A folding keyboard with key touch sensing

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of folding keyboards, and discloses a folding keyboard with key touch sensing, which comprises a first key area and a second key area which are overlapped in outer periphery after being folded through a bending area, the first key area and the second key area are both provided with a key area, the key area comprises a fixed plate, a flexible circuit board and a key cap, the key cap is arranged on the fixed plate through a scissor leg structure, the flexible circuit board is attached to the lower surface of the fixed plate facing the scissor leg structure, the flexible circuit board is provided with a key touch point, the key touch point is triggered to realize a key function when the key cap is pressed to drop, a keyboard shell is formed through a protection shell cooperating with a surface shell, and elements such as a battery, the flexible circuit board, a circuit board and the key cap are arranged in the keyboard shell to form a folding keyboard with low thickness which can realize touch sensing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of folding keyboard technology and relates to a folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys. Background Technology

[0002] Foldable keyboards, as portable input devices, are widely used in mobile offices, tablets, and other scenarios. Traditional foldable keyboards mainly use mechanical key structures (such as scissor-switch or membrane keys), with the left and right key areas connected by hinges to achieve folding and storage.

[0003] The purpose of designing foldable keyboards is to make them portable. However, most foldable keyboards in reality are covered by two layers of shells, and the keys require a certain amount of space to be pressed down. This results in the large thickness and weight of existing foldable keyboards. In addition, foldable keyboards usually do not have a touch function. If the touch panel is set up independently on the foldable keyboard, it will take up a lot of the keyboard area, making the keyboard very large. Utility Model Content

[0004] To overcome the problems existing in related technologies, this application aims to provide a foldable keyboard with touch-sensitive keys that can achieve touch-sensitive keys and folding.

[0005] This application is achieved through the following technical solution.

[0006] This technical solution provides a folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys, including: a first key area and a second key area whose outer peripheries overlap after being folded through a bending area. Both the first key area and the second key area are provided with key areas. The key areas include a fixed plate, a flexible circuit board and keycaps. The keycaps are disposed on the fixed plate by a scissor-type structure.

[0007] The flexible circuit board is attached to the lower surface of the fixed plate facing the scissor-leg structure. The flexible circuit board is provided with button contacts. When the keycap is pressed down, the button contacts are triggered to realize the button function.

[0008] At least one of the first key area and the second key area, the flexible circuit board is provided with a touch network area, the touch network area is used to sense the capacitance change at the surface of the keycap to realize the touch function.

[0009] This technical solution uses a protective shell and a front shell to form a keyboard shell, and installs components such as a battery, flexible circuit board, circuit board and keycaps inside the keyboard shell to form a thin, touch-sensitive folding keyboard.

[0010] The present invention is further configured such that the first key area and the second key area are both provided with a face shell, and the two sides of the face shell are covered with protective shells to form a first mounting chamber and a second mounting chamber, respectively. The first mounting chamber and the second mounting chamber are respectively provided with the key area, and the second key area is also provided with a circuit board.

[0011] The present invention is further configured such that the second key area is provided with a battery, the circuit board is powered by the battery, and the circuit board and the flexible circuit board are electrically connected.

[0012] The present invention is further configured such that the protective shell includes a lower protective shell and an upper protective shell, wherein the lower protective shell is used to cover the bottom opening of the front cover and, together with the upper protective shell, forms the outer covering shell of the keyboard.

[0013] The present invention is further configured such that a reserved gap is provided on the side of the face shell that is close to the upper protective shell, and an insulating layer is disposed on its upper surface. The reserved gap is used for the antenna signal to pass through, and the insulating layer covers the reserved gap to avoid affecting the passage of the antenna signal.

[0014] The present invention is further configured such that the circuit board includes a data interface for charging or data transmission, the data interface is fixed to the faceplate by an interface fixing member, and the faceplate is provided with an interface groove for installing the interface fixing member.

[0015] The present invention is further configured such that permanent magnets are provided inside both the first key area and the second key area, and the permanent magnets are used to limit the relative position of the first key area and the second key area in the folded state.

[0016] The present invention is further configured such that a Hall sensor element is provided inside the second key area, and a sensing magnet corresponding to the Hall sensor element is provided in the first key area;

[0017] The Hall effect sensor works in conjunction with the sensing magnet to turn off the keyboard when the first key area and the second key area are folded and aligned, and to turn on the keyboard when the first key area and the second key area are opened.

[0018] The present invention is further configured such that the height of the key area is lower than the outer surface of the upper protective shell, so that when the first key area and the second key area are bent together through the bending area, the upper protective shell abuts against itself before the keycap.

[0019] The present invention is further configured such that the height of the upper and lower enclosures of the first mounting chamber and the second mounting chamber is lower than or equal to the height of the keycap at the end of its pressed stroke.

[0020] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the more detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals generally represent the same components in the exemplary embodiments thereof.

[0022] Figure 1 This is an exploded view shown in one embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the keyboard in a folded state shown in one embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the shell structure shown in one embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the circuit board and the flexible circuit board shown in one embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the insulating layer structure shown in one embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the location of the data interface in one embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a bottom view shown in one embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view shown in one embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 9 This is a partial enlarged view of structure A shown in one embodiment of this application.

[0031] Reference numerals: 1. First key area; 2. Second key area; 3. Bending area; 4. Front cover; 5. Battery; 6. Fixing plate; 7. Flexible circuit board; 8. Circuit board; 9. Keycap; 10. Lower protective shell; 11. Upper protective shell; 12. Reserved gap; 13. Insulating layer; 14. Interface groove; 15. Interface fixing piece; 16. Permanent magnet; 17. Hall effect sensor; 18. Sensing magnet; 19. First mounting chamber; 20. Second mounting chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of some embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0033] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] This embodiment discloses a foldable keyboard with touch-sensitive keys, such as... Figures 1-9 As shown, it includes: a first key area 1 and a second key area 2 whose outer periphery overlaps after being folded through the bending area 3. Both the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 are provided with key areas. The key areas include a fixed plate 6, a flexible circuit board 7 and keycaps 9. The keycaps 9 are set on the fixed plate 6 through a scissor-type structure.

[0035] The flexible circuit board 7 is attached to the lower surface of the fixed plate 6 facing the scissor-leg structure. The flexible circuit board 7 is provided with button contacts. When the keycap 9 is pressed down, the button contacts are triggered to realize the button function.

[0036] At least one flexible circuit board 7 in the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 is provided with a touch network area, which is used to sense the capacitance change at the surface of the keycap 9 to realize the touch function.

[0037] It should be noted that the front cover 4, upper protective cover 11, lower protective cover 10, fixing plate 6 and flexible circuit board 7 on one side of the keyboard together form its first key area 1 and second key area 2, and the connection area between the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 is the bending area 3.

[0038] The first key area 1 and the second key area 2 are connected by an FPC cable (Flexible Printed Circuit).

[0039] The connection between the keycap 9 and the fixing plate 6, the scissor-switch structure, the key contacts and touch network area on the flexible circuit board 7, and the pressing parts are not shown in the figure. Their structure and connection relationship can be found in the patent document with publication number CN222813451U, and will not be described in detail here.

[0040] By installing components such as battery 5, fixing plate 6, flexible circuit board 7, circuit board 8 and keycaps 9 inside the keyboard, a thin, touch-sensitive folding keyboard is formed.

[0041] like Figure 1 and Figures 3-5As shown, both the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 are provided with a face shell 4. The two sides of the face shell 4 are covered with protective shells to form a first mounting chamber 19 and a second mounting chamber 20, respectively. The first mounting chamber 19 and the second mounting chamber 20 are respectively provided with key areas. The second key area 2 is also provided with a circuit board 8.

[0042] It should be noted that the front cover 4 is made of aluminum block by CNC machining (Computer Numerical Control Machining), while the upper protective cover 11 and the lower protective cover 10 are made of PU material (Polyurethane), which can effectively reduce the thickness of the keyboard.

[0043] like Figure 4 and Figure 7 As shown, the second key area 2 is equipped with a battery 5, and the circuit board 8 is powered by the battery 5. The circuit board 8 and the flexible circuit board 7 are electrically connected.

[0044] It should be noted that the connecting circuit board 8 and the flexible circuit board 7 can be connected by a flexible connector or other means. The battery 5 is an ultra-thin battery with a thickness of 0.8mm to reduce its space occupation.

[0045] like Figures 1-9 As shown, the protective shell includes a lower protective shell 10 and an upper protective shell 11. The lower protective shell 10 is used to cover the bottom opening of the front shell 4 and works with the upper protective shell 11 to form the outer covering shell of the keyboard.

[0046] Such as 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the faceplate 4 has a reserved gap 12 on the side close to the upper protective shell 11, and an insulating layer 13 is disposed on its upper surface. The reserved gap 12 is used for the antenna signal to pass through, and the insulating layer 13 covers the reserved gap 12 while avoiding affecting the passage of the antenna signal.

[0047] It should be noted that when the aluminum shell 4 covers the circuit board 8, the antenna signal of the circuit board 8 is shielded. In this case, a slot antenna can be used to achieve normal signal transmission.

[0048] like Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the circuit board 8 includes a data interface for charging or data transmission. The data interface is fixed to the faceplate 4 by an interface fastener 15. The faceplate 4 is provided with an interface slot 14 for mounting the interface fastener 15.

[0049] It should be noted that the data interface fixing part 15 is a fixing part for the type-c mounting hole. CNC machining is difficult and costly. Therefore, an interface groove 14 is set in the area of ​​the face shell 4 where the type-c mounting hole is located to connect to the separately set data interface fixing part 15 plastic part, which ensures the strength of the keyboard while having a low cost advantage.

[0050] like Figure 2 and Figure 7 As shown, both the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 are provided with permanent magnets 16. The permanent magnets 16 are used to limit the relative positions of the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 in the folded state.

[0051] It should be noted that four opposing permanent magnets 16 are set in the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 respectively. When the keyboard is folded, the opposing effect of the permanent magnets 16 can reduce the problem of the keyboard being rubbed.

[0052] like Figure 1 and Figure 7 As shown, the second key area 2 is provided with a Hall sensor 17, and the first key area 1 is provided with a sensing magnet 18 corresponding to the Hall sensor 17;

[0053] The Hall effect sensor 17 works in conjunction with the sensing magnet 18 to turn off the keyboard when the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 are folded and closed, and to turn on the keyboard when the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 are opened.

[0054] like Figures 1-9 As shown, the height of the key area is lower than the outer surface of the upper protective shell 11, so that when the first key area 1 and the second key area 2 are bent together through the bending area 3, the upper protective shell 11 abuts against the keycap 9 before the keycap 9.

[0055] like Figures 1-9 As shown, the heights of the upper and lower enclosures of the first and second mounting chambers are lower than or equal to the height of the keycap 9 at the end of its pressed stroke.

[0056] Working principle: The upper protective shell 11 and the lower protective shell 10 work together with the front shell 4 to form a keyboard shell. The battery 5, fixing plate 6, flexible circuit board 7, circuit board 8 and keycaps 9 are installed inside the keyboard shell to form a thin, touch-sensitive folding keyboard.

[0057] The various embodiments of this application have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or improvement of the technology in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys, characterized in that, include: The first key area (1) and the second key area (2) overlap after being folded through the bending area (3). Both the first key area (1) and the second key area (2) are provided with key areas. The key areas include a fixed plate (6), a flexible circuit board (7) and keycaps (9). The keycaps (9) are set on the fixed plate (6) through a scissor-type structure. The flexible circuit board (7) is attached to the lower surface of the fixed plate (6) facing the scissor-leg structure. The flexible circuit board (7) is provided with button contacts. When the keycap (9) is subjected to pressure and falls, the button contacts are triggered to realize the button function. At least one of the first key area (1) and the second key area (2) of the flexible circuit board (7) is provided with a touch network area, which is used to sense the capacitance change at the surface of the keycap (9) to realize the touch function.

2. The folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first key area (1) and the second key area (2) are both provided with a face shell (4). The two sides of the face shell (4) are covered with protective shells to form a first mounting chamber (19) and a second mounting chamber (20), respectively. The first mounting chamber (19) and the second mounting chamber (20) are respectively provided with the key area. The second key area (2) is also provided with a circuit board (8).

3. The folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second key area (2) is equipped with a battery (5), and the circuit board (8) is powered by the battery (5). The circuit board (8) and the flexible circuit board (7) are electrically connected.

4. The folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys according to claim 2, characterized in that, The protective shell includes a lower protective shell (10) and an upper protective shell (11). The lower protective shell (10) is used to cover the bottom opening of the front shell (4) and, together with the upper protective shell (11), forms the outer covering shell of the keyboard.

5. The folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys according to claim 4, characterized in that, The face shell (4) has a reserved gap (12) on the side close to the upper protective shell (11), and an insulating layer (13) is disposed on its upper surface. The reserved gap (12) is used for the antenna signal to pass through. The insulating layer (13) covers the reserved gap (12) while avoiding affecting the passage of the antenna signal.

6. The folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys according to claim 2, characterized in that, The circuit board (8) includes a data interface for charging or data transmission. The data interface is fixed to the faceplate (4) by an interface fastener (15). The faceplate (4) is provided with an interface slot (14) for mounting the interface fastener (15).

7. The folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the first key area (1) and the second key area (2) are provided with permanent magnets (16), which are used to limit the relative positions of the first key area (1) and the second key area (2) in the folded state.

8. The folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second key area (2) is provided with a Hall sensor (17), and the first key area (1) is provided with a sensing magnet (18) corresponding to the Hall sensor (17). The Hall sensor (17) cooperates with the sensing magnet (18) to turn off the keyboard when the first key area (1) and the second key area (2) are folded and attached, and to turn on the keyboard when the first key area (1) and the second key area (2) are opened.

9. The folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys according to claim 4, characterized in that, The height of the key area is lower than the outer surface of the upper protective shell (11), so that when the first key area (1) and the second key area (2) are bent together through the bending area (3), the upper protective shell (11) abuts against itself before the keycap (9).

10. The folding keyboard with touch-sensitive keys according to claim 2, characterized in that, The height of the upper and lower enclosures of the first mounting chamber and the second mounting chamber is lower than or equal to the height of the keycap (9) at the end of its stroke when it is pressed down.

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