Smooth-pressing magnetic axis key and input device

Abstract

The utility model provides a magnetic axis key which is pressed smoothly and an input device. The magnetic shaft key comprises a non-magnetic key shaft, a key upper cover, a key seat, a movable magnet and a static magnet. The magnetizing direction of the movable magnet is vertical magnetizing, and the magnetizing direction of the static magnet is opposite to the magnetizing direction of the movable magnet; one of the moving magnet and the static magnet is a cylindrical magnet, and the other one of the moving magnet and the static magnet is an annular magnet; the diameter of the circular section of the cylindrical magnet is larger than or equal to the inner diameter of the circular ring section of the circular ring-shaped magnet and smaller than or equal to the outer diameter of the circular ring section of the static magnet. According to the magnetic axis key provided by the utility model, through the shape and size design of the movable magnet and the static magnet, the discontinuous feeling caused by too fast increase and sudden change of the magnetic repulsive force when the magnetic axis key is pressed is effectively eliminated by a simple structure, so that the magnetic axis key has a relatively smooth pressing hand feeling.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of user input and output devices, and particularly to a magnetic axis key with smooth pressing and an input device. Background Art

[0002] Physical keys are a very important type of input and output devices, which are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, game consoles, and various household appliances. Among various physical entity keys, magnetic axis keys are widely used due to their advantages of small size, short stroke, no mechanical fatigue, ability to avoid physical wear, and fast trigger response speed. The reason why it can trigger the response quickly at first is mainly because of its short stroke length and low latency. For example, an ordinary mechanical axis key requires about 12 mm of stroke to complete two triggers, while a magnetic axis only needs 5 mm; and the latency of the magnetic axis key is only 1 ms, almost approaching an instant response speed.

[0003] The magnetic axis key detects the pressing through a magnetic sensor sensing the magnetic field change caused by the movement of the magnetic axis or magnet (as the key is pressed down). The existing magnetic axis keys are provided with a magnetic sensor (usually a Hall sensor) and one or two magnets. By means of the magnetic field change caused by the relative movement of the magnets during pressing, and the force between the magnets or the elastic force of the spring, the pressing detection and the restoration to the initial state after the pressing is released are realized. Among them, the magnet that moves relative to the magnetic sensor as the key is pressed down is usually called the moving magnet, and the magnet whose position remains fixed relative to the magnetic sensor is called the static magnet.

[0004] For the existing magnetic axis keys, to return to the center after pressing, either a spring or a spring piece is needed, or the magnetic repulsion force between two magnets is used. Inevitably, mechanical fatigue problems will occur when using a spring or a spring piece, while the pressing feel is often not good when using the magnetic repulsion force between two magnets. The poor pressing feel of the magnetic axis key realized by using two magnets is because: the force between the two magnets changes exponentially with the distance, resulting in too rapid mutation of the resistance of the key during the pressing process and generating a sense of jerk during pressing. Summary of the Utility Model

[0005] In order to overcome the above-mentioned deficiencies of the existing magnetic axis keys, and on the premise of not complicating the structure of the magnetic axis key, reliable pressing restoration is realized and a smooth pressing feel is obtained. The utility model provides a magnetic axis key with smooth pressing and an input device.

[0006] A magnetic axis key with smooth pressing provided by the utility model includes: a non-magnetic key shaft, a key upper cover, a key seat, a moving magnet, and a static magnet.

[0007] Among them, the upper cover of the key is used to be assembled with the key seat, and is provided with a shaft hole corresponding to the accommodation cavity provided on the key seat. The lower end of the key shaft passes through the shaft hole and extends into the accommodation cavity of the key seat.

[0008] The moving magnet is fixedly arranged at the lower end of the key shaft, and its magnetization direction is vertical magnetization. The static magnet is fixedly installed on the key seat, and its magnetization direction is opposite to that of the moving magnet. One of the moving magnet and the static magnet is a cylindrical magnet, and the other is an annular magnet. The diameter of the circular cross-section of the cylindrical magnet is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the annular cross-section of the annular magnet and less than or equal to the outer diameter of the annular cross-section of the annular magnet.

[0009] Preferably, both the moving magnet and the static magnet are magnets magnetized in half.

[0010] Further, the magnetic axis key further includes a magnetic sensing module arranged below the moving magnet and outside the pressing stroke of the magnetic axis key. Taking the direction of the N-S pole connection line of the moving magnet as the Z-axis direction, the magnetic sensing module detects the pressing condition of the magnetic axis key by sensing the magnetic field strength in the Z-axis direction at its own position.

[0011] Preferably, the magnetic sensing module is arranged below the center of the moving magnet and outside the pressing stroke of the magnetic axis key.

[0012] Further, the magnetic sensing module includes a Hall sensor or a magnetic sensor based on XMR; the XMR includes GMR, TMR, AMR, etc.

[0013] Further, a downward pressing blocking block for limiting the pressing stroke is further arranged on the outer side surface of the key shaft.

[0014] Corresponding to the above magnetic axis key, the present invention further provides an input device. The input device includes a plurality of keys; among them, at least one key is the above magnetic axis key. The input device can be an input module with physical keys such as a keyboard or a handle.

[0015] The magnetic axis key provided by the present invention, without additionally adding components, only improves the "jerky" feeling caused by the sudden change of the resistance during the pressing process through the shape and size design of the moving magnet and the static magnet, so as to achieve smooth pressing and reliable return. In addition, the special setting of the magnetic sensor also improves the linear relationship between the detection signal and the pressing stroke. The magnetic axis key provided by the present invention has a simple structure and low manufacturing cost. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1Explosion diagram of the magnetic axis button provided by the present utility model in the first embodiment.

[0017] Figure 2 Simulation curve graph of the pressing amplitude and pressing resistance of the magnetic axis button in the first embodiment.

[0018] Figure 3 Simulation curve graph of the pressing amplitude and induced magnetic field of the magnetic axis button in the first embodiment. Detailed implementation manners

[0019] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all the embodiments. Usually, the components of the embodiments of the present utility model described and illustrated herein can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0020] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present utility model provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model to be protected, but only represents the selected embodiments of the present utility model. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0021] As Figure 1 shown, in one embodiment, the magnetic axis button provided by the present utility model includes: a non-magnetic button shaft 1, a button upper cover 2, a button base 3, a moving magnet 4, and a static magnet 5.

[0022] Among them, the button upper cover 2 is used to be combined with the button base 3 to form the overall contour of the magnetic axis button. An axis hole 21 corresponding to the accommodation cavity 31 provided on the button base 3 is provided on the button upper cover 2. The lower end of the button shaft 1 passes through the axis hole 21 and extends into the accommodation cavity 31 of the button base 3. In Figure 1 it, the axis hole 21 is a circular hole, the button shaft 1 is cylindrical as a whole, and an accommodation cavity (or magnet sleeve) for placing the moving magnet 4 is provided at the lower end of the button shaft 1 ( Figure 1 not shown). A plurality of downward pressing blocking blocks 11 for restricting the pressing stroke are further provided on the outer side surface of the button shaft 1. By cooperating the downward pressing blocking blocks 11 with the button base 3, the displacement amplitude of the downward pressing of the button shaft 1 is restricted.

[0023] The moving magnet 4 is fixedly arranged in the accommodation cavity (or magnet sleeve) at the lower end of the button shaft 1, and its magnetization direction is up and down magnetization. The static magnet 5 is fixedly installed in the accommodation cavity 31 on the button base, and its magnetization direction is opposite to the magnetization direction of the moving magnet 3. In Figure 1In it, the moving magnet 4 is a cylindrical magnet, and the static magnet 5 is an annular magnet. Since the positional effects of the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 are equivalent with respect to the magnetic force between the two, therefore, either of the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 can be a cylindrical magnet, and the other can be an annular magnet.

[0024] In order to enable the magnetic axis button to obtain a relatively smooth feel when pressed, the magnetic repulsive force between the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 and the pressing amplitude should be as linearly related as possible. For this purpose, it is set that the diameter of the circular cross-section of the cylindrical magnet in the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the annular cross-section of the annular magnet and less than or equal to the outer diameter of the annular cross-section of the annular magnet.

[0025] In Figure 1 In the shown embodiment, when the diameter of the cylindrical moving magnet 4 is 5 mm, the inner diameter of the annular cross-section of the annular static magnet is 4 mm, the outer diameter is 6 mm, and both the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 are magnetized in half, the simulation result of the pressing resistance (the magnetic repulsive force between the moving magnet and the static magnet) during the pressing process of the magnetic axis button with the change of the pressing amplitude is as Figure 2 shown. Since the thickness of the magnet only changes the amplitude of the resistance increase corresponding to each unit of pressing amplitude and does not affect the overall shape of the curve of the pressing resistance with the change of the pressing amplitude, there is no need to elaborate too much on the thickness of the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 here. As Figure 2 shown, the curve of the pressing resistance (unit: gf) during the pressing process of the magnetic axis button with the change of the pressing amplitude (unit: mm) (with the initial position when not pressed as the reference zero point) is closer to linearity than the curve of the magnetic repulsive force between the two magnets with the change of the distance.

[0026] Furthermore, the magnetic axis button further includes a magnetic sensing module disposed below the moving magnet 4 and outside the pressing stroke of the magnetic axis button. Taking the direction of the N-S pole connection line of the moving magnet 4 as the Z-axis direction, the magnetic sensing module detects the pressing condition of the magnetic axis button by sensing the magnetic field intensity in the Z-axis direction at its own position. In some embodiments, the magnetic sensing module is disposed on the plane where the bottom of the static magnet is located.

[0027] Furthermore, the magnetic sensing module includes a Hall sensor or a magnetic sensor based on XMR; the XMR includes GMR, TMR, AMR, etc.

[0028] In Figure 1In the illustrated embodiment, corresponding to the shapes and dimensions of the above-mentioned moving magnet 4 and stationary magnet 5, when the magnetic sensing module is disposed at the central position below the moving magnet 4 and on the plane where the bottom of the stationary magnet is located (the change in the induction curve is weak with different setting planes), the simulation result of the output of the magnetic sensing module during the pressing process of the magnetic axis button with respect to the pressing amplitude is as Figure 3 shown, which can be approximated as a linear relationship.

[0029] Corresponding to the above magnetic axis button, the present invention further provides an input device. The input device includes a plurality of buttons; wherein at least one button is the above-mentioned magnetic axis button.

[0030] The above are only the embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various changes and modifications. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A magnetic axis button with smooth pressing, characterized in that The magnetic axis button includes: a non-magnetic button shaft, a button upper cover, a button seat, a moving magnet, and a static magnet; The button upper cover is used for mating with the button seat, and is provided with a shaft hole corresponding to the accommodation cavity provided on the button seat; the lower end of the button shaft passes through the shaft hole and extends into the accommodation cavity of the button seat; The moving magnet is fixedly arranged at the lower end of the button shaft, and its magnetization direction is up and down magnetization; the static magnet is fixedly installed on the button seat, and its magnetization direction is opposite to that of the moving magnet; One of the moving magnet and the static magnet is a cylindrical magnet, and the other is an annular magnet; the diameter of the circular cross-section of the cylindrical magnet is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the annular cross-section of the annular magnet and less than or equal to the outer diameter of the annular cross-section of the annular magnet.

2. The magnetic axis button according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the moving magnet and the static magnet are magnets magnetized in half.

3. The magnetic axis key according to claim 1, wherein The magnetic axis button further includes a magnetic sensing module arranged below the moving magnet and outside the pressing stroke of the magnetic axis button.

4. The magnetic axis key according to claim 3, wherein, Taking the direction of the N-S pole connection line of the moving magnet as the Z-axis direction, the magnetic sensing module detects the pressing condition of the magnetic axis button by sensing the magnetic field strength in the Z-axis direction at its own position.

5. The magnetic axis button according to claim 3, characterized in that A downward pressing blocking block for limiting the pressing stroke is further arranged on the outer side surface of the button shaft.

6. The magnetic axis button according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that The magnetic sensing module includes a Hall sensor or a magnetic sensor based on XMR; the XMR includes GMR, TMR, AMR, etc.

7. An input device, characterized in that, The input device includes a plurality of buttons; wherein, at least one button is the magnetic axis button according to any one of claims 1-6.

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