Keyboard device and elastic body

Abstract

The utility model discloses a keyboard device and an elastic body. The keyboard device comprises a substrate, a keycap and the elastic body, the elastic body is arranged between the substrate and the key cap and comprises an annular body, an annular flexible wall and a conducting column. The annular body comprises an upper supporting part, a lower supporting part and a circumferential wall, and the circumferential wall is connected between the upper supporting part and the lower supporting part. The annular flexible wall is provided with an inner periphery and an outer periphery, and the outer periphery is integrally connected to the inner ring face of the upper supporting part to form an upper groove. The conduction column is provided with a top and a bottom, the top is integrally connected to the inner periphery of the annular flexible wall, the top is provided with an inner groove, the inner groove is communicated with the upper groove and provided with a bottom end, a first distance is formed between the top face of the upper supporting part and the bottom end of the inner groove, and a second distance is formed between the bottom of the conduction column and the lower surface of the lower supporting part. The first spacing is greater than the second spacing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to an input device, in particular to a keyboard device and an elastic body. Background Art

[0002] Keyboards are one of the most common input devices in current electronic devices. Computer products that we often come into contact with in daily life (such as notebook computers, desktop computers or tablet computers) or large-scale control equipment or processing equipment in industry often use keyboards for operation or text input.

[0003] With the advancement of technology, modern people spend more and more time using computers. Therefore, when consumers want to buy a notebook computer or keyboard, the keyboard's pressing feel, sensitivity or comfort will be one of the important factors in deciding whether to buy. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the above, in one embodiment, an elastic body is provided, which includes an annular body, an annular flexible wall and a conducting column. The annular body includes an upper support portion, a lower support portion and an annular wall, the annular wall is connected between the upper support portion and the lower support portion, the upper support portion has a top surface and an inner annular surface, and the lower support portion has a lower surface. The annular flexible wall has an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the outer periphery is integrally connected to the inner annular surface of the upper support portion, so that an upper groove is formed between the annular flexible wall and the top surface of the upper support portion. The conducting column has a top and a bottom, the top is integrally connected to the inner periphery of the annular flexible wall, and the top has an inner groove, the inner groove is connected to the upper groove and has a bottom end, there is a first spacing between the top surface of the upper support portion and the bottom end of the inner groove, there is a second spacing between the bottom of the conducting column and the lower surface of the lower support portion, and the first spacing is greater than the second spacing.

[0005] In an embodiment of the present invention, the width of the top of the conductive pillar is greater than the width of the bottom.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, the conductive pillar is tapered, and the width of the conductive pillar gradually decreases from the top to the bottom.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cross section of the annular flexible wall includes two inclined walls, and the angle between each of the inclined walls and the inner annular surface of the upper support portion is an obtuse angle.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the upper support portion has a bottom surface, a third distance is defined between the bottom surface and the lower surface of the lower support portion, and a sum of the first distance and the second distance is greater than the third distance.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner groove has an opening, the opening faces the upper groove, and the width of the opening of the inner groove is greater than the width of the bottom end.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner groove is a conical groove, and the width of the inner groove gradually decreases from the opening toward the bottom end.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner groove has a groove depth, and the groove depth is less than 1 / 2 of the length of the conductive pillar.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second interval is smaller than the length of the conductive pillar.

[0013] In another embodiment, a keyboard device is provided, including a substrate, a keycap and the elastic body, wherein the keycap is disposed above the substrate and the elastic body is disposed between the substrate and the keycap.

[0014] In summary, according to the keyboard device and elastomer of the embodiments of the utility model, the top of the conductive column of the elastomer is also provided with an inner groove, and the first distance between the top surface of the upper support part of the elastomer and the bottom end of the inner groove is greater than the second distance between the bottom of the conductive column and the lower surface of the lower support part, so that when the keycap of the keyboard device is pressed, the conductive column of the elastomer can be triggered faster, and the user can also feel a longer pressing stroke to produce a pressing feel similar to that of a mechanical keyboard. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a partial three-dimensional diagram of an embodiment of the keyboard device of the utility model;

[0016] Figure 2 It is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the keyboard device of the utility model;

[0017] Figure 3 It is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the elastic body of the utility model;

[0018] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the elastic body of the utility model;

[0019] Figure 5 A partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the keyboard device of the utility model;

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the compression deformation of the elastic body of an embodiment of the keyboard device of the utility model;

[0021] Figure 7 To continue Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the compression deformation of an elastic body;

[0022] Figure 8 This is an external force stroke curve diagram of an embodiment of the elastic body of the utility model.

[0023]

Explanation of symbols

[0024] 1: Keyboard device

[0025] 10:Substrate

[0026] 11: Top surface

[0027] 20:Keycaps

[0028] 21: Inner surface

[0029] 30: Elastomer

[0030] 31: Ring body

[0031] 32: Upper support

[0032] 321: Top

[0033] 322: Inner ring

[0034] 323: Bottom surface

[0035] 33: Lower support

[0036] 331: Upper surface

[0037] 332: Lower surface

[0038] 34: Circumferential wall

[0039] 35: Annular flexible wall

[0040] 351:Inner circumference

[0041] 352: Outer periphery

[0042] 353: Sloping wall

[0043] 36: Upper groove

[0044] 37: Conductive column

[0045] 371: Top

[0046] 372: Bottom

[0047] 375: Inner groove

[0048] 376: Bottom

[0049] 377: Opening

[0050] 40: Circuit Board

[0051] 41: Switch

[0052] 50: Connector

[0053] D1: First spacing

[0054] D2: Second spacing

[0055] D3: The third spacing

[0056] D4: Groove depth

[0057] C1,C2: Curve

[0058] P1a, P1b, P1c, P2a, P2b, P2c: Point

[0059] S1, S2: Pressing stroke

[0060] L: Length DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] Figure 1 This is a partial three-dimensional diagram of an embodiment of the keyboard device of the utility model. Figure 2 This is a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the keyboard device of the utility model. Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the elastic body of the utility model. Figure 4 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the elastic body of the utility model. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the keyboard device 1 of this embodiment includes a substrate 10, at least one keycap 20 and at least one elastic body 30, wherein the keyboard device 1 can be applied to various electronic products (such as input devices of desktop computers, notebook computers or other electronic devices) for users to press and generate corresponding signals.

[0062] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the number of keycaps 20 is multiple, for example, the multiple keycaps 20 may include a Caps Lock key, a Shift key, a Ctrl key, an Enter key, and a Backspace key, etc. The substrate 10 may be a hard plate made of metal (such as iron, aluminum, or alloy, etc.) or plastic material and has the function of supporting components. The substrate 10 has a top surface 11, and the multiple keycaps 20 are arranged above the substrate 10.

[0063] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, a circuit board 40 is stacked on the top surface 11 of the substrate 10, and each key cap 20 is disposed above the circuit board 40. For example, the circuit board 40 can be a membrane circuit board (Membrane Circuit Board), a printed circuit board (Printed Circuit Board, PCB), a flexible circuit board (Flexible Print Circuit Board, FPCB) or a rigid-flex composite circuit board (Rigid-Flex PCB).

[0064] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, there is a connecting member 50 between the substrate 10 and each key cap 20, wherein the connecting member 50 can be a scissor-type connecting member (such as Figure 2 One side of the connecting member 50 is movably connected to the keycap 20, and the other side of the connecting member 50 is movably connected to the substrate 10. Thus, when each keycap 20 moves up and down relative to the substrate 10, the connecting member 50 can move relative to the substrate 10 and each keycap 20 to achieve the effect of stabilizing the keycap 20.

[0065] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the number of the elastic body 30 can be multiple and corresponds to the number of the keycaps 20, and each elastic body 30 is disposed between the substrate 10 and each keycap 20. The elastic body 30 can be made of elastic material (such as rubber), wherein the elastic body 30 includes an annular body 31, an annular flexible wall 35 and a conductive column 37. In this embodiment, the annular body 31, the annular flexible wall 35 and the conductive column 37 are an integrally formed structure.

[0066] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the annular body 31 includes an upper support portion 32, a lower support portion 33 and a circumferential wall 34, the circumferential wall 34 is integrally connected between the upper support portion 32 and the lower support portion 33, and when the upper support portion 32 and the lower support portion 33 are close to each other, the circumferential wall 34 will be subjected to force and produce elastic deformation. In this embodiment, the upper support portion 32 and the lower support portion 33 are annular blocks, and the diameter of the upper support portion 32 is smaller than the diameter of the lower support portion 33, but this is not limited. In some embodiments, the diameter of the upper support portion 32 can also be equal to the diameter of the lower support portion 33, or the upper support portion 32 and the lower support portion 33 can also be other shapes (such as square or oval).

[0067] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the upper support portion 32 has a top surface 321, an inner annular surface 322 and a bottom surface 323, and the lower support portion 33 has an upper surface 331 and a lower surface 332. In this embodiment, the upper end of the circumferential wall 34 is integrally connected to the bottom surface 323 of the upper support portion 32, and the lower end of the circumferential wall 34 is integrally connected to the upper surface 331 of the lower support portion 33, and the wall thickness of the circumferential wall 34 is smaller than the radial thickness of the upper support portion 32 and the radial thickness of the lower support portion 33, so that the circumferential wall 34 is more likely to deform when subjected to force.

[0068] like Figures 2 to 4As shown, the annular flexible wall 35 of the elastic body 30 is located in the annular body 31 and is closer to the upper support portion 32 than the lower support portion 33. The annular flexible wall 35 has an inner peripheral edge 351 and an outer peripheral edge 352. The outer peripheral edge 352 is integrally connected to the inner annular surface 322 of the upper support portion 32, so that an upper groove 36 is formed between the annular flexible wall 35 and the top surface 321 of the upper support portion 32. In some embodiments, the thickness of the annular flexible wall 35 may be less than the thickness of the upper support portion 32, for example, the thickness of the annular flexible wall 35 may be between 0.15 mm and 0.40 mm, but this is not limited.

[0069] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the annular flexible wall 35 is conical, and the outer peripheral edge 352 of the annular flexible wall 35 is closer to the top surface 321 of the upper support portion 32 than the inner peripheral edge 351. The cross section of the annular flexible wall 35 includes two inclined walls 353 (such as Figure 4 As shown), the angle between each inclined wall 353 and the inner annular surface 322 of the upper support portion 32 is an obtuse angle (for example, between 100 degrees and 170 degrees).

[0070] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the conducting column 37 has a top 371 and a bottom 372. The top 371 is integrally connected to the inner circumference 351 of the annular flexible wall 35, and the bottom 372 is closer to the lower support portion 33 than the top 371. In addition, the top 371 of the conducting column 37 has an inner groove 375, which is recessed from the top 371 toward the bottom 372. The inner groove 375 is connected to the upper groove 36 and has a bottom end 376. Figure 4 As shown, there is a first distance D1 between the top surface 321 of the upper support portion 32 and the bottom end 376 of the inner groove 375, and a second distance D2 between the bottom 372 of the conductive column 37 and the lower surface 332 of the lower support portion 33, and the first distance D1 is greater than the second distance D2, for example, the first distance D1 can be more than twice the second distance D2.

[0071] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the circuit board 40 may have a switch 41 (e.g., a membrane switch), and the position of the switch 41 corresponds to the position of the conductive pillar 37 of the elastic body 30. Thus, when the upper support portion 32 of the elastic body 30 is pressed and approaches the circuit board 40, the conductive pillar 37 may approach the circuit board 40, so that the switch 41 is pressed by the bottom 372 of the conductive pillar 37 and is triggered to generate a signal.

[0072] Figure 5 This is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the keyboard device of the utility model. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the compression deformation of the elastic body of an embodiment of the keyboard device of the utility model. Figure 7To continue Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the compression deformation of an elastic body. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the top surface 321 of the upper support portion 32 of the elastic body 30 abuts against the key cap 20, and the lower surface 332 of the lower support portion 33 of the elastic body 30 abuts against the circuit board 40 and the substrate 10, thereby, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , when the keycap 20 is pressed by the user and approaches the circuit board 40 and the substrate 10, the elastic body 30 can be elastically deformed by the external force applied by the keycap 20, so that the conductive column 37 gradually approaches the circuit board 40 to trigger the switch 41 to generate a signal. When the external force is released, the elastic body 30 can return to its original unpressed state (such as Figure 5 shown).

[0073] Figure 8 This is a curve diagram of the external force stroke of an embodiment of the elastic body of the utility model, wherein Figure 8 This is used to illustrate the relationship between the external force applied by the keycap 20 to the elastic body 30 and the pressing stroke, and to compare it with the conventional elastic body. Figure 8 As shown, curve C1 (as Figure 8 The curve drawn with a solid line in FIG. 1 is the external force stroke curve of the elastic body 30 of the embodiment of the utility model. The curve C1 includes points P1a, P1b and P1c. Figure 8 The curve drawn with a dotted line in the figure is the external force stroke curve of the conventional elastic body, and the curve C2 includes points P2a, P2b and P2c. The above-mentioned points P1a and P2a are the peak points in the external force stroke curve, that is, the highest points in the external force stroke curve, points P1b and P2b are the trigger points (fire / contact points), at which the switch 41 will be triggered, and points P1c and P2c are the bottom points, that is, the lowest points in the external force stroke curve, at which the elastic body 30 is forced to move downward to the lowest point.

[0074] Please check Figures 4 to 8 As shown, when the keycap 20 is pressed by the user, the circumferential wall 34 of the elastic body 30 begins to deform, causing the conductive column 37 of the elastic body 30 to move toward the circuit board 40. When the bottom 372 of the conductive column 37 contacts the switch 41 pressed against the circuit board 40 (as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown), the elastic body 30 is subjected to the largest external force as a whole and corresponds to Figure 8 The peak point in curve C1 (such as Figure 8 In addition, Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the elastic body 30 of the present embodiment of the utility model can further shorten the distance between the bottom 372 of the conductive pillar 37 and the circuit board 40 by making the second distance D2 between the bottom 372 of the conductive pillar 37 and the lower surface 332 of the lower support portion 33 smaller than the first distance D1 between the top surface 321 of the upper support portion 32 and the bottom end 376 of the inner groove 375. Figure 8 As shown, by comparing the curve C1 of the elastic body 30 of the embodiment of the present invention with the curve C2 of the conventional elastic body, it can be seen that the time when the curve C1 reaches the peak point (point P1a) can be further advanced compared to the time when the curve C2 reaches the peak point (point P2a).

[0075] As above, please check again Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , since the bottom 372 of the conductive column 37 of the elastic body 30 can contact the switch 41 of the circuit board 40 earlier than the conventional elastic body, Figure 8 The peak point (point P1a) of the curve C1 is advanced. Therefore, when the keycap 20 continues to be pressed, the conductive column 37 and the annular flexible wall 35 of the elastic body 30 can produce elastic deformation earlier than the conventional elastic body to apply pressure to the switch 41 of the circuit board 40, so that the switch 41 can be triggered earlier. Figure 8 As shown, by comparing the curve C1 of the elastic body 30 of the embodiment of the utility model with the curve C2 of the conventional elastic body, it can be seen that the time when the curve C1 reaches the trigger point (point P1b) can be greatly advanced compared to the time when the curve C2 reaches the trigger point (point P2b), so that the user can feel the operation feeling of quickly and early completing the triggering of the switch 41 after pressing the keycap 20.

[0076] In some embodiments, the second distance D2 may be smaller than the length L of the conductive pillar 37, wherein the length L is the distance from the top 371 to the bottom 372 of the conductive pillar 37 (eg, Figure 4 As shown), the distance between the bottom 372 of the conducting column 37 and the circuit board 40 can be further shortened, so that the switch 41 of the circuit board 40 can be triggered earlier.

[0077] In addition, please refer to Figures 4 to 8 As shown, the elastic body 30 of the embodiment of the utility model is provided with an inner groove 375 at the top 371 of the conductive column 37, and the first distance D1 between the top surface 321 of the upper support portion 32 and the bottom end 376 of the inner groove 375 is greater than the second distance D2 between the bottom 372 of the conductive column 37 and the lower surface 332 of the lower support portion 33, so that the key cap 20 is pressed to approach the circuit board 40 and the inner surface 21 of the key cap 20 contacts the top 371 of the conductive column 37 (as shown in FIG. Figure 7As shown in FIG. 1 , the top 371 of the conducting column 37 located around the inner groove 375 can be further deformed by the keycap 20, so that the keycap 20 can continue to move toward the circuit board 40, thereby achieving the effect of delaying the bottoming point. Figure 8 As shown, by comparing the curve C1 of the elastic body 30 of the embodiment of the present invention with the curve C2 of the conventional elastic body, it can be seen that the time when the curve C1 reaches the bottom point (point P1c) can be significantly delayed compared to the time when the curve C2 reaches the bottom point (point P2c).

[0078] As above, Figure 8 As shown, since the curve C1 of the elastomer 30 of the embodiment of the utility model can reach the peak point (point P1a) earlier and reach the bottom point (point P1c) later than the curve C2 of the conventional elastomer, the pressing stroke S1 of the elastomer 30 from the peak point (point P1a) to the bottom point (point P1c) of the embodiment of the utility model can be greater than the pressing stroke S2 ​​of the conventional elastomer from the peak point (point P2a) to the bottom point (point P2c). Therefore, the keyboard device 1 of the embodiment of the utility model allows the user to feel a longer pressing stroke and produce a pressing feel similar to that of a mechanical keyboard to meet the needs of different users.

[0079] In addition, if Figure 4 As shown, in the embodiment of the utility model, the angle between the inclined wall 353 of the annular flexible wall 35 of the elastic body 30 and the inner annular surface 322 of the upper support portion 32 is an obtuse angle, which can prevent the annular flexible wall 35 from contacting the keycap 20 too early during the process of the elastic body 30 being pressed by the keycap 20, thereby facilitating Figure 8 The bottom point (point P1c) of curve C1 is delayed.

[0080] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the width of the top 371 of the conductive column 37 of the elastic body 30 may be greater than the width of the bottom 372, that is, the conductive column 37 may be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. For example, in this embodiment, the conductive column 37 is tapered, and the width of the conductive column 37 gradually decreases from the top 371 to the bottom 372, but this is not limited. In some embodiments, the width of the top 371 and the bottom 372 of the conductive column 37 may also be the same.

[0081] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, there is a third distance D3 between the bottom surface 323 of the upper support portion 32 of the elastomer 30 and the lower surface 332 of the lower support portion 33, and the sum of the first distance D1 and the second distance D2 is greater than the third distance D3. For example, the sum of the first distance D1 and the second distance D2 can be greater than the third distance D3 by at least 0.2 mm, so as to prevent the circumferential wall 34 of the elastomer 30 from contacting the circuit board 40 during the pressing process of the keycap 20, thereby affecting the effect of the delayed bottoming point P1c.

[0082] For example Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the inner groove 375 of the conductive column 37 of the elastic body 30 has an opening 377, the opening 377 faces the upper groove 36, and the width of the opening 377 of the inner groove 375 is greater than the width of the bottom end 376. For example, in this embodiment, the inner groove 375 is a conical groove, and the width of the inner groove 375 gradually decreases from the opening 377 toward the bottom end 376, but this is not limited. In some embodiments, the width of the opening 377 of the inner groove 375 and the bottom end 376 can also be the same.

[0083] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the inner groove 375 of the conductive column 37 of the elastic body 30 has a groove depth D4, and the groove depth D4 can be less than 1 / 2 of the length of the conductive column 37, so that the conductive column 37 can have the expected structural strength to press against the switch 41 of the trigger circuit board 40, and the top 371 to the bottom 372 of the conductive column 37 can also produce elastic deformation when under pressure to achieve the above-mentioned effect of delaying the bottoming point.

[0084] In summary, according to the keyboard device and elastomer of the embodiments of the utility model, the top of the conductive column of the elastomer is also provided with an inner groove, and the first distance between the top surface of the upper support part of the elastomer and the bottom end of the inner groove is greater than the second distance between the bottom of the conductive column and the lower surface of the lower support part, so that when the keycap of the keyboard device is pressed, the conductive column of the elastomer can be triggered faster, and the user can also feel a longer pressing stroke to produce a pressing feel similar to that of a mechanical keyboard.

[0085] Although the technical content of the present invention has been disclosed as above in the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any slight changes and modifications made by anyone familiar with this art without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be based on the scope defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. An elastomer, characterized in that: For a keyboard device, the elastic body comprises: An annular body, comprising an upper support portion, a lower support portion and a circumferential wall, wherein the circumferential wall is connected between the upper support portion and the lower support portion, wherein the upper support portion has a top surface and an inner annular surface, and the lower support portion has a lower surface; an annular flexible wall having an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge, the outer peripheral edge being integrally connected to the inner annular surface of the upper support portion so that an upper groove is formed between the annular flexible wall and the top surface of the upper support portion; and A conductive column has a top and a bottom, the top is integrally connected to the inner periphery of the annular flexible wall, and the top has an inner groove, the inner groove is connected to the upper groove and has a bottom end, a first distance is formed between the top surface of the upper support portion and the bottom end of the inner groove, a second distance is formed between the bottom of the conductive column and the lower surface of the lower support portion, and the first distance is greater than the second distance.

2. The elastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that The width of the top of the conductive column is greater than the width of the bottom.

3. The elastic body according to claim 2, characterized in that The conducting column is tapered, and the width of the conducting column gradually decreases from the top to the bottom.

4. The elastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that The cross section of the annular flexible wall includes two inclined walls, and the angle between each of the inclined walls and the inner annular surface of the upper support portion is an obtuse angle.

5. The elastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that The upper support portion has a bottom surface, and a third distance is formed between the bottom surface and the lower surface of the lower support portion, and the sum of the first distance and the second distance is greater than the third distance.

6. The elastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that The inner groove has an opening, the opening faces the upper groove, and the width of the opening of the inner groove is greater than the width of the bottom end.

7. The elastic body according to claim 6, characterized in that The inner groove is a conical groove, and the width of the inner groove gradually decreases from the opening toward the bottom end.

8. The elastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that The inner groove has a groove depth, and the groove depth is less than 1 / 2 of the length of the conducting column.

9. The elastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that The second interval is smaller than the length of the conductive pillar.

10. A keyboard device, characterized in that: include: a substrate; a key cap, disposed above the substrate; as well as The elastomer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the elastomer is disposed between the substrate and the keycap.

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