Integrated light guide key shaft

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of character backlit keyboard technology, specifically to an integrated light-guiding key switch. It comprises a housing, a core, a reset elastic body, and an integrated light guide component. The integrated light guide component includes a first axial light-guiding part, a second axial light-guiding part, and a light-guiding connecting part. The first and second axial light-guiding parts axially penetrate the front and rear sides of the housing, respectively. When this key switch is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the keyboard's light-emitting unit provides light to the first and / or second axial light-guiding parts, enabling both the front and rear sides of the key switch to guide light to the front and rear sides inside the keycap. Regardless of whether the translucent character area of ​​the keycap is on the front side, the rear half of the top surface, or both, each translucent character area of ​​the keycap will emit light, adapting to these three different character positions and thus meeting user needs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of character backlit keyboard technology, specifically to an integrated light-guiding key switch. 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 an integrated light guide key shaft.

[0005] The purpose of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: an integrated light-guiding key shaft, comprising a housing, a shaft core that is limited and lifted within the housing, a reset elastic body sandwiched between the housing and the shaft core, and an integrated light guide component housed within the housing. The integrated light guide component includes a first axial light-guiding part, a second axial light-guiding part, and a light-guiding connecting part that connects the first axial light-guiding part and the second axial light-guiding part and is housed within the housing. The first axial light-guiding part and the second axial light-guiding part respectively axially penetrate the front and rear sides of the housing. The first axial light-guiding part is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area on the front side of the keycap, and the second axial light-guiding part 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 covering the bottom shell. The bottom shell has a receiving groove for accommodating the light guide connector. The top cover has first through holes on both the front and rear sides. The bottom shell has second through holes on both the front and rear sides. The second through holes, the receiving groove, and the first through holes are connected in sequence. The first axial light guide portion passes through the second through hole, the receiving groove, and the first through hole on the front side of the top cover from bottom to top. The second axial light guide portion passes through the second through hole, the receiving groove, and the first through hole on the rear side of the top cover from bottom to top.

[0007] Preferably, the bottom shell has positioning guide grooves on both the left and right sides of the receiving groove, and the light guide connection part has positioning protrusions on both the left and right sides that engage with the positioning guide grooves one by one.

[0008] 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.

[0009] Preferably, the upper cover has a first clearance through hole for the shaft core to extend into the bottom shell, and the reset elastic body is sandwiched between the light guide connection part and the shaft core.

[0010] Preferably, the left and right sides of the shaft core have protruding limiting protrusions, which are used to limit the engagement with the first clearance through hole of the upper cover.

[0011] Preferably, the light guide connector has a second clearance through hole in the middle, and the receiving groove of the bottom shell has a hollow limiting post protruding through the second clearance through hole; the bottom of the shaft core has a limiting shaft extending downward into the hollow limiting post, and the reset elastic body is a compression spring, with the two ends of the compression spring abutting against the light guide connector and the shaft core respectively.

[0012] More preferably, the key shaft is a magnetic shaft, and a magnetic column is provided inside the limiting shaft.

[0013] More preferably, the key shaft is an optical shaft, and the bottom of the bottom shell is provided with a third clearance through hole communicating with the hollow limiting post. The limiting shaft extends into and extends to one end of the hollow limiting post near the third clearance through hole.

[0014] More preferably, the key shaft is an inductor shaft, and the bottom of the bottom shell is provided with a fourth clearance through hole communicating with the hollow limiting post. The limiting shaft is provided with a metal rod for cutting the electromagnetic field, and the metal rod passes through the fourth clearance through hole.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: The integrated light guide key shaft of this utility model adopts a shell, a shaft core that is limited and lifted in the shell, a reset elastic body sandwiched between the shell and the shaft core, and an integrated light guide component housed in the shell. The integrated light guide component includes a first axial light guide part, a second axial light guide part, and a light guide connecting part that connects the first axial light guide part and the second axial light guide part and is housed in the shell. The first axial light guide part and the second axial light guide part respectively axially penetrate the front and rear sides of the shell. The first axial light guide part is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area on the front side of the keycap, and the second axial light guide part is used to guide 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 backlight unit of the character backlit keyboard provides light to the light guide section of the first and / or second key switches, enabling the integrated light guide to guide light to the front and rear sides of the housing. The light guide adaptability is also better, allowing both the front and rear sides of the key switch to play a guiding role and guide light to the front and rear sides inside the keycap. Regardless of whether the backlit 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, each backlit character area of ​​the keycap can be illuminated. This adapts to the above three different character positions of the keycap, which helps to meet user needs. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 1 of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of Embodiment 1 of this utility model;

[0018] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a top view of Embodiment 1 of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Cross-sectional view of AA in the middle;

[0021] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 Cross-sectional view of BB in the middle;

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the combination of this utility model and the keycap in this embodiment 1;

[0023] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the combination of the present invention and a keycap in another embodiment;

[0024] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the combination of the present invention and a keycap in another embodiment;

[0025] Figure 10 This is a structural schematic diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of Embodiment 2 of this utility model;

[0027] Figure 12 This is a structural schematic diagram of Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 13 This is a cross-sectional view of Embodiment 3 of this utility model;

[0029] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 1. Shaft core; 2. Reset elastic body; 3. Outer shell; 31. Bottom shell; 32. Top cover; 4. Integrated light guide; 41. First axial light guide part; 42. Second axial light guide part; 43. Light guide connection part; 5. Accommodating groove; 6. First through hole; 7. Second through hole; 8. Positioning guide groove; 9. Positioning protrusion; 10. Limiting part; 11. Slot; 12. Locking post; 13. First clearance through hole; 14. Limiting protrusion; 15. Second clearance through hole; 16. Hollow limiting post; 17. Limiting shaft; 18. Magnet post; 19. Third clearance through hole; 20. Optical axis PCB board; 21. Infrared light-emitting diode; 22. Phototransistor; 23. Fourth clearance through hole; 24. Metal rod; 25. Coil; 26. Inductor shaft PCB board; 27. Keycap; 28. Transparent character area. Detailed Implementation

[0030] 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.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] like Figure 1-7 As shown, an integrated light-guiding key switch includes a housing 3, a core 1 that is limited and lifted within the housing 3, a reset elastic body 2 sandwiched between the housing 3 and the core 1, and an integrated light guide 4 housed within the housing 3. The integrated light guide 4 includes a first axial light guide portion 41, a second axial light guide portion 42, and a light guide connecting portion 43 that connects the first axial light guide portion 41 and the second axial light guide portion 42 and is housed within the housing 3. The first axial light guide portion 41 and the second axial light guide portion 42 respectively axially penetrate the front and rear sides of the housing 3. The first axial light guide portion 41 is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area 28 on the front side of the keycap 27, and the second axial light guide portion 42 is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area 28 on the rear half of the top surface of the keycap 27.

[0033] This integrated light-guiding key switch, through the light-guiding function of the light-guiding connector 43, can guide light entering from the first axis light-guiding part 41 to the second axis light-guiding part 42, and guide light entering from the second axis light-guiding part 42 to the first axis light-guiding part 41. When this key switch is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the light-emitting unit of the character backlit keyboard provides light to the first axis light-guiding part 41 and / or the second axis light-guiding part 42, enabling the integrated light guide 4 to guide light to the front and rear sides of the outer casing 3. It has good light-guiding adaptability, allowing both the front and rear sides of the key switch to play a light-guiding role and guide light to the front and rear sides inside the keycap 27. Regardless of whether the light-transmitting character area 28 of the keycap 27 is located on the front side of the keycap 27, the rear half of the top surface of the keycap 27, or both the front side and the rear half of the top surface of the keycap 27, each light-transmitting character area 28 of the keycap 27 can emit light. It adapts to the above three different character positions of the keycap 27, which is beneficial to meeting user needs. In this embodiment, when a keycap 27, with a translucent character area 28 on both the front side and the rear half of the top surface, is placed over the integrated light-guiding key shaft, as follows: Figure 7 As shown. In another embodiment, when a keycap 27 with a light-transmitting character area 28 on its front side is placed over the integrated light-guiding key shaft, as shown... Figure 8 As shown. In another embodiment, when the keycap 27 with a light-transmitting character area 28 on the rear half of the top surface is placed over the integrated light-guiding key shaft, as shown... Figure 9 As shown.

[0034] Furthermore, the outer casing 3 includes a bottom shell 31 and an upper cover 32 covering the bottom shell 31. The bottom shell 31 has a receiving groove 5 for accommodating the light guide connector 43. The upper cover 32 has first through holes 6 on both its front and rear sides, and second through holes 7 on both its front and rear sides. The second through holes 7, the receiving groove 5, and the first through holes 6 are sequentially connected. The first axial light guide part 41 passes through the second through hole 7, the receiving groove 5, and the first through hole 6 on the front side of the bottom shell 31 from bottom to top. The second axial light guide part 42 passes through the second through hole 7, the receiving groove 5, and the first through hole 6 on the rear side of the bottom shell 31 from bottom to top. When this key switch is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the light-emitting unit of the character backlit keyboard provides a light source to the bottom of the first axial light guide part 41 and / or the bottom of the second axial light guide part 42.

[0035] Furthermore, the bottom shell 31 has positioning guide grooves 8 on both the left and right sides of the receiving groove 5, and the light guide connecting part 43 has positioning protrusions 9 on both the left and right sides that engage with the positioning guide grooves 8 one by one. This facilitates the quick assembly of the integrated light guide 4 onto the bottom shell 31. The engagement of the positioning protrusions 9 with the positioning guide grooves 8 also helps to prevent the integrated light guide 4 from shifting.

[0036] Furthermore, the bottom shell 31 has protruding limiting portions 10 around its perimeter; the top four corners of the bottom shell 31 are provided with slots 11, and the four corners of the top cover 32 have protruding locking posts 12 that engage with the slots 11 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 10 of the bottom shell 31 are used to limit and abut against the key switch when it is installed onto the positioning plate. In addition, the locking posts 12 cooperate with the slots 11, which facilitates the quick installation of the top cover 32 and the bottom shell 31.

[0037] Furthermore, the upper cover 32 has a first clearance through hole 13 for the shaft core 1 to extend into the bottom shell 31, and the reset elastic body 2 is sandwiched between the light guide connection part 43 and the shaft core 1.

[0038] Furthermore, limiting protrusions 14 extend from the left and right sides of the shaft core 1. The limiting protrusions 14 are used to limit and cooperate with the first clearance through hole 13 of the upper cover 32 to prevent the shaft core 1 from detaching from the outer shell 3 through the first clearance through hole 13.

[0039] Furthermore, a second clearance through hole 15 is provided in the middle of the light guide connection part 43, and a hollow limiting post 16 protrudes from the receiving groove 5 of the bottom shell 31 and penetrates the second clearance through hole 15; a limiting shaft 17 extends downward from the bottom of the shaft core 1 and extends into the hollow limiting post 16; the reset elastic body 2 is a compression spring, and the two ends of the compression spring abut against the light guide connection part 43 and the shaft core 1 respectively.

[0040] In this embodiment, the key axis is a magnetic axis, and a magnetic post 18 is provided inside the limiting shaft 17. Accordingly, when this magnetic axis is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the keyboard PCB board is a magnetic axis PCB board with a Hall sensor. During use, the magnetic post 18 changes its distance from the Hall sensor as the axis core 1 moves up and down. Magnetic axis keyboards and PCB boards are existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0041] Example 2

[0042] The difference between Example 2 and Example 1 is as follows: Figure 10-11 As shown, the key shaft is an optical shaft, and the bottom of the bottom shell 31 is provided with a third clearance through hole 19 that communicates with the hollow limiting post 16. The limiting shaft 17 extends into and extends to one end of the hollow limiting post 16 near the third clearance through hole 19.

[0043] Accordingly, when the optical axis is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the keyboard's PCB board is an optical axis PCB board 20 with an infrared light-emitting diode 21 (infrared emitter) and a phototransistor 22 (infrared sensor). In use, the limiting axis 17 acts as a grating, working in conjunction with the infrared light-emitting diode 21 and the phototransistor 22. The optical axis keyboard and the optical axis PCB board 20 are existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0044] Example 3

[0045] The difference between Example 3 and Example 1 is as follows: Figure 12-13 As shown, the key shaft is an inductor shaft, and the bottom of the base shell 31 has a fourth clearance through hole 23 communicating with the hollow limiting post 16. The limiting shaft 17 has a metal rod 24 for cutting electromagnetic fields inside, and the metal rod 24 passes through the fourth clearance through hole 23. Preferably, the metal rod 24 is an aluminum rod or a copper rod, and more preferably, the metal rod 24 is an aluminum rod.

[0046] Accordingly, when the inductor is applied to a character backlit keyboard, the keyboard's PCB board is an inductor PCB board 26 with a coil 25. In use, a metal rod 24 is used to cut the electromagnetic field of the coil 25. The inductor keyboard and PCB board are existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0047] 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 for an integrated light guide, characterized in that: The device includes a housing, a shaft core that is limited and lifted within the housing, a reset elastic body sandwiched between the housing and the shaft core, and an integrated light guide component housed within the housing. The integrated light guide component includes a first axial light guide portion, a second axial light guide portion, and a light guide connecting portion that connects the first axial light guide portion and the second axial light guide portion and is housed within the housing. The first axial light guide portion and the second axial light guide portion axially penetrate the front and rear sides of the housing, respectively. The first axial light guide portion is used to guide light to the light-transmitting character area on the front side of the keycap, and the second axial light guide portion 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 of an integrated light guide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer casing includes a bottom shell and a top cover covering the bottom shell. The bottom shell has a receiving groove for accommodating the light guide connection part. The top cover has a first through hole on both the front and rear sides. The bottom shell has a second through hole on both the front and rear sides. The second through hole, the receiving groove and the first through hole are connected in sequence. The first axial light guide part passes through the second through hole, the receiving groove and the first through hole on the front side of the bottom shell from bottom to top. The second axial light guide part passes through the second through hole, the receiving groove and the first through hole on the rear side of the bottom shell from bottom to top.

3. The key shaft of an integrated light guide according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom shell has positioning guide grooves on both the left and right sides of the accommodating groove, and the light guide connection part has positioning protrusions on both the left and right sides that engage with the positioning guide grooves one by one.

4. The key shaft of an integrated light guide 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.

5. The key shaft of an integrated light guide according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper cover has a first clearance through hole for the shaft core to extend into the bottom shell, and the reset elastic body is sandwiched between the light guide connection part and the shaft core.

6. The key shaft of an integrated light guide according to claim 5, 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 engagement with the first clearance through hole of the upper cover.

7. The key shaft of an integrated light guide according to claim 2, characterized in that: The light guide connector has a second clearance through hole in the middle, and the receiving groove of the bottom shell has a hollow limiting post that extends through the second clearance through hole; the bottom of the shaft core has a limiting shaft that extends into the hollow limiting post; the reset elastic body is a compression spring, and the two ends of the compression spring abut against the light guide connector and the shaft core respectively.

8. The key shaft of an integrated light guide according to claim 7, characterized in that: The key shaft is a magnetic shaft, and a magnetic column is provided inside the limiting shaft.

9. The key shaft of an integrated light guide according to claim 7, characterized in that: The key shaft is an optical shaft, and the bottom of the bottom shell has a third clearance through hole that communicates with the hollow limiting post. The limiting shaft extends into and extends to the end of the hollow limiting post near the third clearance through hole.

10. The key shaft of an integrated light guide according to claim 7, characterized in that: The key shaft is an inductor shaft, and the bottom of the bottom shell has a fourth clearance through hole that communicates with the hollow limiting post. The limiting shaft has a metal rod for cutting electromagnetic fields inside, and the metal rod passes through the fourth clearance through hole.

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