Conductive keycap

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of printed electronics, and discloses a conductive keycap, which comprises a transparent body, a conductive layer, a protective layer, an insulating layer and a circuit board capable of being mounted on a static capacitance keyboard. The top of the transparent body is provided with an insulating part which is convenient for a user to contact, the bottom of the transparent body is provided with a moving electrode part which is matched with a static electrode part of a circuit board, and triggering of the conductive keycap is broken by utilizing capacitance change; the conductive layer is transparent conductive ink which is uniformly sprayed outside the movable electrode part, so that uniform conductivity and good adhesive force of the outer surface of the movable electrode part can be realized after the conductive layer is dried, and meanwhile, the light transmission of the conductive keycap is not influenced; the transparent protective layer is arranged outside the conductive layer to protect the stability of the conductive keycap in the air; the transparent insulating layer is arranged outside the insulating part, electric leakage is prevented during use, the conductive keycap is safer, the conductive keycap is simple in structure and low in cost, the service life is guaranteed, good conductive performance can be kept, and the conductive keycap has good light transmission.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of printed electronics, in particular to a conductive key cap. Background Art

[0002] The characteristics and advantages of printed electronic products are that they can be applied over a large area, are flexible and low-cost, which is in sharp contrast to silicon-based microelectronic products. Printed electronic devices can be made on any substrate material. Although the performance of printed electronic devices is not as good as that of silicon-based microelectronic devices, the cost advantage and the characteristics of large area and flexibility make printed electronic technology still have a large number of application fields that silicon-based microelectronic devices cannot handle.

[0003] Conductive parts required for printed electronic products refer to parts with conductive properties, which are usually used in the fields of electronics, electrical appliances, communications, etc. There are also many materials for conductive parts, mainly including metals, alloys, composite materials, polymer materials, etc. There are many methods for producing conductive parts, mainly including electroplating, embossing, injection molding, etc. However, these methods have problems such as high cost, complex process, and environmental pollution, which are particularly not conducive to the production of conductive parts.

[0004] In the prior art, the commonly used copper-clad silver solution can also be used for the production of conductive parts, but this solution is not light-transmissive and cannot meet the needs of transparent conductive parts production. Existing transparent conductive parts can be prepared using the following materials. Among them, indium tin oxide can be processed onto the substrate body using the magnetron sputtering method, but its mechanical strength and flexibility are very poor. In particular, indium tin oxide is classified as a carcinogen and is even less suitable for appearing on conductive parts that can be touched in daily life; metal grids or nano silver wire materials can be magnetron sputtered or evaporated onto the substrate body, but their stability in the air is not high, and they are easily oxidized and corroded, resulting in a decrease in conductive performance or failure, and poor adhesion to the substrate body. Secondly, the commonly used metal grids and nano silver wire materials are expensive and the processing technology is complicated, resulting in high costs and prices of related conductive parts. Utility Model Content

[0005] The utility model aims to provide a conductive keycap, which has low cost, simple structure, can meet the needs of mass production, has high stability in the air, can maintain good conductive performance and has good light transmittance, and has beautiful appearance.

[0006] To achieve this purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] Conductive keycaps for mounting on a circuit board of an electrostatic capacitive keyboard, comprising:

[0008] A transparent body, wherein the top of the transparent body is configured as an insulating portion, the bottom of the transparent body is configured as a moving electrode portion, the moving electrode portion is arranged opposite to the insulating portion, and the moving electrode portion is configured to cooperate with the static electrode portion of the circuit board;

[0009] A conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer is disposed on the outer surface of the moving electrode portion, and the conductive layer is a transparent conductive ink sprayed on the moving electrode portion;

[0010] A protective layer, the protective layer is arranged on the outer surface of the conductive layer, and the protective layer is arranged to be transparent;

[0011] The insulating layer is arranged on the outer surface of the insulating part, and the insulating layer is arranged to be transparent.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution for the conductive keycap, the wet film thickness of the conductive layer ranges from 20 microns to 100 microns.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution for the conductive keycap, the wet film viscosity of the conductive layer ranges from 20 millipascals per second to 100 millipascals per second.

[0014] As a preferred technical solution for the conductive keycap, the dry film thickness of the conductive layer ranges from 500 nanometers to 2500 nanometers.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution for the conductive keycap, the surface resistivity of the square resistance of the conductive layer ranges from 10 ohms per square meter to 1000 ohms per square meter.

[0016] As a preferred technical solution for the conductive keycap, the conductive layer is made of PEDOT:PSS.

[0017] As a preferred technical solution for the conductive keycap, the conductive layer is made of nano-silver ink.

[0018] As a preferred technical solution for the conductive keycap, the transparent body is made of synthetic resin.

[0019] As a preferred technical solution for the conductive keycap, the insulating portion is provided with anti-slip protrusions.

[0020] As a preferred technical solution of the conductive keycap, the conductive keycap includes a light-emitting component, the transparent body is provided with a clamping groove, the light-emitting component is arranged in the clamping groove, and the light-emitting component is configured to be electrically connected to the circuit board.

[0021] Beneficial effects of the utility model:

[0022] The conductive keycap provided by the utility model comprises a transparent body, a conductive layer, a protective layer and an insulating layer, and is used to be installed on a circuit board of an electrostatic capacitance keyboard. As a substrate, the transparent body has light transmittance, the top of the transparent body is set as an insulating part, which is used to facilitate user contact, the bottom of the transparent body is set as a moving electrode part, the moving electrode part is set relative to the insulating part, the moving electrode part can cooperate with the static electrode part of the circuit board, and the change of the capacitance capacity is used to determine the triggering of the conductive keycap; the conductive layer is set on the outer surface of the moving electrode part, and the conductive layer is a transparent conductive ink uniformly sprayed on the moving electrode part. After drying, the uniform conductivity and good adhesion of the outer surface of the moving electrode part can be achieved, and the light transmittance of the conductive keycap is not affected; the transparent protective layer is set on the outer surface of the conductive layer, which can protect the conductive layer from being easily oxidized and corroded, so that the conductive keycap has extremely high stability in the air; the transparent insulating layer is set on the outer surface of the insulating part, which protects the user from being affected by leakage, and is safer to use. The conductive keycap has a simple structure, low cost, can meet mass production, has a guaranteed service life, can maintain good conductivity and good light transmittance, and has a beautiful appearance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a conductive keycap provided by a specific embodiment of the utility model;

[0024] Figure 2 It is a process flow chart of a conductive keycap provided by a specific implementation method of the utility model.

[0025] In the figure:

[0026] 1. Transparent body; 11. Insulating part; 12. Moving electrode part;

[0027] 2. Conductive layer; 3. Protective layer; 4. Insulating layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than to limit the present invention. It should also be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts related to the present invention, rather than all structures, are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0029] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0030] In the present utility model, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or may include that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" and "above" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" and "below" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0031] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", etc., directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish in the description and have no special meaning.

[0032] Specific as Figure 1As shown in the figure, the utility model discloses a conductive keycap, comprising a transparent body 1, a conductive layer 2, a protective layer 3 and an insulating layer 4, which is used for being installed on a circuit board of an electrostatic capacitive keyboard. As a substrate, the transparent body 1 is light-transmitting, the top of the transparent body 1 is set as an insulating part 11 for easy contact by users, the bottom of the transparent body 1 is set as a moving electrode part 12, the moving electrode part 12 is arranged opposite to the insulating part 11, the moving electrode part 12 can cooperate with the static electrode part of the circuit board, and the change of the capacitance is used to determine the triggering of the conductive keycap; the conductive layer 2 is arranged on the outer surface of the moving electrode part 12, the conductive layer 2 is a transparent conductive ink evenly sprayed on the moving electrode part 12, after drying, it can achieve uniform conductivity and good adhesion on the outer surface of the moving electrode part 12, and does not affect the light transmittance of the conductive keycap; the transparent protective layer 3 is arranged on the outer surface of the conductive layer 2, which can protect the conductive layer 2 from being easily oxidized and corroded, so that the conductive keycap has extremely high stability in the air; the transparent insulating layer 4 is arranged on the outer surface of the insulating part 11, which protects the user from being affected by leakage, and is safer to use. The conductive keycap has a simple structure and low cost, can meet mass production, has a guaranteed service life, can maintain good conductivity and has good light transmittance, and has a beautiful appearance.

[0033] In this embodiment, the wet film thickness of the conductive layer 2 ranges from 20 microns to 100 microns. Wet film thickness measurement is the basis for effectively controlling the dry film thickness and the amount of raw materials used in the conductive layer 2. The method of measuring the dry film thickness to ensure the coating quality of the conductive layer 2 is called film thickness management. In order to better control the change process of the conductive layer 2 sprayed on the surface of the moving electrode part 12 and to test the performance and quality of the conductive layer 2, the staff usually measures the thickness of the conductive layer 2 in the wet film state, and a certain thickness must be reached. After drying and film formation, the required dry film thickness can be obtained, and the conductive layer 2 is considered to be qualified. Exemplarily, the dry film thickness of the conductive layer 2 ranges from 500 nanometers to 2500 nanometers. If the conductive layer 2 is qualified, the conductive performance can be well guaranteed.

[0034] Furthermore, the wet film viscosity of the conductive layer 2 is specified to range from 20 mPa to 100 mPa per second. Controlling the wet film viscosity of the conductive layer 2 can effectively ensure the solution concentration of the spraying raw material, that is, ensure the conductivity of the aqueous solution of the transparent conductive ink.

[0035] Specifically, the surface resistivity range of the square resistance of the conductive layer 2 needs to be controlled within a range of 10 ohms per square meter to 1000 ohms per square meter, so that the conductive performance and sensitivity of the conductive keycap can be guaranteed.

[0036] Exemplarily, the specific composition of the transparent conductive ink of the spraying raw material of the conductive layer 2 can be PEDOT:PSS. PEDOT:PSS is a conductive aqueous solution of a high molecular polymer composed of a polymer of polystyrene sulfonate and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomers. It has a very high conductivity, and can obtain aqueous solutions with different conductivity according to different formulas. It has high transparency, excellent properties in flexibility and stretchability, good processability, film-forming properties, adhesion and water resistance, and can be used in high humidity and high temperature conditions. It can ensure good stability and conductivity under long-term use. Different from the expensive and complex processing technology of the commonly used metal grid and nano silver wire materials, the ink material cost of PEDOT:PSS is low, the processing technology is simple, and the production cost of the conductive keycap can be greatly reduced. It is worth noting that the production of PEDOT:PSS material is a prior art, and a reasonable selection is made according to the actual situation, and no excessive elaboration is made here.

[0037] Exemplarily, the specific component of the transparent conductive ink which is the spraying material of the conductive layer 2 can also be nanosilver ink, wherein nanosilver is the main component of the transparent conductive ink, and its concentration is a very critical issue, because it is related to whether good conductivity can be achieved. Nanosilver ink is suitable for transmitting smaller currents, which is just suitable for small daily conductive parts such as conductive keycaps.

[0038] In this embodiment, in order to ensure low material cost and processing difficulty, the material of the transparent body 1 is set to be synthetic resin, which has certain insulation properties while ensuring transparency, so that the electric energy cannot be dissipated and transmitted. For example, the material of the transparent body 1 can be polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene plastic and the like.

[0039] Optionally, the conductive keycap also includes a light-emitting component, and a snap-in groove is provided on the transparent body 1. The light-emitting component is electrically connected to the circuit board. The light-emitting component is arranged in the snap-in groove and cooperates with the transparent body 1 so that the conductive keycap can emit light, thereby improving the user experience.

[0040] Preferably, the surface of the insulating part 11 is provided with anti-slip protrusions to improve the feel of the conductive keycap. The anti-slip protrusions can also be used to make some patterns on the surface of the insulating part 11. In combination with the light-emitting parts, a variety of pattern effects can be refracted, which increases the selling point of the conductive keycap and attracts the interest of users.

[0041] The utility model also discloses a processing technology for the conductive layer 2 of the conductive keycap, which can produce the conductive layer 2 of the conductive keycap. Figure 2The flowchart shown includes the following steps: first, the transparent body 1 is clamped by a clamp and pre-degreased, and immersed in water at 45 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes to pre-clean grease and dirt; then, the degreasing operation is performed in an organic solvent, which is also kept between 45 degrees Celsius and 60 degrees Celsius and lasts for 15 minutes; the next step is to wash with water to rinse the organic solvent remaining on the transparent body 1; then, phosphating is performed, so that the transparent body 1 is kept in a phosphating solution between 40 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes to 15 minutes, and a phosphate protective layer 3 is generated on the surface of the transparent body 1. The function of the phosphate protective layer 3 is to improve the adhesion of the subsequent paint film and improve the corrosion resistance of the transparent body; after phosphating, another water washing is required to clean the phosphating solution attached to the surface of the transparent body 1 to prevent the residual phosphate from participating in electrochemical corrosion in the future anti-corrosion process. After the processed transparent body 1 is dried and cooled, the transparent conductive ink can be evenly sprayed on the outer surface of the transparent body 1 to form a conductive layer 2; then it needs to be placed on a drying rack or drying trough to air-dry and drain the paint, kept at room temperature, and left to stand for about 2 minutes, and then flash evaporated under steam conditions between 30 degrees Celsius and 60 degrees Celsius for 8 to 10 minutes, and finally the conductive layer 2 is dried and cured in an environment between 85 degrees Celsius and 120 degrees Celsius for 10 to 30 minutes, completing the processing of the conductive layer 2, and inspecting the final product to ensure that it achieves the best conductivity and adhesion.

[0042] Preferably, after the processed transparent body 1 is dried and cooled, the transparent conductive ink is not evenly disposed on the outer surface of the transparent body 1 by spraying. Instead, the transparent body 1 is immersed in transparent conductive ink between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius for 1.5 minutes to 2 minutes, and then the paint is drained and centrifuged to improve the shedding efficiency of the transparent conductive ink. It is compatible with transparent conductive inks in a larger viscosity range, improves the applicability of the processing technology, and can better control the conductive properties of the conductive layer 2.

[0043] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for the purpose of clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation methods of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, various obvious changes, readjustments and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. It is not necessary and impossible to list all implementation methods here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included in the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A conductive keycap, used for mounting on a circuit board of an electrostatic capacitive keyboard, characterized in that: include: A transparent body (1), wherein the top of the transparent body (1) is provided as an insulating portion (11), the bottom of the transparent body (1) is provided as a moving electrode portion (12), the moving electrode portion (12) is arranged opposite to the insulating portion (11), and the moving electrode portion (12) is configured to cooperate with the static electrode portion of the circuit board; A conductive layer (2), the conductive layer (2) being arranged on the outer surface of the moving electrode portion (12), the conductive layer (2) being a transparent conductive ink sprayed on the moving electrode portion (12); A protective layer (3), the protective layer (3) being arranged on the outer surface of the conductive layer (2), and the protective layer (3) being arranged to be transparent; An insulating layer (4), wherein the insulating layer (4) is arranged on the outer surface of the insulating portion (11), and the insulating layer (4) is arranged to be transparent.

2. The conductive keycap according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wet film thickness of the conductive layer (2) ranges from 20 micrometers to 100 micrometers.

3. The conductive keycap according to claim 2, characterized in that: The wet film viscosity of the conductive layer (2) ranges from 20 millipascals per second to 100 millipascals per second.

4. The conductive keycap according to claim 2, characterized in that: The dry film thickness of the conductive layer (2) ranges from 500 nanometers to 2500 nanometers.

5. The conductive keycap according to claim 2, characterized in that: The surface resistivity of the square resistance of the conductive layer (2) ranges from 10 ohms per square meter to 1000 ohms per square meter.

6. The conductive keycap according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the conductive layer (2) is PEDOT:PSS.

7. The conductive keycap according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive layer (2) is made of nano silver ink.

8. The conductive keycap according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transparent body (1) is made of synthetic resin.

9. The conductive keycap according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insulating portion (11) is provided with an anti-slip protrusion.

10. The conductive keycap according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The conductive keycap comprises a light-emitting component, the transparent body (1) is provided with a clamping groove, the light-emitting component is arranged in the clamping groove, and the light-emitting component is configured to be electrically connected to the circuit board.

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