Keyboard switch with light guide

Abstract

The utility model discloses a keyboard switch with light guide, including seat body, key, compression spring and light guide piece, the key is movably arranged in seat body, the compression spring is arranged between key and seat body and provides the elastic force of making one end of key protrude seat body, be equipped with the cavity of upper side opening on seat body, the light guide piece is arranged in the cavity and exposes the opening in the upper side, the upper side of light guide piece is equipped with a plurality of light guide plane to different direction. The utility model discloses a keyboard switch with light guide can guide light, can also reflect light, so that the user can observe the button in each direction, improve the use experience of keyboard.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a keyboard switch, and more particularly to a keyboard switch with a light guide. Background Technology

[0002] Existing keyboard switches generally consist of a base, a button, and a spring. When the switch is operated, pressing the button with a finger causes it to move downwards relative to the base, thus contacting the electrical components on the base and triggering the switch. After triggering, the button springs back up to the top of the base, resetting the switch. Keyboard switches also include light guides to direct light from the light-emitting element on the lower circuit board to the upper part of the button and outwards, facilitating keyboard use in dark environments and enhancing the button's aesthetics. However, existing light guides on buttons generally only guide light from the inside out, and they direct light in certain directions or angles, making the light dimmer from other directions or angles, failing to provide omnidirectional light guidance and resulting in a poor user experience. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a light-guiding keyboard switch that can both guide and reflect light, allowing users to observe the buttons from all directions and improving the keyboard's user experience.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a keyboard switch with a light guide, comprising a base, a key, a compression spring, and a light guide. The key is movably disposed within the base, and the compression spring is disposed between the key and the base, providing an elastic force that causes one end of the key to extend out of the base. The base has a cavity with an upper opening, and the light guide is disposed within the cavity with its upper side exposed above the opening. The upper side of the light guide has multiple light-guiding planes facing different directions.

[0005] This invention features multiple light-guiding planes facing different directions on the upper side of the light guide component. These light-guiding planes reflect some of the light incident on the light guide component from the outside in different directions, allowing the user to observe each button from various directions or angles. Furthermore, when light is emitted outward from the bottom of the base, the light guide component can refract the light outward through the light-guiding planes, directing the light in different directions, thus allowing the user to observe each button from different directions or angles. Therefore, this invention's light-guided keyboard switch, through the light guide component, can both guide and reflect light, enabling the user to observe the buttons from all directions, effectively improving the keyboard's user experience.

[0006] Preferably, the upper side of the light guide is provided with a recess and a protrusion in sequence; the inner wall of the recess is provided with concave light guiding planes facing different directions, and the outer wall of the protrusion is provided with convex light guiding planes facing different directions. By providing the recess and protrusion, the inner wall of the recess and the outer wall of the protrusion can provide positions or spaces for setting light guiding planes, so that the light guiding planes can be distributed in different directions, realizing light guiding and reflection in all directions or at all angles, greatly improving the light guiding performance of the light guide.

[0007] Specifically, both the recess and the protrusion are in the form of an inverted triangular pyramid, a square pyramid, or a multi-faceted pyramid structure.

[0008] Preferably, the recesses and protrusions are arranged adjacent to each other.

[0009] Preferably, the upper side of the light guide is a plane, an arched surface, a spherical surface, or an arc surface.

[0010] Preferably, the light guide has engaging portions on opposite sides, and the inner wall of the cavity has engaging positions, with the engaging portions engaging with the engaging positions. By providing engaging portions and engaging positions, the light guide can be quickly and easily installed into the cavity of the base, improving assembly convenience.

[0011] Preferably, the light guide is integrally formed with the base.

[0012] Preferably, the seat includes a base and a top cover, the top cover being snapped onto the base, and the upper side of the top cover having an opening communicating with the inside and outside, through which the button extends out of the top cover.

[0013] Preferably, the bottom of the button is provided with a receiving groove, and a shaft tube extends from the center of the bottom of the receiving groove toward the base body. A sleeve extends from the middle of the base body toward the button, and the sleeve is fitted onto the outside of the shaft tube. The compression spring is received in the receiving groove and fitted onto the outside of the sleeve. By providing the shaft tube and sleeve, the compression spring can be positioned and guided when compressed or expanded, ensuring that the compression spring will not shift during operation, improving stability, and further improving the elastic feel when the button is pressed.

[0014] Preferably, the light-guided keyboard switch further includes a magnet, which is built into the shaft tube. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the light-guided keyboard switch of this utility model.

[0016] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the light-guided keyboard switch of this utility model.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the light guide component of the keyboard switch with light guide of this utility model.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the top cover and light guide of another embodiment of the keyboard switch with light guide of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To explain in detail the technical content, structural features, and effects of this utility model, the following description is provided in conjunction with the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0020] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the keyboard switch 100 with light guide of this utility model includes a base 1, a key 2, a compression spring 3, and a light guide 4. The key 2 is movably disposed in the base 1. The compression spring 3 is disposed between the key 2 and the base 1 and provides an elastic force that causes one end of the key 2 to extend out of the base 1. The base 1 is provided with a cavity 1a with an upper opening 1b. The light guide 4 is disposed in the cavity 1a and its upper side is exposed above the opening 1b. The upper side of the light guide 4 is provided with multiple light guide planes facing different directions.

[0021] For example Figure 3 As shown, the upper side of the light guide 4 is provided with a recess 41 and a protrusion 42 in sequence; the recess 41 and the protrusion 42 are arranged adjacent to each other. The recess 41 is concave downwards. The protrusion 42 is convex upwards. The upper side of the light guide 4 is a plane, an arched surface, a spherical surface, or an arc surface. In this embodiment, the upper side of the light guide 4 is an arched surface. The inner wall of the recess 41 is provided with concave light guide planes facing different directions, and the outer wall of the protrusion 42 is provided with convex light guide planes facing different directions. By setting the recess 41 and the protrusion 42, the inner wall of the recess 41 and the outer wall of the protrusion 42 can provide positions or spaces for setting light guide planes, so that the light guide planes can be distributed in different directions, realizing light guiding and reflection in all directions or at all angles, greatly improving the light guiding performance of the light guide 4.

[0022] Please see again Figure 2The protrusion 42 has a square pyramid structure, meaning that its outer peripheral sidewall has four inclined convex light-guiding planes. The first convex light-guiding plane 421, located clockwise on the front side, faces upward and backward; the second convex light-guiding plane 422 faces upward and right; the third convex light-guiding plane 423 faces upward and forward; and the fourth convex light-guiding plane 424 faces upward and left. These four inclined convex light-guiding planes together form a pyramid structure with four edges; the included angle between two opposing convex light-guiding planes is 45 degrees. Similarly, the recess 41 has a square pyramid structure, and its inner peripheral sidewall has four inclined concave light-guiding planes. The first concave light-guiding plane 411, located clockwise on the front side, faces upward and forward; the second concave light-guiding plane 412 faces upward and left; the third concave light-guiding plane 413 faces upward and backward; and the fourth concave light-guiding plane 414 faces upward and right. These four inclined concave light-guiding planes enclose an inverted cone structure with four edges; the included angle between two opposing concave light-guiding planes is 45 degrees. In another embodiment, the protrusion 42 may be a triangular pyramid or a pentagonal pyramid, or a multi-faceted pyramid structure, and the recess 41 may also be an inverted triangular pyramid or a pentagonal pyramid, or a multi-faceted pyramid structure.

[0023] For example Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the light guide 4 has engaging portions 43 on opposite sides. Each engaging portion 43 is an outwardly protruding block. The inner wall of the cavity 1a has engaging positions (not shown in the figure), and the engaging portions 43 engage with these positions. These engaging positions can be recessed or stepped. The thickness of the engaging portions 43 gradually decreases from the side closest to the upper surface of the light guide 4 towards the side furthest from the upper surface of the light guide 4, facilitating the insertion and engagement of the light guide 4 into the cavity 1a. By providing engaging portions 43 and engaging positions, the light guide 4 can be quickly and easily installed into the cavity 1a of the base 1, improving assembly convenience.

[0024] Please see again Figure 1 and Figure 2The base 1 includes a base 11 and a top cover 12. The top cover 12 is snapped onto the base 11. The upper side of the top cover 12 has an opening 1c communicating with the inside and outside. The key 2 extends through the opening 1c and out of the top cover 12. The bottom of the key 2 has a receiving groove 21. A shaft tube 22 extends from the center of the bottom of the receiving groove 21 toward the base 11. A sleeve 111 extends from the middle of the base 11 toward the key 2. The sleeve 111 is fitted onto the outside of the shaft tube 22. The compression spring 3 is housed in the receiving groove 21 and fitted onto the sleeve 111. By setting the shaft tube 22 and the sleeve 111, the compression spring 3 can be positioned and guided, ensuring that the compression spring 3 will not shift during operation, improving stability, and further improving the elastic feel of the key 2 when pressed. The keyboard switch 100 with light guide also includes a magnet 5, which is built into the shaft tube 22. The magnet 5 works in conjunction with a Hall sensor (not shown) on the PCB board on the lower side of the base 1. When the button 2 is pressed, the magnet 5 moves closer to the Hall sensor, causing the Hall sensor to generate a sensing signal. When the button 2 is reset, the magnet 5 moves away from the Hall sensor, causing the Hall sensor to generate another sensing signal, thus realizing the pulse signal for the keyboard switch. In this embodiment, the light guide 4 is a separate and independent entity from the base 1, and the light guide 4 is mounted on the upper cover 12 of the base 1.

[0025] In addition, such as Figure 4 As shown, in some other embodiments, the light guide 4' is disposed within the cavity 1a' of the upper cover 12' of the base and is integrally formed with the upper cover 12' of the base; the light guide plane on the upper side of the light guide 4' has the same structure as the light guide plane on the upper side of the light guide 4 in Embodiment 1. By integrally forming the light guide 4' with the upper cover 12' of the base, the step of assembling the light guide 4' with the upper cover 12' can be eliminated, and the technical effect of Embodiment 1 can be achieved in the same way.

[0026] This invention features multiple light-guiding planes oriented in different directions on the upper surface of the light guide 4. These light-guiding planes reflect some of the light incident on the light guide 4 from the outside in different directions, allowing the user to observe each button from various directions or angles. Furthermore, when light is emitted outward from the bottom of the base 1, the light guide 4 can refract the light outward through the light-guiding planes, directing the light in different directions, thus allowing the user to observe each button from different directions or angles. Therefore, the keyboard switch 100 with light guides of this invention can both guide and reflect light through the light guide 4, enabling the user to observe the buttons from all directions and effectively improving the keyboard's user experience.

[0027] The above-disclosed examples are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present utility model. Therefore, any equivalent changes made in accordance with the scope of the present utility model application shall still fall within the scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A keyboard switch with a light guide, characterized in that: The device includes a base, a button, a compression spring, and a light guide. The button is movably disposed within the base. The compression spring is disposed between the button and the base and provides an elastic force that causes one end of the button to extend out of the base. The base has a cavity with an upper opening. The light guide is disposed within the cavity and its upper side is exposed above the opening. The upper side of the light guide has multiple light-guiding planes facing different directions.

2. The keyboard switch with light guide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper side of the light guide is provided with a recess and a protrusion in sequence; the inner wall of the recess is provided with concave light guide planes facing different directions, and the outer wall of the protrusion is provided with convex light guide planes facing different directions.

3. The keyboard switch with light guide according to claim 2, characterized in that: Both the depressions and the protrusions are in the form of inverted triangular pyramids, square pyramids, or multi-faceted pyramids.

4. The keyboard switch with light guide according to claim 2, characterized in that: The depressions and protrusions are arranged adjacent to each other.

5. The keyboard switch with light guide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper surface of the light guide can be flat, arched, spherical, or curved.

6. The keyboard switch with light guide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light guide has engaging portions on opposite sides, and the inner wall of the cavity has engaging positions, with the engaging portions engaging with the engaging positions.

7. The keyboard switch with light guide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light guide is integrally formed with the base.

8. The keyboard switch with light guide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base includes a base and a top cover. The top cover is snapped onto the base. The upper side of the top cover has an opening that connects the inside and outside. The button extends through the opening and out of the top cover.

9. The keyboard switch with light guide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the button is provided with a receiving groove, and a shaft tube extends from the center of the bottom of the receiving groove toward the base body. A sleeve extends from the middle of the base body toward the button. The sleeve is sleeved on the outside of the shaft tube. The compression spring is received in the receiving groove and sleeved on the outside of the sleeve.

10. The keyboard switch with light guide according to claim 9, characterized in that: The light-guided keyboard switch also includes a magnet, which is built into the shaft tube.

Images