Novel key cap structure and electronic equipment
By using a spring arm structure to transmit button pressure to trigger the switch, the problem of limited button cap layout is solved, enabling personalized button cap layout and cost savings.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520400555.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-03
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-03-07
AI Technical Summary
The existing button cap layout is affected by the position of the touch switch, which makes it impossible to achieve a personalized layout and increases the cost and number of components.
It adopts a spring arm structure, with one end of the spring arm having a switch trigger surface that contacts the touch switch, and the other end having a fixed mounting structure, which realizes the personalized layout of the button caps, and transmits the button pressure to trigger the switch through the spring arm.
It enables personalized button cap placement settings, avoids changes to the circuit board layout, reduces costs, and simplifies component design.
Smart Images
Figure CN223967139U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of keycap structure, and particularly relates to a novel keycap structure and electronic device. Background Technology
[0002] A keycap, also known as a button cap, is a cap-shaped component that attaches to a touch switch to enable button functionality. The design of keycaps for touch switches often places them directly above the switch, meaning their installation position is frequently limited by the switch's mounting location on the circuit board. In other words, the keycap is usually mounted next to the switch; for example, the keycap of a side-mounted touch switch is mounted on its side, while the keycap of a surface-mount touch switch is mounted directly above it. This ensures that pressing the keycap triggers the switch. Therefore, the current keycap layout is heavily influenced by the position of the touch switch, preventing customized layout options. Utility Model Content
[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel keycap structure and electronic device, which aims to achieve a personalized layout of keycaps.
[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a novel keycap structure, including: a spring arm;
[0005] The elastic arm is strip-shaped, and button caps are provided at the non-end positions of the elastic arm;
[0006] One end of the elastic arm is provided with a switch trigger surface, which is used to contact a touch switch;
[0007] The other end of the elastic arm is provided with a fixed mounting structure, which is used to fix the elastic arm in place.
[0008] Optionally, the switch trigger surface and the bottom surface of the button cap face the same direction.
[0009] Optionally, it may include two or more of the aforementioned elastic arms;
[0010] Each of the elastic arms is integrally connected and formed using a single process for fixing and mounting.
[0011] Optionally, each of the elastic arms has the same length.
[0012] Optionally, a fixed installation structure formed by connecting all the elastic arms using a common integrated process can be used to achieve fixed installation.
[0013] Optionally, the common integrated process for fixing and installing each of the elastic arms is a mounting rib, and the mounting rib has a mounting through hole, the orientation of which is consistent with the orientation of the bottom surface of the button cap.
[0014] Optionally, the button caps of each elastic arm are not all in the same position on the corresponding elastic arm, so that the combination of the button caps can present a specified pattern.
[0015] Optionally, the specified pattern image can be one or more of numbers, letters, symbols, and logos.
[0016] Secondly, this application provides an electronic device, including the novel keycap structure described in any one of the first aspects above, and one or more touch switches;
[0017] The switch trigger surface of the button cap in the novel button cap structure is configured to make contact with the touch switch in a one-to-one correspondence.
[0018] Optionally, the plurality of the touch switches are arranged in a straight line on the circuit board, and the pressing direction of each touch switch is parallel to the touch switch soldering mounting surface of the circuit board.
[0019] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, this embodiment has the following advantages:
[0020] This application discloses a novel keycap structure comprising: a spring arm; the spring arm is strip-shaped, with keycaps positioned at the non-end positions of the spring arm; one end of the spring arm has a switch trigger surface for contacting a touch switch, thereby separating the keycap from the switch trigger surface; the other end of the spring arm has a fixed mounting structure for fixing the spring arm in place; since the other end of the spring arm is fixedly mounted, when the keycap is pressed by an external force, it undergoes elastic deformation, transmitting the force to the switch trigger surface at one end of the spring arm, causing the switch trigger surface to trigger the touch switch; when the external force is removed from the keycap, the spring arm returns to its state before elastic deformation, causing the switch trigger surface at one end of the spring arm to move away and no longer trigger the touch switch. Therefore, the keycaps of this novel keycap structure no longer need to be placed adjacent to the touch switch, but instead, the spring arm transmits the key pressure from the keycap to the switch trigger surface at one end of the spring arm, which then triggers the touch switch, thus enabling personalized keycap positioning. Attached Figure Description
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the connection between the touch switch installed in the novel keycap structure of this application and the circuit board;
[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the novel keycap structure of this application;
[0023] Figure 3 The novel keycap structure of this application is similar to... Figure 1 The diagram shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the connection between the touch switch and the circuit board.
[0024] Figure 4 The novel keycap structure of this application is similar to... Figure 1 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the connection between the touch switch and the circuit board is shown.
[0025] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 The diagram shows an embodiment of the novel button cap structure applied to an electronic device.
[0026] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The diagram shows another embodiment of the novel button cap structure applied to an electronic device. Detailed Implementation
[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model.
[0028] Please see Figure 1 This embodiment uses a side-mounted tactile switch (vertical tactile switch) as an example for illustration. It is understood that other types of tactile switches (tactile switches) can also utilize the novel button cap structure of this application, such as surface-mount tactile switches (horizontal tactile switches), which will not be repeated here. Figure 1 As can be seen, in existing technologies, the button cap 300 is usually directly attached to the touch switch. This means the installation position of the button cap 300 is often limited by the installation position of the touch switch on the circuit board. Since the button cap 300 is often designed to fit human finger pressure (usually circular, but also rectangular, polygonal, etc.), it cannot be too small. Although touch switches can be made very small due to improved manufacturing processes, a button cap 300 suitable for the size of the user's fingers is still needed for a better user experience. However, for the side-mounted touch switch 220, to provide sufficient surrounding space for the button cap 300 and vertical space for its pressing action, the side-mounted touch switch 220 must be placed on the edge of the circuit board 210 to avoid the circuit board 210 itself restricting the installation connection between the button cap 300 and the side-mounted touch switch 220. However, when the circuit board 210 has the edge of the side-mounted touch switch 220 installed, it inevitably also has other interfaces (such as...). Figure 1When using the USB interface 230 and SD card slot interface 240 (as shown), due to the limited thickness of the circuit board 210, connecting the existing button cap 300 to the on / off switch 221 of the side-mounted touch switch 220 would cause interference with other interfaces on the edge of the side-mounted touch switch 220. The existing solution is to provide a separate button circuit board for the touch switch to allow for arbitrary button placement; however, this significantly increases cost and the number of components required.
[0029] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, this application proposes a new structural design for the keycap without altering the design of the circuit board 210 (the circuit board 210 has the edge where the side-mounted touch switch 220 is installed and inevitably has other interfaces). Figure 2 As shown, the novel button cap structure 100 of this application includes: a spring arm 110; the spring arm 110 is strip-shaped, and button caps 120 are provided at the non-end positions of the spring arm 110; one end of the spring arm 110 is provided with a switch trigger surface 130, which is used to contact a touch switch; the other end of the spring arm 110 is provided with a fixed mounting structure, which is used to fix the spring arm 110, for example, to mount the spring arm on a circuit board or electronic device.
[0030] Specifically, the switch trigger surface 130 may also be provided with a contact switch (in this embodiment, the contact switch may be...) Figure 1 The side-mounted contact switch 220 of this embodiment can also be other types of contact switches, such as surface-mount contact switches. A groove is provided to adapt to the switch, thereby achieving a reliable connection between the switch contact surface 130 and the contact switch. Specifically, the switch trigger surface 130 and the bottom surface 121 of the button cap 120 face the same direction.
[0031] For further details, please refer to Figure 3 The novel keycap structure 100 of this application may include two or more elastic arms 110; the fixing and mounting structure of each elastic arm 110 is integrally connected and formed by a single process. In one possible embodiment based on the above embodiments, the length of each elastic arm 110 in the novel keycap structure 100 of this application is consistent for better production and installation. In another possible embodiment based on the above embodiments, the elastic arm 110 is made of plastic, and the common integrally connected fixing and mounting structure of each elastic arm 110 achieves fixed installation. In another possible embodiment based on the above embodiments, the common integrally connected fixing and mounting structure of each elastic arm 110 is a mounting rib 150, and the mounting rib 150 has a mounting through hole 140, the orientation of which is consistent with the orientation of the bottom surface 121 of the keycap 120.
[0032] In another possible embodiment, please refer to Figure 4 Each spring arm 110 has a button cap 120 positioned differently on its corresponding spring arm 110 (or all differently; this is just an example), so that the combination of button caps 120 can present a specified pattern to meet customer customization needs. For example, the specified pattern can be one or more of numbers, letters, symbols, or logos. Figure 4 The diagram shows a trapezoidal button pattern. It is evident that this application eliminates the need for a separate button circuit board with a touch switch, allowing the button caps to achieve a specified pattern layout. Even if the circuit board has a side-mounted touch switch on its edge and other interfaces are unavoidable, it will not cause installation interference. This saves costs and provides a new structural solution for button cap design and layout.
[0033] This application also provides an electronic device, which includes a novel keycap structure 100 of any of the above embodiments and one or more touch switches; the switch trigger surface 130 of the keycap 120 of the novel keycap structure 100 is correspondingly connected to the on / off switch of the touch switch, so that the keycap 120 of the electronic device can normally trigger the touch switch to realize the key function. In another possible embodiment, the multiple touch switches of the electronic device are arranged in a straight line on the circuit board, and the pressing direction of each touch switch is parallel to the soldering mounting surface of the touch switch on the circuit board, such as... Figure 1 As shown.
[0034] Please see Figure 5 , Figure 6 The electronic device can be a speaker 400, which also has a button panel 410. This button panel has through holes for contact with the outside world, such as button caps 120, a USB interface 230, and an SD card slot interface 240. Figure 6 It is understood that by using the novel keycap structure 100 of this application, the keycaps of electronic devices can present the required key pattern image without changing the touch switch layout of the circuit board. Only the layout of the novel keycap structure and the corresponding key panel need to be customized.
[0035] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.
Claims
1. A novel keycap structure, characterized in that, include: Elastic arm; The elastic arm is strip-shaped, and button caps are provided at the non-end positions of the elastic arm; One end of the elastic arm is provided with a switch trigger surface, which is used to contact a touch switch; The other end of the elastic arm is provided with a fixed mounting structure, which is used to fix the elastic arm in place.
2. The novel keycap structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switch trigger surface faces the same direction as the bottom surface of the button cap.
3. The novel keycap structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, Includes two or more of the aforementioned elastic arms; Each of the elastic arms is integrally connected and formed using a single process for fixing and mounting.
4. The novel keycap structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the elastic arms has the same length.
5. The novel keycap structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fixed installation is achieved by connecting and molding each of the elastic arms using a common integrated process.
6. The novel keycap structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The common integrated process for fixing and installing each of the elastic arms is a mounting rib, and the mounting rib has a mounting through hole, the orientation of which is the same as the bottom surface of the button cap.
7. The novel keycap structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, Each of the elastic arms has a button cap that is not in the same position on the corresponding elastic arm, so that the combination of the button caps can present a specified pattern.
8. The novel keycap structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The specified pattern image is one or more of numbers, letters, symbols, and logos.
9. An electronic device, characterized in that, Includes the novel button cap structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, and one or more touch switches; The switch trigger surface of the button cap in the novel button cap structure is configured to make contact with the touch switch in a one-to-one correspondence.
10. The electronic device according to claim 9, characterized in that, Multiple touch switches are arranged in a straight line on the circuit board, and the pressing direction of each touch switch is parallel to the touch switch soldering mounting surface of the circuit board.