Magnetic axis key capable of improving pressing hand feeling and keyboard

Abstract

The utility model provides a magnetic axis key capable of improving pressing hand feeling and a keyboard. The magnetic shaft key comprises a non-magnetic key cap, a key shaft, a magnetic sensing module, a movable magnet and a static magnet, and the magnetizing directions of the movable magnet and the static magnet are opposite and are both pressing directions of the key. The soft magnetic material sheet is arranged on the upper end face of the key cap, nonlinear attraction change between the movable magnet and the soft magnetic material sheet during pressing is utilized to counteract part of nonlinear repulsive force increase between the movable magnet and the static magnet, and meanwhile, the key automatically returns to the initial state after being pressed. The magnetic axis key provided by the utility model effectively eliminates the discontinuous feeling during pressing, and improves the pressing hand feeling of the key.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of input and output devices for human-computer interaction, and in particular to a magnetic axis key and a keyboard with improved pressing feel. Background Art

[0002] Physical buttons are a very important type of input and output device, and are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers, as well as home appliances such as televisions and refrigerators. Among them, there is a type of physical button called a magnetic axis button, which uses a magnetic sensor to sense the movement of the magnetic axis to output a press signal. Existing magnetic axis buttons are usually equipped with a magnetic sensor (usually a Hall sensor) and one or two magnets, and use the force between the magnets or a spring to return to the initial state after pressing and releasing. Among them, a magnet moves relative to the magnetic sensor as the button is pressed, changing the magnetic field at the location of the magnetic sensor, and the magnetic sensor detects the change in the magnetic field to achieve press detection.

[0003] The advantages of magnetic switches are their rapid triggering, resistance to physical wear, and relatively good durability. This is primarily due to their short travel length and low latency. For example, while a regular mechanical switch requires about 12mm of travel to complete two actuations, a magnetic switch requires only 5mm. Furthermore, magnetic switches have a latency of just 1ms, making their response speed almost instantaneous.

[0004] However, existing magnetic switch presses rely on springs or spring plates to return to center, inevitably leading to mechanical fatigue. Solutions that use two magnets to achieve return to center often suffer from poor press feel. This poor press feel occurs because the force between the two magnets changes exponentially with distance, resulting in a sudden and sudden change in the key's resistance during a press, creating a jerky feeling. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the aforementioned shortcomings of existing magnetic axis keys, the present invention proposes a magnetic axis key and keyboard with improved pressing feel, based on the reliable press-release recovery of the magnetic axis key, so that the resistance of the key does not change too quickly during the pressing process and is as close to a linear change as possible, thereby reducing the sense of frustration when pressing.

[0006] The utility model provides a magnetic axis key with improved pressing feel, comprising: a non-magnetic key cap, a key shaft, a magnetic sensor module, a moving magnet and a static magnet. A piece of soft magnetic material is fixed on the upper end surface of the key cap, and an axial hole is provided inside the soft magnetic material sheet, which passes through the key cap downward, and the key shaft sleeve is arranged in the axial hole sleeve of the key cap. The moving magnet is fixed to the lower end of the key shaft, and its magnetization direction is up and down; the static magnet is fixed directly below the key shaft, and its magnetization direction is opposite to that of the moving magnet. The magnetic sensor module is arranged between the moving magnet and the static magnet, and detects the pressing state of the magnetic axis key by sensing the magnetic field at its own position.

[0007] The above-mentioned magnetic axis key provided by the present invention, during the pressing process, offsets or partially offsets the exponentially increasing repulsive force between the moving magnet and the static magnet through the exponentially decreasing "attraction" between the soft magnetic material sheet and the moving magnet, thereby making the change of the key resistance during the pressing process smooth and reducing the sense of frustration when pressing.

[0008] Furthermore, the magnetic sensing module includes a plurality of magnetic sensors mounted on a PCB. The magnetic sensors are Hall effect sensors or XMR-based magnetic sensors, including GMR, TMR, and AMR. The magnetic sensors can be used to detect the strength of a magnetic field parallel to the XY plane at their location, or they can be angle sensors that detect changes in the angle between the magnetic field at their location and the Z axis.

[0009] Preferably, the magnetic sensor is a plurality of magnetoresistive sensors with the same or different sensitive directions.

[0010] In some embodiments, the moving magnet and the static magnet are annular or cylindrical magnets. With the extension direction of the upper and lower ends of the key shaft being the Z-axis, the plurality of magnetic sensors are located within the outer edge of the projection ring of the moving magnet in the XY plane, or within the projection circle. Preferably, the key shaft is cylindrical with a mounting cavity at its lower end, wherein the mounting cavity is used to mount the moving magnet.

[0011] The present invention also provides a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, wherein at least one key is the magnetic axis key with improved hand feel.

[0012] This magnetic axis key utilizes the "attraction" between a soft magnetic material sheet and a moving magnet to mitigate the change in repulsive force between the moving and static magnets. This results in a smooth change in key resistance during pressing, reducing the sense of jerking during pressing. This simple structure allows for a return to center position and provides a pleasant tactile feel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1A schematic diagram of a magnetic axis key with improved pressing feel provided by the present invention in one embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2a 、 Figure 2b They are respectively a schematic diagram of the change of the repulsive force between the moving magnet and the static magnet during the pressing process of the key shaft, and a schematic diagram of the change of the attractive force between the moving magnet 4 and the soft magnetic material sheet 20. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the drawings herein can be arranged and designed in a variety of different configurations.

[0016] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0017] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a magnetic axis key with improved pressing feel, comprising: a non-magnetic key cap 2, a key shaft 1, a magnetic sensor module 3, a moving magnet 4, and a static magnet 5. A soft magnetic material sheet 20 is fixedly mounted on the upper end surface of the key cap 2. An axial hole 21 is defined within the soft magnetic material sheet 20 and extends downward through the key cap 2. The key shaft 1 is sleeved within the axial hole 21 of the key cap 2.

[0018] The moving magnet 4 is fixed to the lower end of the key shaft 1, and its magnetization direction is up and down. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the key shaft 1 is a cylinder, and the moving magnet 4 is installed in the mounting cavity inside the lower end of the cylinder of the key shaft 1. The static magnet 5 is fixed directly below the key shaft 1, and its magnetization direction is opposite to that of the moving magnet 4. In terms of spatial position, the magnetic sensor module 3 is arranged between the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5, and detects the pressing state of the key shaft 1 (i.e., the pressing state of the magnetic axis key) by sensing the magnetic field at its own position. Figure 1 As shown, the magnetic sensing module 3 may include a PCB board 30 and a plurality of magnetic sensors 31 arranged on the PCB board 30 .

[0019] In the magnetic axis key provided by the present invention, during the pressing process, as the key shaft 1 moves downward, the distance between the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 decreases, while the distance between the moving magnet 4 and the soft magnetic material sheet 20 increases. This results in an exponentially increasing repulsive force between the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 within the key shaft 1, while the attractive force between the moving magnet 4 and the soft magnetic material sheet 20 decreases exponentially.

[0020] When the key shaft 1 is pressed, the suction force between the moving magnet 4 and the soft magnetic material sheet 20 changes as shown in the following figure: Figure 2a As shown, the repulsive force between the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 changes as Figure 2b shown. Figure 2a 、 2b The specific values ​​are not shown here because they are related to the distance and size between the soft magnetic material sheet 20, the moving magnet 4, and the static magnet 5. This is only used to illustrate the principle that the "attractive force" between the soft magnetic material sheet 20 and the moving magnet 4 during the pressing process can be offset by the change in the repulsive force between the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5.

[0021] Obviously, the pressing feel of the magnetic axis key can be further improved according to actual needs by adjusting the distance and size between the soft magnetic material sheet 20, the moving magnet 4, and the static magnet 5. In actual production, the desired pressing feel can be obtained by adjusting the size and shape of the static magnet 5.

[0022] The exponentially decreasing "attraction" between the soft magnetic material sheet 20 and the moving magnet 4 offsets or partially offsets the exponentially increasing repulsive force between the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5, thereby making the change in the key resistance during the pressing process smooth and reducing the sense of frustration when pressing.

[0023] Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 31 can be a Hall sensor or a magnetic sensor based on XMR; the XMR includes GMR, TMR, and AMR. The magnetic sensor 31 can be used to detect the strength of the magnetic field parallel to the XY plane at its own location, or it can be an angle sensor that detects the change in the angle between the magnetic field at its own location and the Z axis. Those skilled in the art can easily determine, based on the magnetization direction of the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5, that when the key shaft is pressed down, the magnetic field strength parallel to the XY plane will increase for a sensing point between the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5, and the angle sensor of the change in the angle between the magnetic field and the Z axis will change (either smaller or larger depending on whether the positive direction of the Z axis is upward or downward).

[0024] When the magnetic sensor is a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetic field strength parallel to the XY plane at its location, it may include a plurality of magnetoresistive sensors with the same or different sensitive directions, which mainly depends on the form of the magnetoresistive sensors forming the sensing circuit.

[0025] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, to reduce the weight of the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 or the forces acting between them, the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 are configured as ring magnets or cylindrical magnets. Of course, the shapes of the moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 are not limited to rings; they can also be cylindrical or other shapes. The moving magnet 4 and the static magnet 5 only need to be magnetized in opposite directions, up and down. For example, if the moving magnet 4 is ring-shaped, the static magnet 5 can also be cylindrical.

[0026] Preferably, with the extension direction of the upper and lower ends of the key shaft as the Z-axis direction, the plurality of magnetic sensors 31 are located within the outer edge line of the projection ring of the moving magnet 4 in the XY plane, or within the circle of the projection circle.

[0027] Corresponding to the aforementioned magnetic axis key, the present invention also provides a keyboard. The keyboard includes a plurality of keys, at least one of which is a magnetic axis key with improved tactile feel. Similarly, the keys of this keyboard also have a good pressing feel.

[0028] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is susceptible to various modifications and variations. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A magnetic axis key with improved pressing feel, characterized in that: The magnetic axis button includes: a non-magnetic button cap, a button axis, a magnetic sensor module, a moving magnet and a static magnet; A piece of soft magnetic material is fixed on the upper end surface of the key cap, an axial hole passing through the key cap downward is provided inside the soft magnetic material sheet, and the key shaft sleeve is arranged in the shaft hole sleeve of the key cap; The moving magnet is fixed to the lower end of the key shaft, and the magnetization direction is up and down; The static magnet is fixed directly below the key shaft, and its magnetization direction is opposite to that of the moving magnet; the magnetic sensor module is arranged between the moving magnet and the static magnet, and detects the pressing state of the magnetic axis key by sensing the magnetic field at its own position.

2. The magnetic axis key according to claim 1, wherein: The magnetic sensing module includes a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged on a PCB board; the magnetic sensors are Hall sensors, or magnetic sensors implemented based on XMR, and the XMR includes GMR, TMR, and AMR.

3. The magnetic axis key according to claim 1, wherein: The moving magnet and the static magnet are annular magnets or cylindrical magnets.

4. The magnetic axis key according to claim 2, wherein: Taking the extension direction of the upper and lower ends of the key shaft as the Z axis direction, the plurality of magnetic sensors are located within the outer edge line of the projection ring of the moving magnet in the XY plane, or within the circle of the projection circle.

5. The magnetic axis key according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The button shaft is a cylinder with a mounting cavity provided at the lower end, and the mounting cavity is used to install the moving magnet.

6. The magnetic axis key according to claim 2, wherein: The magnetic sensor is used to detect the magnetic field intensity parallel to the XY plane at its location.

7. The magnetic axis key according to claim 6, wherein: The magnetic sensors are a plurality of magnetoresistive sensors with the same or different sensitive directions.

8. The magnetic axis key according to claim 2, wherein: The magnetic sensor is used to detect the change in the angle between the magnetic field at its location and the Z axis.

9. A keyboard, characterized in that: The keyboard comprises a plurality of keys, wherein at least one key is the magnetic axis key according to any one of claims 1-8.

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