3A , which is a state where the keyboard key structure 100 is in a dark room (brightness below 10 lumens) and the light-emitting element 140 is turned on, and the keycap 110 is transparent or translucent black as mentioned above, so part of the light generated by the light-emitting element 140 will pass through the keycap 110, while the other part of the light will be (absorbed and) shielded by the first paint layer 111a. At this time, because there is no external ambient light in the dark room, the second paint layer 111b cannot be displayed, so the pattern 111 on the keycap 110 is displayed by the first paint layer 111a.

[0034] Furthermore, please refer to Figure 5 and compare Figure 3B, which is the state where the keyboard key structure 100 is in a bright room (brightness above 500 lumens) and the light-emitting element 140 is not activated. Therefore, the first paint layer 111a absorbs external ambient light, while the second paint layer 111b reflects external ambient light. At the same time, because the keycap 110 is translucent black and can adapt to the first paint layer 111a, the pattern 111 is displayed by the second paint layer 111b.

[0035] Also, please refer to Figure 6 In this embodiment, the keyboard key structure 100 is placed in a semi-dark room (brightness 100 to 200 lumens) and the light-emitting element 140 is activated. Some of the light generated by the light-emitting element 140 passes through the transparent or translucent black keycap 110, while some of the light is blocked by the first paint layer 111a. At the same time, low-brightness external ambient light still exists in the semi-dark room, so the second paint layer 111b reflects the external ambient light, allowing the pattern 111 to simultaneously display the first paint layer 111a and the second paint layer 111b.

[0036] Figure 7 This is a partial side view of the key structure of another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 and compare Figure 3A or Figure 3B Unlike the aforementioned embodiment in which the first paint layer 111a needs to be subjected to in-process or post-process treatment to form the recess R1, this embodiment directly coats the second paint layer 111b on the upper surface S1 of the first paint layer 111a, thereby saving related process steps.

[0037] In summary, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, in a key structure with a light-emitting element disposed therein, a pattern is formed on the keycap surface using a first lacquer layer and a second lacquer layer. The first lacquer layer is applied to the surface, and the second lacquer layer is applied on the first lacquer layer. With respect to visible light, the first lacquer layer has a greater light absorptivity than light reflectivity, while the second lacquer layer has a greater light reflectivity than light absorptivity. Thus, the arrangement of the first and second lacquer layers on the keycap surface allows the pattern to be displayed using at least one of the first and second lacquer layers. In other words, through the above-described arrangement of the lacquer layers, the present invention enables a key structure to adapt to various usage environments with a simple lacquer layer structure.

[0038] When the keyboard key structure is in a dark room and the light-emitting element is activated, the pattern is displayed on the first paint layer. When the light-emitting element is in a bright room and is not activated, ambient light is displayed on the second paint layer. When the keyboard key structure is in a semi-dark room and the light-emitting element is activated, the light generated by the light-emitting element is partially blocked by the first paint layer, while the second paint layer reflects the ambient light, causing the pattern to be displayed on both the first and second paint layers.

Claims

1. A keyboard key structure, comprising: base plate; A light-emitting element is disposed on the base plate; A support member is disposed on the base plate; as well as A keycap is disposed on the support member, wherein the surface of the keycap has a pattern, and the pattern is composed of a first paint layer and a second paint layer, the first paint layer is coated on the surface, and the second paint layer is coated on the first paint layer, with respect to visible light, the light absorption of the first paint layer is greater than the light reflection, and the light reflection of the second paint layer is greater than the light absorption, and the pattern is displayed by at least one of the first paint layer and the second paint layer.

2. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein: The orthographic projection of the second paint layer on the surface is within the range of the orthographic projection of the first paint layer on the surface.

3. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein: The first paint layer has a recess, and the second paint layer is accommodated in the recess.

4. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein: The second paint layer is stacked on the upper surface of the first paint layer.

5. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein: The first paint layer is black paint, and the second paint layer is white paint.

6. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein: The color difference between the first paint layer and the second paint layer based on the color space is greater than 50%.

7. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein: The keycaps are transparent or translucent black.

8. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein: When the key structure of the keyboard is in a dark room and the light emitting element is activated, part of the light generated by the light emitting element is shielded by the first paint layer, so that the pattern is displayed by the first paint layer.

9. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein: When the key structure of the keyboard is in a bright room and the light-emitting element is not activated, the first paint layer absorbs external ambient light and the second paint layer reflects the external ambient light, so that the pattern is displayed on the second paint layer.

10. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1, wherein: When the keyboard key structure is in a semi-dark room and the light-emitting element is activated, part of the light generated by the light-emitting element is shielded by the first paint layer, and the second paint layer reflects external ambient light, so that the pattern is displayed by the first paint layer and the second paint layer.

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