Modularized capacitor key

Abstract

The utility model discloses a modular capacitor key, which relates to the field of keys and comprises a hollow base, a switch push rod slidably mounted in the base, an elastic silica gel bowl positioned in the base and aligned and matched with the switch push rod, a pole piece group positioned on the inner bottom surface of the base and a spring positioned in the elastic silica gel bowl and matched with the pole piece group, the spring is conductive; the pole piece group comprises two pole plates which are oppositely and separately arranged, one pole plate is electrically connected with the spring, and the other pole plate is in insulation fit with the spring; two pole plates of the pole piece group are respectively provided with pins extending out of the base; and when the switch push rod slides downwards, the spring is pushed to deform towards the pole piece group. According to the capacitor key, through modular design, the electrode of the capacitor key can be separated from the PCB to form an independent modular structure, so that the flexibility of the key is improved, and the convenience of maintenance and replacement of the key is enhanced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of buttons, and in particular to a modular capacitive button. Background Art

[0002] Traditional key types in the prior art include mechanical switches, magnetic switches, and optical switches. Mechanical switch keys trigger signals through physical contact, have obvious tactile feedback, but are prone to wear and noise. Magnetic switch keys use magnetic field changes to generate signals, with a complex structure but high durability. Optical switch keys rely on optical sensors to detect the state of key presses, have fast response speeds, and long lifespans, but are more expensive.

[0003] The working principle of capacitive keys is different from these traditional keys. Capacitive keys generate capacitance changes by changing the distance between electrodes, thereby triggering the signal. When the key is pressed, two series-connected flat capacitors are formed between the contacts, allowing the pulse signal to pass through and trigger the key. This design can not only control the trigger sensitivity and trigger travel, but also eliminates the need for the key to bottom out, making operation more labor-saving. Capacitive keys are widely used in high-end keyboards and precision input devices due to their low noise, low wear, good feel, and complex process.

[0004] However, there are some shortcomings in the design of existing capacitive keys. Most capacitive keys set one pole of the capacitor on the PCB plate. Although this design simplifies the structure, it brings application limitations. When there is a problem with the board or mechanism structure of the capacitive key, it is difficult to replace it and it is difficult to achieve capacitor alignment. In addition, existing capacitive keys are difficult to mix with other types of keys such as mechanical axes, magnetic axes and optical axes, which limits their application in multi-function keyboards.

[0005] These problems mainly stem from the design structure of existing capacitive buttons. Fixing one electrode of the capacitor directly to the PCB simplifies the manufacturing process, but increases application limitations. When the electrode or PCB is damaged, the entire module needs to be replaced, increasing maintenance costs and difficulties. This fixed design also limits the flexible application of capacitive buttons, especially in scenarios where they need to be mixed with other types of buttons, making it difficult to achieve seamless integration.

[0006] In order to overcome these shortcomings, it is of great significance to develop a modular capacitive button. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of the present application is to overcome at least one of the shortcomings of the prior art and to provide a modular capacitive button. The capacitive button can separate the electrodes of the capacitive button from the PCB board through a modular design to form an independent modular structure, which not only improves the flexibility of the button, but also enhances the convenience of its maintenance and replacement.

[0008] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application discloses a modular capacitive button, comprising a hollow base, a switch push rod slidably installed in the base, an elastic silicone bowl located in the base and aligned with the switch push rod, a pole piece group located on the inner bottom surface of the base, and a spring located in the elastic silicone bowl and aligned with the pole piece group, wherein the spring is conductive; the pole piece group comprises two pole plates that are opposite and separately arranged, one of which is electrically connected to the spring, and the other is insulated from the spring; the two pole plates of the pole piece group respectively have pins extending out of the base; when the switch push rod slides downward, the spring is pushed to deform in the direction of the pole piece group.

[0009] In some embodiments, a plug rod is provided at the bottom of the base, and the plug rod is used to realize key plugging and fixing, and then realize key plugging and unplugging.

[0010] In some embodiments, the base is split, consisting of a base and a cover that are snap-connected together, the pole piece group is fixedly mounted on the base, and the cover is provided with an opening for the switch push rod to extend.

[0011] In some embodiments, the pole piece group is generally circular in shape, and the pole plate is semicircular in shape.

[0012] In some embodiments, the elastic silicone bowl cooperates with the base to form a bowl-shaped installation chamber; the spring is conical and is located in the installation chamber.

[0013] In some embodiments, a guide structure is provided between the base and the switch push rod, so that the switch push rod can slide stably along a straight line.

[0014] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the spring has an insulating layer to prevent the spring from conducting the two electrode plates.

[0015] In some embodiments, an insulating layer is provided on the surface of the electrode plate to prevent the spring from conducting the two electrode plates.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least one of the following beneficial effects:

[0017] 1. Modular design improves flexibility: Through modular design, the electrodes of the capacitive keys are separated from the PCB board to form an independent modular structure. This design significantly improves the flexibility of the keys, making it easier to mix and use with other types of keys (such as mechanical switches, magnetic switches, and optical switches), and is suitable for multi-function keyboard applications.

[0018] 2. Convenient maintenance and replacement: Since the electrodes and PCB are separated, the modular design of the capacitive keypad allows the module to be replaced individually when the keypad is damaged or has problems, avoiding the complicated operation of replacing the entire keypad module. This not only reduces maintenance costs, but also significantly improves the convenience of replacement.

[0019] 3. Effortless operation and good feel: Capacitive buttons can be triggered without the bottom of the button, which is more labor-saving. At the same time, the trigger sensitivity and trigger stroke are controllable, with a good feel, suitable for high-end keyboards and precision input devices.

[0020] The above-listed beneficial effects are not exhaustive of all advantages. Other potential beneficial effects and detailed technical implementations will be further disclosed in the examples or other description parts of this application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] After reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, you will better understand the various aspects of the present disclosure. The positions, sizes, and ranges of various structures shown in the accompanying drawings sometimes do not represent the actual positions, sizes, and ranges. In the accompanying drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment disclosed in this application.

[0023] Figure 2 It is a structural explosion diagram of an embodiment disclosed in this application.

[0024] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of an embodiment disclosed in the present application.

[0025] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the base and the electrode group in an embodiment disclosed in the present application.

[0026] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the base and the electrode group in an embodiment disclosed in the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be presented in a variety of different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described below; in fact, the embodiments described below are intended to make the disclosure of the present disclosure more complete and fully illustrate the scope of protection of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide more additional embodiments.

[0028] It should be understood that the same reference numerals represent the same elements throughout the drawings. In the drawings, the dimensions of certain features may be distorted for clarity.

[0029] It should be understood that the terms used in the specification are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. All terms (including technical terms and scientific terms) used in the specification have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined. For the sake of brevity and / or clarity, the techniques, methods and equipment known to ordinary technicians in the relevant fields may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the techniques, methods and equipment should be considered as part of the authorization specification.

[0030] The singular forms "a", "said" and "the" used in the specification include plural forms unless clearly indicated. The terms "include", "comprise" and "contain" used in the specification indicate the presence of the claimed features, but do not exclude the presence of one or more other features. The term "and / or" used in the specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the relevant listed items. Example

[0031] This embodiment discloses an exemplary structure of a modular capacitive button. Figure 1-5 As shown, the key structure comprises a hollow base 1, a switch push rod 2 slidably mounted in the base 1, an elastic silicone bowl 3 located in the base 1 and aligned with the switch push rod 2, a pole piece group 4 located on the inner bottom surface of the base 1, and a spring 5 located in the elastic silicone bowl 3 and aligned with the pole piece group 4.

[0032] In this embodiment, the base 1 is a split structure, which is formed by the base 101 and the cover 102. The pole piece group 4 is fixedly mounted on the base 101, and the cover 102 is provided with an opening for the switch push rod 2 to extend. This structural design facilitates the installation and replacement of the pole piece group 4, and at the same time enhances the overall stability of the key.

[0033] In addition, a plug rod 103 is provided at the bottom of the base 1, and the plug rod 103 is used to realize the plug-in fixation of the key, thereby realizing the convenient plug-in and pull-out of the key. This design simplifies the installation and maintenance process of the key and improves the flexibility of operation. The plug rod is usually made of the same or similar material as the base, such as high-strength engineering plastics or metals, to ensure that it has sufficient strength and durability during use. The design of the plug rod is usually cylindrical or other shapes that are easy to plug and unplug, and its diameter and length are accurately calculated to ensure appropriate fit tightness during the plug-in process. It should be understood that the specific shape, structure and size of the plug rod 103 are compatible with the preset socket on the keyboard mounting position.

[0034] In this embodiment, the material of the switch push rod 2 is generally selected from wear-resistant plastic or metal to ensure its durability and hand feel. The upper end of the switch push rod 2 extends out of the base 1 and is detachably matched with the keycap. The switch push rod 2 is slidably installed in the base 1 to ensure that it slides stably along a straight line to avoid jamming caused by lateral force. In terms of specific structure, a guide block is convexly provided on the side of the switch push rod 2, and a guide groove matching the guide block is provided in the base 1.

[0035] The lower end of the switch push rod 2 is aligned with the elastic silicone bowl 3, which is installed inside the base 1 and made of highly elastic silicone material, having good resilience and durability. The switch push rod 2 is provided with an upward reset force by the spring 5 and the elastic material of the elastic silicone bowl 3 itself.

[0036] In the specific structure, the elastic silicone bowl 3 cooperates with the inner bottom surface of the base 1 to form a bowl-shaped installation chamber 6, and the spring 5 is located in the installation chamber 6. In this embodiment, the spring 5 is made of conductive material, such as phosphor copper or stainless steel, to ensure its conductivity and mechanical properties. The spring 5 is the basis for realizing the change of capacitance and then triggering. The spring 5 is a conical spring, which can provide a more uniform reset force and improve the feel and response speed of the key.

[0037] In this embodiment, the pole piece group 4 is quasi-circular in shape as a whole, and includes two semicircular pole plates 401 and 402 that are opposite and separately arranged, wherein one pole plate 401 is electrically connected to the spring 5, and the other pole plate 402 is insulated and matched with the spring 5. The spring 5 and the pole plate 401 constitute one pole of the capacitor, and the pole plate 402 constitutes the other opposite pole, forming a variable capacitor structure. The two pole plates 401 and 402 of the pole piece group 4 are usually made of copper foil or silver-plated material to improve its conductivity and anti-oxidation performance.

[0038] The two plates 401 and 402 of the electrode group 4 have pins extending out of the base 1. When the switch push rod 2 slides downward, the spring 5 is pushed to deform toward the electrode group 4, thereby changing the capacitance of the two electrodes. The external circuit monitors the capacitance change of the capacitor structure through the pins to trigger the capacitance signal.

[0039] Capacitive buttons can directly output capacitive signals, and it is only necessary to set a circuit structure that senses capacitance changes on the PCB. This design allows a single keyboard position of the keyboard to achieve mixed use of multiple keyboards and supports hot plugging. In order to prevent the spring 5 from conducting the two plates 401 and 402, the outer surface of the spring 5 has an insulating layer. The insulating layer is usually coated with a high-temperature resistant insulating material to ensure its reliability in various environments. An insulating layer is also provided on the surface of the plates 401 and 402 to prevent the spring 5 from conducting the two plates. The insulating layer can be oxidized or coated with an insulating layer to ensure the safety and stability of the button during use.

[0040] In terms of working principle, when the user presses the switch push rod 2, the lower end of the switch push rod 2 applies pressure to the elastic silicone bowl 3 to compress it. The compression of the elastic silicone bowl 3 further acts on the spring 5, causing the spring 5 to deform and move toward the electrode group 4. The deformation of the spring 5 changes the capacitance value of the electrode group 4, triggering the capacitance signal. When the user releases the button, the spring 5 and the elastic silicone bowl 3 quickly return to their original state, the movable push rod 2 returns to the initial position, and the capacitance signal ends. Through this design, high sensitivity and fast response of the button are achieved.

[0041] When implemented, modular capacitive keys are widely used in high-end keyboards and precision input devices. Its simple structure, labor-saving operation, good feel, low noise and low wear make it very suitable for use in scenarios that require frequent operation and high reliability. This modular design is particularly prominent when used in combination with mechanical axis, magnetic axis and optical axis keys. In a multi-function keyboard, the modular capacitive key can be used in combination with a mechanical axis key to provide obvious tactile feedback and high durability; combined with a magnetic axis key to provide durability and high signal reliability; combined with an optical axis key to provide fast response and long life. This hybrid keyboard can not only meet the user's needs for different feel and functions, but also can be customized and personalized by replacing modular keys, further enhancing the user experience.

[0042] It is important to understand that modular capacitive keys have significant advantages in maintenance and replacement compared to traditional integrated capacitive keyboards. The electrodes of traditional capacitive keyboards are directly fixed to the PCB board. If they are damaged, the entire keyboard module needs to be replaced, which increases maintenance costs and difficulty. Modular capacitive keys are designed to be separated, with the electrodes and PCB board being independent modules. When the keys or electrodes are damaged, they can be replaced separately, which is easy to operate and reduces maintenance costs. In addition, the modular design allows capacitive keys to be flexibly used in different scenarios and mixed with other types of keys to form a multi-functional keyboard to meet the diverse needs of users.

[0043] In summary, it can be understood that the modular capacitive key of this embodiment not only improves the flexibility, maintenance convenience and service life of the key through modular design, but also can be mixed with other types of keys and is widely applicable to various high-end keyboards and precision input devices. Compared with the traditional integrated capacitive keyboard, the modular capacitive key has significant advantages in installation, maintenance and versatility.

[0044] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in essence. Therefore, all changes and modifications are included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. The present disclosure is defined by the appended claims, and the equivalents of these claims are also included.

Claims

1. A modular capacitive button, characterized in that: It includes a hollow base, a switch push rod slidably installed in the base, an elastic silicone bowl located in the base and aligned with the switch push rod, a pole piece group located on the inner bottom surface of the base, and a spring located in the elastic silicone bowl and aligned with the pole piece group, wherein the spring is conductive; the pole piece group includes two pole plates that are opposite and separately arranged, one of which is electrically connected to the spring, and the other is insulated from the spring; the two pole plates of the pole piece group respectively have pins extending out of the base; when the switch push rod slides downward, the spring is pushed to deform in the direction of the pole piece group.

2. A modular capacitive button as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: An insertion rod is provided at the bottom of the base, and the insertion rod is used to realize key insertion and fixing, and then realize key insertion and removal.

3. A modular capacitive button as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The base is a split type, formed by a base and a cover part being clamped together, the pole piece group is fixedly mounted on the base, and the cover part is provided with an opening for the switch push rod to extend out.

4. A modular capacitive button as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The pole piece group is generally circular in shape, and the pole plate is semicircular in shape.

5. The modular capacitive button as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic silicone bowl cooperates with the base to form a bowl-shaped installation chamber; the spring is conical and is located in the installation chamber.

6. A modular capacitive button as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: A guide structure is arranged between the base and the switch push rod, so that the switch push rod can slide stably along a straight line.

7. The modular capacitive keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surface of the spring is provided with an insulating layer to prevent the spring from conducting the two pole plates.

8. The modular capacitive keypad according to claim 1, characterized in that: An insulating layer is provided on the surface of the pole plate to prevent the spring from conducting the two pole plates.

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