Suspension key structure and keyboard device

Abstract

The utility model provides a suspension key structure and a keyboard device, and relates to the field of electronic equipment. The suspension key structure comprises a circuit board, a key cap and a first magnetic element, the circuit board is provided with a trigger switch, and the circuit board is installed on a plane in a limited mode; the key cap has magnetism and is located above the circuit board, and one side, close to the circuit board, of the key cap is provided with a trigger column; the first magnetic element is connected to the surface of the circuit board and is aligned below the keycap, the magnetic pole direction of the first magnetic element is opposite to the magnetic pole direction of the keycap, and the first magnetic element is used for forming mutually repelling damping force between the circuit board and the keycap; when the key cap is pressed, the key cap is in contact with the trigger switch through the trigger column. By adopting the scheme, the characteristics of the magnetic field are utilized, and the effects of hovering and action buffering of the keycap are generated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of electronic devices, and in particular to a floating key structure and a keyboard device. Background Art

[0002] At present, the market in the field of electronic equipment has an increasing demand for beauty and lightness. Taking laptop computers as an example, the trend of product design is to develop thinner and lighter. Laptop computers include display terminals and system terminals. The common structure of the system terminal is the keyboard. Common keyboard designs include mechanical keyboards, scissor-foot keyboards, and membrane keyboards. The scissor-foot key structure is small in size and has the advantage of pressing feel. It is the most widely used key structure in notebook computers. However, its scissor-foot key structure is complex and difficult to assemble. The disassembled plastic scissor-foot structure is prone to injection defects, low precision, shrinkage and falling due to too small a margin, or breakage due to too large a margin. Among them, the elastic silicone body is the main part that feels the reaction force when pressed. Due to its limited volume, it is difficult to control the manufacturing quality. Slight size differences directly affect the stability and feedback feel of the keycap. The rapid aging of silicone in the environment also shortens the service life of the keyboard, which is not conducive to environmental sustainability. In addition, the multi-part structure requires a lot of procurement and inventory costs, increased assembly hours, and low yield. Utility Model Content

[0003] The present disclosure provides a floating button structure to at least solve the above technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a floating key structure is provided, comprising: a circuit board, a keycap and a first magnetic element, wherein the circuit board has a trigger switch, and the circuit board is limitedly installed on a plane; the keycap is magnetic, the keycap is located above the circuit board, and the keycap has a trigger column on a side close to the circuit board; the first magnetic element is connected to the surface of the circuit board and is located below the keycap, the magnetic pole direction of the first magnetic element is opposite to the magnetic pole direction of the keycap, and is used to form a mutually repulsive damping force between the circuit board and the keycap; the keycap is pressed, and the keycap contacts the trigger switch through the trigger column.

[0005] In one possible implementation, the floating button structure also includes a second magnetic element, the second magnetic element is sleeved on the periphery of the trigger column, the first magnetic element is sleeved on the periphery of the trigger switch, and the second magnetic element and the first magnetic element are spaced apart along their own thickness direction.

[0006] In one possible implementation manner, the circuit board has a first accommodation space near the periphery of the trigger switch, and the first accommodation space is used to install the first magnetic element; and / or

[0007] The key cap has a limiting protrusion on one side close to the circuit board, and a second accommodating space is formed between the limiting protrusion and the trigger column, and the second accommodating space is used to install the second magnetic element.

[0008] In one embodiment, the floating key structure also includes a third magnetic element, which is installed on the circuit board and located below the trigger switch. The third magnetic element has a magnetic pole direction opposite to that of the keycap, and is used to provide a buffering damping force for the keycap to move downward.

[0009] In one possible implementation manner, the floating button structure further includes a bottom plate, the plane is formed on the bottom plate, and the circuit board is a thin film circuit board.

[0010] In one possible implementation manner, the bottom plate has a limiting clamping edge protruding from the plane, the thin film circuit board has a limiting hole, and the limiting clamping edge is tightly matched with the limiting hole.

[0011] In one possible implementation manner, the key cap and the base plate are integrally formed structures each made of magnetic material.

[0012] In one possible implementation manner, the floating key structure further includes a support plate having a mounting hole, and at least a portion of the shell of the keycap protrudes from the mounting hole; the support plate is used to provide a blocking force to prevent the keycap from moving away from the circuit board.

[0013] In one possible implementation manner, the support plate has a limiting slot on one side close to the circuit board, and the limiting slot is formed on the periphery of the mounting hole; the key cap has a convex edge on the periphery, and the convex edge cooperates with the limiting slot.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a keyboard device is provided, comprising the above-mentioned floating key structure, wherein the floating key structure comprises a plurality of floating key structures, and further comprising a keyboard bracket, wherein the keyboard bracket has a plurality of key mounting positions, and one of the floating key structures is mounted at one of the key mounting positions.

[0015] The disclosed floating key structure and keyboard device adopt the principle that the magnetic poles of the key cap and the magnetic poles of the first magnetic element on the circuit board repel each other, and provide a normal repulsive force between the two, so that the key cap remains normally suspended, and the key cap can only contact the trigger switch through the trigger column in the pressed state to complete the key operation of the keyboard button. The disclosed solution uses a small number of parts, reduces assembly time, and saves processing costs.

[0016] It should be understood that the content described in this section is not intended to identify the key or important features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will become readily understood by reading the detailed description below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, several embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in an exemplary and non-limiting manner, in which:

[0018] In the drawings, the same or corresponding reference numerals represent the same or corresponding parts.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an exploded structure of a floating key structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of the floating button structure in a non-pressed state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of the floating button structure in a pressed state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0022] Description of the numbers in the figure:

[0023] 001-floating key structure; 10-circuit board; 11-trigger switch; 12-first accommodating groove; 13-limiting hole; 20-key cap; 21-trigger column; 22-limiting protrusion; 23-second accommodating groove; 24-convex edge; 30-first magnetic element; 40-second magnetic element; 50-third magnetic element; 60-bottom plate; 61-plane; 611-limiting card edge; 70-support plate; 71-installation hole; 711-limiting card slot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the purpose, features, and advantages of the present disclosure more obvious and easy to understand, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0025] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used here to describe the spatial positional relationship between one or more components or features shown in the figure and other components or features. It should be understood that spatially relative terms include not only the orientation of the components as described in the figure, but also different orientations in use or operation. For example, if the components in the accompanying drawings are inverted as a whole, the components "above other components or features" or "above other components or features" will include the situation where the components are "below other components or structures" or "below other components or structures". Therefore, the exemplary term "above" may include both "above" and "below". In addition, these components or features may also be positioned at other different angles (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or other angles), and this article is intended to include all of these situations.

[0026] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of features, steps, operations, parts, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0027] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification, claims, and drawings of the present disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the numbers used in this way can be interchanged where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein are used to be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0028] In the description of the present disclosure, it is necessary to understand that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the directional words is usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present disclosure; the directional words "inside" and "outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0029] The existing button structure with suspension performance cannot achieve a thin design. It has a large mechanical and electromagnetic structure and requires more space to accommodate these components, so it cannot achieve a light and thin design. At the same time, the maintenance and repair costs are high. The complex electromagnetic system makes maintenance and repair complicated. If one of the components fails, more repair time and manpower are required.

[0030] In order to alleviate the above problems, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a floating key structure, which uses a small number of parts and can generate a normal repulsive force between the keycap and the circuit board. Under the action of the normal repulsive force, the keycap achieves a floating state.

[0031] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The disclosed embodiment provides a floating key structure 001, including: a circuit board 10 and a keycap 20, wherein the circuit board 10 is a thin film circuit board 10. For ease of description, the circuit boards 10 hereinafter are all thin film circuit boards 10. Specifically, the keycap 20 is located above the thin film circuit board 10, and the keycap 20 has a trigger column 21 on the side close to the circuit board 10. Exemplarily, the keycap 20 and the trigger column 21 include but are not limited to an integrally formed structure. In order to realize the key trigger function, the circuit board 10 has a trigger switch 11, and the circuit board 10 is positioned and installed on a plane 61, and the plane 61 is not limited to a plane in any installation scenario. Exemplarily, the floating key structure 001 also includes a bottom plate 60, and the aforementioned plane 61 is formed on the bottom plate 60. The trigger switch 11 is for the side of the circuit board 10 close to the trigger column 21.

[0032] Considering that the key structure can only be operated when the finger is pressed, the key operation is the contact and connection between the trigger column 21 and the trigger switch 11. When the finger is not pressed, the trigger column 21 and the trigger switch 11 are in a normal separation. Since the trigger column 21 is connected to the key cap 20 and the trigger switch 11 is connected to the circuit board 10, the key cap 20 and the circuit board 10 need to be in a normal separation. Considering that the magnetic poles repel each other between the key cap 20 and the circuit board 10 to generate a damping force to achieve normal separation.

[0033] Specifically, the keycap 20 is magnetic, and the keycap 20 includes but is not limited to being formed of magnetic material or having a first magnetic element 30 on one side of the keycap 20 with a trigger column 21. The following takes the scheme in which the floating key structure 001 of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first magnetic element 30, and the first magnetic element 30 is connected to the surface of the circuit board 10 as an example. For example, the first magnetic element 30 is located below the keycap 20, and the scheme is further explained. The first magnetic element 30 of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes but is not limited to using a magnet or a magnetic coil. It should be noted that the magnetic pole directions of the keycap 20 and the first magnetic element 30 are set oppositely. For example, the upper part of the first magnetic element 30 is the N pole, and the lower part is the S pole. The lower part of the magnetic keycap 20 is the N pole, and the upper part is the S pole. Under the action of like repulsion, the keycap 20 and the circuit board 10 are normally separated, thereby ensuring the normal separation between the trigger column 21 and the trigger switch 11.

[0034] Considering that the circuit board 10 can maintain a fixed position under normal separation, the bottom plate 60 of the embodiment of the present disclosure has a limit clamping edge 611 protruding from the plane 61, and the circuit board 10 has a limit hole 13, which includes but is not limited to a regular hole type or an irregular hole type. The limit clamping edge 611 and the limit hole 13 are clamped together. The present disclosure does not further limit the limit clamping edge 611 and the limit hole 13, and the two can be locked together. In this way, the circuit board 10 will not shake or move relatively under the action of the repulsive force.

[0035] Further considering that the keycap 20 can maintain a fixed position relative to the circuit board 10 under normal separation, the floating key structure 001 of the embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a support plate 70, which is located above the bottom plate 60, and has a mounting hole 71. At least part of the shell of the keycap 20 protrudes from the mounting hole 71; the support plate 70 is used to provide a blocking force to prevent the keycap 20 from moving away from the circuit board 10. Exemplarily, at least part of the shell of the keycap 20 is embedded in the edge of the mounting hole 71, so that the keycap 20 generates a first upward force relative to the support plate 70 under the action of the repulsive force. In order to prevent the keycap 20 from moving relative to the support plate 70 along the direction of the repulsive force, the support plate 70 generates a second downward force relative to the keycap 20, and the first force and the second force offset each other, so that the keycap 20 is fixed at a horizontal position above the circuit board 10 (the support plate 70 defines the horizontal position).

[0036] Specifically, the support plate 70 has a limit slot 711 on one side close to the circuit board 10, and the limit slot 711 is formed on the outer periphery of the mounting hole 71; the key cap 20 has a convex edge 24 on the outer periphery, and the convex edge 24 is engaged with the limit slot 711. The disclosed embodiment does not limit the structure of the limit slot 711 and the convex edge 24, and the engagement and limiting between the two can be achieved. In addition, the two are connected by an engagement and limiting method, which is convenient for installation and disassembly, and easy to operate.

[0037] In the aforementioned scheme, the magnetism of the keycap 20 can be achieved by relying on an external magnetic part. Specifically, the embodiment of the present disclosure also includes a second magnetic element 40, which is arranged on the bottom surface of the keycap 20 and is sleeved on the outer periphery of the trigger column 21. At the same time, the first magnetic element 30 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the trigger switch 11, and the second magnetic element 40 and the first magnetic element 30 are spaced apart along their own thickness direction. Taking the first magnetic element 30 and the second magnetic element 40 as an example, the first magnetic element 30 has an N pole at the top and an S pole at the bottom, and the second magnetic element 40 has an N pole at the bottom and an S pole at the top. In this way, a damping force of like-pole repulsion can be generated between the keycap 20 and the circuit board 10.

[0038] Considering the stable installation of the first magnetic element 30, the circuit board 10 has a first accommodation space near the periphery of the trigger switch 11. Exemplarily, the first accommodation space is a first accommodation groove 12 or a through groove, and the first accommodation groove 12 or the through groove is used to install the first magnetic element 30. The groove shape of the first accommodation groove 12 or the through groove matches the first magnetic element 30, and the groove depth is less than the height of the first magnetic element 30, so as to facilitate the picking up and loading and unloading of the first magnetic element 30. The first magnetic element 30 includes but is not limited to being connected to the first accommodation groove 12 or the through groove by bonding.

[0039] Considering the stable installation of the second magnetic element 40, the key cap 20 has a limiting protrusion 22 on one side close to the circuit board 10, and a second accommodation space is formed between the limiting protrusion 22 and the trigger column 21. Exemplarily, the second accommodation space is a second accommodation groove 23, and the second accommodation groove 23 is used to install the second magnetic element 40. The shape of the second accommodation groove 23 matches the second magnetic element 40, and the groove depth is less than the height of the second magnetic element 40, so as to facilitate the picking up and loading and unloading of the second magnetic element 40. The second magnetic element 40 includes but is not limited to being connected to the second accommodation groove 23 by bonding.

[0040] In the scheme for achieving normalized suspension between the keycap 20 and the circuit board 10, when the magnetic element is not considered to be set on the circuit board 10, the keycap 20 and the base plate 60 are respectively an integrally formed structure composed of magnetic materials, and the magnetic poles of the two are set in opposite directions to achieve normalized suspension between the keycap 20 and the base plate 60. Since the circuit board 10 is installed at a fixed position on the base plate 60, normalized suspension between the keycap 20 and the circuit board 10 can be further achieved.

[0041] Furthermore, considering that the key structure has a better pressing feel when pressed by a finger, a third magnetic element 50 is set at the bottom of the trigger switch 11 of the circuit board 10. The magnetism of the third magnetic element 50 is set in the same direction as the magnetic pole of the first magnetic element 30. In this way, when the finger presses the keycap 20, as the keycap 20 approaches the circuit board 10, the superimposed repulsive force between the third magnetic element 50 and the second magnetic element 40 can produce a damping and slow-down effect on the keycap 20.

[0042] Exemplarily, the third magnetic element 50 adopts a magnetic coil, and the magnetic coil and the circuit board 10 remain energized, so that the magnetic coil can generate an Ampere force in the magnetic field when energized. The Ampere force in the magnetic field is set opposite to the magnetic pole of the second magnetic element 40 of the keycap 20. When the finger presses down on the keycap 20, the magnetic lines of force of the second magnetic element 40 move and pass through the magnetic coil at the bottom of the trigger switch 11. The second magnetic element 40 is hindered by the Ampere force of the magnetic coil magnetic field, producing a damping and slow-down effect, so as to produce a damping and slow-down effect on the keycap 20, and the keycap 20 moves downward until the trigger column 21 contacts the trigger switch 11.

[0043] The disclosed embodiment also provides a keyboard device, including the aforementioned floating key structure 001, the floating key structure 001 includes a plurality of them, and also includes a keyboard bracket, the keyboard bracket has a plurality of key installation positions, and one floating key structure 001 is installed in one key installation position. In this way, a keyboard with a floating key structure 001 can be obtained, and all the effects of the floating key structure 001 can be achieved, which will not be described in detail here.

[0044] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0045] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A floating key structure, characterized in that: include: A circuit board (10), the circuit board (10) having a trigger switch (11), and the circuit board (10) being position-limited and mounted on a plane (61); A key cap (20), the key cap (20) being magnetic, the key cap (20) being located above the circuit board (10), and the key cap (20) having a trigger column (21) on a side close to the circuit board (10); A first magnetic element (30), the first magnetic element (30) being connected to the surface of the circuit board (10) and being located below the key cap (20), the magnetic pole direction of the first magnetic element (30) being opposite to the magnetic pole direction of the key cap (20), and being used for forming a mutually repulsive damping force between the circuit board (10) and the key cap (20); When the key cap (20) is pressed, the key cap (20) contacts the trigger switch (11) via the trigger column (21).

2. The floating key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating key structure (001) further comprises a second magnetic element (40), wherein the second magnetic element (40) is sleeved on the periphery of the trigger column (21), the first magnetic element (30) is sleeved on the periphery of the trigger switch (11), and the second magnetic element (40) and the first magnetic element (30) are spaced apart from each other along their thickness direction.

3. The floating key structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The circuit board (10) has a first accommodation space near the outer periphery of the trigger switch (11), and the first accommodation space is used to install the first magnetic element (30); and / or The key cap (20) has a limiting protrusion (22) on one side close to the circuit board (10), and a second accommodation space is formed between the limiting protrusion (22) and the trigger column (21), and the second accommodation space is used to install the second magnetic element (40).

4. The floating key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating key structure (001) further comprises a third magnetic element (50), which is mounted on the circuit board (10) and is located below the trigger switch (11). The third magnetic element (50) has a magnetic pole direction opposite to that of the key cap (20) and is used to provide a buffering damping force for the key cap (20) to move downward.

5. The floating key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating key structure (001) further comprises a bottom plate (60), the plane (61) is formed on the bottom plate (60), and the circuit board (10) is a thin film circuit board.

6. The floating key structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The bottom plate (60) has a limiting clamping edge (611) protruding from the plane (61), the thin film circuit board (10) has a limiting hole (13), and the limiting clamping edge (611) is tightly matched with the limiting hole (13).

7. The floating key structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The key cap (20) and the base plate (60) are respectively integrally formed structures made of magnetic material.

8. The floating key structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating key structure (001) further comprises a support plate (70), wherein the support plate (70) has a mounting hole (71), and at least a portion of the shell of the key cap (20) protrudes from the mounting hole (71); the support plate (70) is used to provide a blocking force to prevent the key cap (20) from moving away from the circuit board (10).

9. The floating key structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The support plate (70) has a limiting slot (711) on one side close to the circuit board (10), and the limiting slot (711) is formed on the periphery of the mounting hole (71); the key cap (20) has a convex edge (24) on the periphery, and the convex edge (24) is engaged with the limiting slot (711).

10. A keyboard device, characterized in that: It comprises a floating key structure (001) as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the floating key structure (001) comprises a plurality of them, and further comprises a keyboard bracket, wherein the keyboard bracket has a plurality of key mounting positions, and one of the floating key structures (001) is mounted on one of the key mounting positions.

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