A double-sided light-guiding key shaft
By designing a key switch with dual-sided light guides and light guide plates on the front and back sides of the casing, the problem of existing keyboards not being able to emit light evenly after keycap replacement is solved, achieving uniform light emission on both the front and back sides of the keycaps and adapting to various keycap structures.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DONGGUAN KAILUO ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing backlit keyboards cannot effectively guide the backlighting of each character area of the keycaps through the key switches after changing to different types of keycaps, resulting in the inability to achieve a full backlighting effect for the keycaps.
Design a key shaft with double-sided light guides. The housing has mounting through holes on both the front and rear sides, into which light guide plates are inserted. The front light guide plate guides light to the front side of the keycap, and the rear light guide plate guides light to the rear half of the top surface of the keycap. The design uses a housing, a limit lifting shaft core, and a structure with a reset elastic body.
It achieves a backlighting effect regardless of whether the backlit character area of the keycap is located on the front side, the rear half of the top surface, or both, thus adapting to keycaps with different character positions and meeting user needs.
Smart Images
Figure CN224384150U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of keyboard key switch technology, specifically to a key switch with double-sided light guide. Background Technology
[0002] A keyboard with backlit characters typically includes a housing, a PCB with backlighting units, a positioning plate, key switches, and keycaps. The front side and / or the rear half of the top surface of the keycaps have a backlit character area, and the key switches guide the light from the backlighting units to the backlit character area of the keycaps.
[0003] Keycaps typically come in three types: top-printed keycaps, side-printed keycaps, and a combination of both. Top-printed keycaps have the characters printed directly on the top of the keycap; side-printed keycaps have the characters printed on the side, often referred to as "front-printed," meaning the characters are printed on the front of the keycap; and top-printed + side-printed keycaps have characters on both the top and front sides. Current backlit keyboards can only illuminate characters on one side of the keycap. If different types of keycaps are used, the light from the illuminating unit cannot be fully directed through the key switches to the various illuminated character areas of the keycap due to the different light guide positions, failing to achieve the desired character illumination effect and not meeting user needs. Summary of the Invention
[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies of the existing technology, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a key shaft with double-sided light guiding.
[0005] The purpose of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: a key shaft with double-sided light guide, including a housing, a shaft core that is limited and lifted in the housing, and a reset elastic body sandwiched between the housing and the shaft core. The housing has axially arranged mounting through holes on both the front and rear sides. Light guide plates are inserted into the two mounting through holes of the housing. The light guide plate on the front side of the housing is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area on the front side of the keycap, and the light guide plate on the rear side of the housing is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area on the rear half of the top surface of the keycap.
[0006] Preferably, the outer casing includes a bottom shell and a top cover disposed on the bottom shell, the mounting through hole includes a first through hole opened in the top cover and a second through hole connected to the first through hole and opened in the bottom shell, and the light guide plate is inserted into the first through hole and the second through hole.
[0007] Preferably, the top of the light guide plate extends a limiting ridge, which abuts against the upper cover.
[0008] Preferably, the upper cover has a clearance through hole for the shaft core to extend into the bottom shell, and the reset elastic body is sandwiched between the bottom shell and the shaft core.
[0009] Preferably, the left and right sides of the shaft core have protruding limiting protrusions, which are used to limit the fit with the clearance through hole of the upper cover.
[0010] Preferably, the bottom shell has protruding limiting portions around its perimeter; the top four corners of the bottom shell are provided with slots, and the four corners of the top cover have protruding locking posts that engage with the slots one by one.
[0011] Preferably, the reset elastic body is a compression spring; the bottom shell protrudes with a hollow limiting post; the bottom of the shaft extends downward with a limiting shaft that extends into the hollow limiting post, and a magnetic post is provided inside the limiting shaft; the two ends of the compression spring are respectively sleeved outside the hollow limiting post and outside the limiting shaft.
[0012] The bottom shell has protruding buckles on its left and right sides, and the top cover has buckle plates extending from its left and right sides to engage with the buckles.
[0013] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: The double-sided light-guiding key switch of this utility model adopts a housing, a shaft core with limiting lifting set in the housing, and a reset elastic body sandwiched between the housing and the shaft core. Axially arranged mounting through holes are opened on both the front and rear sides of the housing. Light guide plates are inserted into both mounting through holes of the housing. The light guide plate on the front side of the housing guides light to the light-transmitting character area on the front side of the keycap, and the light guide plate on the rear side of the housing guides light to the light-transmitting character area on the rear half of the top surface of the keycap. When this key switch is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the light-emitting unit of the character backlit keyboard provides light to the light guide plates on both the front and rear sides of the key switch, so that both the front and rear sides of the key switch can play a guiding role and guide light to the front and rear sides inside the keycap. Regardless of whether the light-transmitting character area of the keycap is on the front side of the keycap, the rear half of the top surface of the keycap, or both the front side and the rear half of the top surface of the keycap, all light-transmitting character areas of the keycap can be illuminated, adapting to the above three different character positions of the keycap, which is beneficial to meeting user needs. Attached Figure Description
[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;
[0015] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the present invention;
[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;
[0017] Figure 4 This is a top view of the present invention;
[0018] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the cross section of AA;
[0019] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of BB;
[0020] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the combination of the present invention and the keycap in this embodiment;
[0021] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the combination of the present invention and a keycap in another embodiment;
[0022] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the combination of the present invention and a keycap in another embodiment;
[0023] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1. Shaft core; 2. Reset elastic body; 3. Outer shell; 31. Bottom shell; 32. Top cover; 4. Mounting through hole; 41. First through hole; 42. Second through hole; 5. Light guide plate; 6. Limiting ridge; 7. Clearance through hole; 8. Limiting protrusion; 9. Limiting part; 10. Slot; 11. Locking post; 12. Hollow limiting post; 13. Limiting shaft; 14. Magnet post; 15. Buckle; 16. Buckle plate; 17. Keycap; 18. Translucent character area. Detailed Implementation
[0024] To facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, the present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments and accompanying drawings. The content mentioned in the embodiments is not intended to limit the present invention.
[0025] like Figure 1-7 As shown, a key shaft with double-sided light guides includes a housing 3, a shaft core 1 that is limited and lifted within the housing 3, and a reset elastic body 2 sandwiched between the housing 3 and the shaft core 1. The housing 3 has axially arranged mounting through holes 4 on both its front and rear sides. Light guide plates 5 are inserted into both mounting through holes 4 of the housing 3. The light guide plate 5 on the front side of the housing 3 is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area 18 on the front side of the keycap 17, and the light guide plate 5 on the rear side of the housing 3 is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area 18 on the rear half of the top surface of the keycap 17.
[0026] When this double-sided light-guiding key switch is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the light-emitting unit of the character backlit keyboard provides light to the light guide plates 5 on both the front and rear sides of the key switch, so that both the front and rear sides of the key switch can play a guiding role and guide the light to the front and rear sides inside the keycap 17. Regardless of whether the light-transmitting character area 18 of the keycap 17 is on the front side of the keycap 17, the rear half of the top surface of the keycap 17, or both the front side and the rear half of the top surface of the keycap 17, each light-transmitting character area 18 of the keycap 17 can emit light, adapting to the above three different character positions of the keycap 17, which is beneficial to meeting user needs. In this embodiment, when the keycap 17 with light-transmitting character areas 18 on both the front side and the rear half of the top surface is covered on the double-sided light-guiding key switch, such as Figure 7 As shown. In another embodiment, when a keycap 17 with a light-transmitting character area 18 on its front side is placed over the key shaft with light guiding on both sides, as shown... Figure 8As shown. In another embodiment, when the keycap 17 with a light-transmitting character area 18 on the rear half of the top surface is placed over the key shaft with double-sided light guides, as shown... Figure 9 As shown.
[0027] Furthermore, the outer shell 3 includes a bottom shell 31 and an upper cover 32 covering the bottom shell 31. The mounting through hole 4 includes a first through hole 41 opened in the upper cover 32 and a second through hole 42 connecting the first through hole 41 and opened in the bottom shell 31. The light guide plate 5 is inserted into the first through hole 41 and the second through hole 42.
[0028] Furthermore, the top of the light guide plate 5 extends a limiting ridge 6, which abuts against the upper cover 32 so that the light guide plate 5 is limited and abutted when installed into the mounting through hole 4.
[0029] Furthermore, the upper cover 32 has a clearance through hole 7 for the shaft core 1 to extend into the bottom shell 31, and the reset elastic body 2 is sandwiched between the bottom shell 31 and the shaft core 1.
[0030] Furthermore, limiting protrusions 8 extend from the left and right sides of the shaft core 1. The limiting protrusions 8 are used to limit and cooperate with the clearance through hole 7 of the upper cover 32 to prevent the shaft core 1 from detaching from the outer shell 3 through the clearance through hole 7.
[0031] Furthermore, the bottom shell 31 has protruding limiting portions 9 around its perimeter; the top four corners of the bottom shell 31 are provided with slots 10, and the four corners of the top cover 32 have protruding locking posts 11 that engage with the slots 10 one by one. When this key switch is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the keyboard has a positioning plate for installing the key switch, and the limiting portions 9 of the bottom shell 31 are used to limit and abut the key switch when it is installed onto the positioning plate. In addition, the locking posts 11 cooperate with the slots 10, which facilitates the quick installation of the top cover 32 and the bottom shell 31.
[0032] Furthermore, the reset elastic body 2 is a compression spring; the bottom shell 31 has a hollow limiting post 12 protruding from it; the bottom of the shaft core 1 extends downward with a limiting shaft 13 that extends into the hollow limiting post 12, and a magnetic post 14 is provided inside the limiting shaft 13; the two ends of the compression spring are respectively sleeved on the outside of the hollow limiting post 12 and the limiting shaft 13. In this embodiment, the key shaft is a magnetic shaft as an example. Accordingly, when this magnetic shaft is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the keyboard PCB board is a magnetic shaft PCB board with a Hall sensor. The PCB board is existing technology and will not be described in detail here.
[0033] The bottom shell 31 has buckles 15 protruding on its left and right sides, and the top cover 32 has buckle plates 16 extending from its left and right sides to engage with the buckles 15, which helps to improve the connection stability between the top cover 32 and the bottom shell 31.
[0034] The above embodiments are preferred implementations of this utility model. In addition, this utility model can also be implemented in other ways. Any obvious substitutions without departing from the concept of this utility model are within the protection scope of this utility model.
Claims
1. A key shaft with double-sided light guiding, characterized in that: The device includes a housing, a lifting and limiting shaft mounted on the housing, and a reset elastic body sandwiched between the housing and the shaft. The housing has axially arranged mounting through holes on both the front and rear sides. Light guide plates are inserted into both mounting through holes of the housing. The light guide plate on the front side of the housing is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area on the front side of the keycap, and the light guide plate on the rear side of the housing is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area on the rear half of the top surface of the keycap.
2. The key shaft for double-sided light guiding according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer casing includes a bottom shell and a top cover covering the bottom shell. The mounting through hole includes a first through hole opened in the top cover and a second through hole connected to the first through hole and opened in the bottom shell. The light guide plate is inserted into the first through hole and the second through hole.
3. The key shaft with double-sided light guiding according to claim 2, characterized in that: The top of the light guide plate extends into a limiting ridge, which abuts against the upper cover.
4. The key shaft for double-sided light guiding according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper cover has a clearance through hole for the shaft core to extend into the bottom shell, and the reset elastic body is sandwiched between the bottom shell and the shaft core.
5. A key shaft with double-sided light guiding according to claim 4, characterized in that: Limiting protrusions extend from the left and right sides of the shaft core, and the limiting protrusions are used to limit the fit with the clearance through hole of the upper cover.
6. A key shaft with double-sided light guiding according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom shell has protruding limiting parts around its perimeter; the top four corners of the bottom shell have slots, and the four corners of the top cover have protruding locking posts that engage with the slots one by one.
7. A key shaft with double-sided light guiding according to claim 2, characterized in that: The reset elastic body is a compression spring; the bottom shell has a hollow limiting post protruding from it; the bottom of the shaft core extends downward to a limiting shaft that extends into the hollow limiting post, and a magnetic post is provided inside the limiting shaft; the two ends of the compression spring are respectively sleeved outside the hollow limiting post and outside the limiting shaft.
8. A key shaft with double-sided light guiding according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom shell has protruding buckles on its left and right sides, and the top cover has buckle plates extending from its left and right sides to engage with the buckles.