Keyboard with biometric recognition function

Abstract

This utility model provides a keyboard with biometric identification function. The keyboard includes a keyboard base, multiple keys, and a biometric identification module. The keyboard base has a function key mounting area and a key mounting area. The function key mounting area is located on the side or corner of the keyboard base and forms a first engaging structure. The multiple keys are disposed in the key mounting area. The biometric identification module is disposed in the function key mounting area and includes a mounting base, a biometric identification unit, a transmission connector, and a function key switch. The mounting base has a second engaging structure corresponding to the first engaging structure, and the first engaging structure engages with the second engaging structure. The biometric identification unit is housed in the mounting base and has a signal transmission cable. The transmission connector is adjacent to the biometric identification unit and electrically connected to the signal transmission cable. The function key switch is disposed below the biometric identification unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a keyboard, and more particularly to a keyboard in which a biometric module is detachably mounted on the keyboard base by means of a structural engagement between the mounting base of the biometric module and the keyboard base plate. Background Technology

[0002] In terms of current personal computer usage habits, the keyboard is an indispensable input device used to input text, symbols, or numbers. Furthermore, all consumer electronics products encountered in daily life and large-scale processing equipment used in industry require keypads as input devices to operate these products and equipment.

[0003] In practical applications, in order to further enhance the security and functionality of keyboard operation, the design of adding biometric identification keys to the keyboard has emerged. For example, fingerprint recognition devices have been widely used in the keyboard keys of various computer devices (such as laptops) to provide users with a security protection function that requires identity verification before they can trigger keyboard function keys (such as turning on the power switch or triggering the AI ​​assistant function key switch).

[0004] However, since previous technologies typically used a screw-locking design to attach the mounting base containing the fingerprint recognition device to the keyboard base, this often resulted in a time-consuming and labor-intensive keyboard assembly process and was not conducive to automated keyboard manufacturing. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a keyboard that utilizes the structural engagement between the mounting base of the biometric module and the keyboard base plate to detachably mount the biometric module onto the keyboard base plate, thereby solving the aforementioned problems.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model proposes a keyboard with biometric identification function. The keyboard includes a keyboard base, multiple keys, and a biometric identification module. The keyboard base has a function key mounting area and a key mounting area. The function key mounting area is located on the side or corner of the keyboard base and forms a first engaging structure. The multiple keys are disposed in the key mounting area. The biometric identification module is disposed in the function key mounting area and includes a mounting base, a biometric identification unit, a transmission connector, and a function key switch. The mounting base has a second engaging structure corresponding to the first engaging structure, and the first engaging structure engages with the second engaging structure to allow the mounting base to be detachably disposed in the function key mounting area. The biometric identification unit is housed in the mounting base and has a signal transmission cable. The transmission connector is adjacent to the biometric identification unit and electrically connected to the signal transmission cable to transmit signals from the biometric identification unit. The function key switch is disposed below the biometric identification unit, such that the function key switch is triggered when the biometric identification unit is pressed.

[0007] As an optional technical solution, the mounting base includes a mounting plate and a receiving seat. The mounting plate has the second engaging structure, and the receiving seat accommodates the biometric identification unit and the function key switch, and the receiving seat is disposed on the mounting plate.

[0008] As an optional technical solution, the receiving seat is integrally molded onto the mounting plate.

[0009] As an optional technical solution, at least one positioning piece is formed by bending from the mounting plate. The at least one positioning piece has a locking groove. The receiving seat protrudes laterally to form a positioning rib corresponding to the position of the at least one positioning piece. The positioning rib is inserted into the locking groove so that the receiving seat can be detachably mounted on the mounting plate.

[0010] As an optional technical solution, the first engaging structure includes an engaging hole, and the second engaging structure is a T-shaped positioning post. The engaging hole has a through-hole area and an engaging hole area, with the through-hole area communicating with the engaging hole area. When the T-shaped positioning post passes through the through-hole area and the mounting plate moves along an installation direction on the keyboard base plate, the T-shaped positioning post moves away from the through-hole area to slide into and engage in the engaging hole area, thereby fixing the mounting plate to the keyboard base plate.

[0011] As an optional technical solution, the first engaging structure also includes at least one limiting bending piece, which engages with the side of the mounting plate when the mounting plate moves along the mounting direction on the keyboard base plate.

[0012] As an optional technical solution, the biometric module also includes a glass protective sheet that covers the biometric unit.

[0013] As an optional technical solution, the biometric unit is a fingerprint recognition device.

[0014] As an optional technical solution, the function key switch can be a power switch or an AI assistant function key switch.

[0015] As an optional technical solution, the transmission connector has multiple spring terminals, and one end of the signal transmission cable has multiple contact points corresponding to the multiple spring terminals. The multiple contact points contact the multiple spring terminals to establish signal transmission between the biometric unit and the transmission connector via the signal transmission cable.

[0016] As an optional technical solution, the biometric module also includes a clamping piece, one of the transmission connector and the clamping piece having at least one positioning magnet, and the other of the transmission connector and the clamping piece having a magnetic element. The at least one positioning magnet attracts the magnetic element so that the clamping piece and the transmission connector jointly clamp and position the signal transmission cable, so that the plurality of contact points contact the plurality of spring terminals.

[0017] This invention provides a keyboard with biometric identification functionality. Compared to the prior art that uses screws to secure the mounting base containing the biometric identification device to the keyboard base, this invention utilizes the structural interlocking between the mounting base of the biometric identification module and the keyboard base to place the function key switches under the biometric identification unit. This provides a quick assembly function and achieves the security purpose of requiring users to use biometric identification (such as fingerprint recognition) before triggering the keyboard function keys. In this way, this invention can effectively solve the problem of time-consuming and labor-intensive assembly process of keyboards with biometric identification functionality mentioned in the prior art, and is conducive to the automated manufacturing of keyboards. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of part of the keyboard in the image;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 An exploded view of the mounting base and keyboard base from another perspective;

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 2 An exploded view of the biometric identification unit and transmission connector from another perspective. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To provide a better understanding of the purpose, structure, features and functions of this utility model, detailed descriptions are provided below with reference to the embodiments.

[0024] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 , Figure 1 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the keyboard 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of part of the keyboard 10 in the image. Figure 3 for Figure 2 An exploded view of the mounting base 28 and keyboard base 12 from another perspective. Figure 4 for Figure 2 An exploded view of the biometric identification unit 24 and the transmission connector 30 from another perspective. (See diagram below.) Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the keyboard 10 includes a keyboard base 12, multiple keys 14, and a biometric module 16. The keyboard base 12 has a function key mounting area 18 and a key mounting area 20 (shown as a dotted line). The function key mounting area 18 is preferably located at a corner of the keyboard base 12 and forms a first engaging structure 22. The multiple keys 14 are arranged side-by-side adjacent to each other in the key mounting area 20 of the keyboard base 12 for the user to press, thereby executing the function the user wishes to input. The keyboard 10 can preferably be used on a portable electronic device with a cladding mechanism consisting of a top cover and a bottom shell (e.g., a laptop or a folding keyboard), but is not limited thereto. For example, the keyboard 10 can also be used on a desktop computer keyboard.

[0025] The following description, using a fingerprint recognition device as an example of the biometric identification unit 24 (but not limited to this, it can also use other common biometric identification devices, such as facial recognition devices), details the detachable installation design of the biometric identification module 16. Figures 1 to 4As can be seen, the biometric module 16 is disposed within the function key mounting area 18 and includes a biometric unit 24, a function key switch 26, a mounting base 28, and a transmission connector 30. The function key switch 26 may be a common function key on a keyboard (such as a power switch) and is located below the biometric unit 24, so that the function key switch 26 is triggered when the biometric unit 24 is pressed, so that the user can perform operations such as power on / off after identity authentication by fingerprint recognition. The biometric module 16 may also include a glass protective sheet 25, which covers the biometric unit 24 to provide scratch and impact protection. The mounting base 28 accommodates the biometric unit 24 and has a second engaging structure 32 corresponding to the position of the first engaging structure 22, thereby engaging the first engaging structure 22 with the second engaging structure 32, so that the mounting base 28 is detachably disposed within the function key mounting area 18.

[0026] More specifically, in this embodiment, the mounting base 28 may include a mounting plate 34 and a receiving seat 36. The mounting plate 34 has a second engaging structure 32, the receiving seat 36 accommodates the biometric identification unit 24, and a function key switch 26 is disposed on the mounting plate 34, wherein at least one positioning piece 38 (at...) Figure 3 (As shown in the image, but not limited to four, the mounting plate 34 can be bent to form a positioning piece 38 with a locking slot 40. The receiving seat 36 protrudes laterally from the position of the positioning piece 38 to form a positioning rib 42, and the positioning rib 42 can be inserted into the locking slot 40 so that the receiving seat 36 can be detachably mounted on the mounting plate 34. It should be noted that, in addition to the above-mentioned locking structure, this utility model can also adopt a design in which the receiving seat 36 is integrally formed on the mounting plate 34. The choice of design depends on the actual manufacturing requirements of the keyboard 10.)

[0027] Depend on Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 It can be seen that the first engaging structure 22 may include an engaging hole 44, and the second engaging structure 32 may correspondingly be a T-shaped positioning post. The engaging hole 44 has a through-hole area 46 and an engaging hole area 48. The through-hole area 46 communicates with the engaging hole area 48. Thus, when the T-shaped positioning post passes through the through-hole area 46 and the mounting plate 34 moves along the mounting direction M on the keyboard base plate 12, the T-shaped positioning post can move away from the through-hole area 46 to slide into and engage in the engaging hole area 48, thereby fixing the mounting plate 34 to the keyboard base plate 12. In practical applications, the first engaging structure 22 may further include at least one limiting bending piece 49 (in... Figure 3The two shown in the middle achieve the double-sided snap-fit ​​effect, but it is not limited to this and can also adopt a single-sided snap-fit ​​design. It is formed by the protrusion and bending of the keyboard base plate 12. In this way, when the mounting plate 34 moves on the keyboard base plate 12 along the mounting direction M, the limiting bending piece 49 can snap onto the side S of the mounting plate 34, so that the mounting plate 34 can be more stably fixed on the keyboard base plate 12 by sliding into the snap-fit ​​hole area 48 through the T-shaped positioning post and the snap-fit ​​design of the limiting bending piece 49 snapping onto the side S.

[0028] Regarding the signal transmission design of the transmission connector 30, such as Figure 2 as well as Figure 4 As shown, the biometric unit 24 has a signal transmission cable 50, and a transmission connector 30 (which may be a signal transmission port located inside the keyboard 10, the relevant description of which is common in the prior art and will not be repeated here) is disposed adjacent to the biometric unit 24 and preferably electrically connected to the signal transmission cable 50 in a pogo pin contact manner to establish signal transmission between the biometric unit 24 and the keyboard 10. For example, the transmission connector 30 may have multiple pogo pins 52, and one end of the signal transmission cable 50 has multiple contact points 54 corresponding to the positions of the multiple pogo pins 52. In this way, the multiple contact points 54 can contact the multiple pogo pins 52 to establish an electrical connection between the biometric unit 24 and the transmission connector 30 via the signal transmission cable 50.

[0029] In practical applications, the biometric module 16 can employ a magnetic design to easily and quickly assemble and position the transmission connector 30 and the signal transmission cable 50. For example, by... Figure 2 as well as Figure 4 It is understood that the biometric identification module 16 may further include a clamping piece 56, and the transmission connector 30 may have at least one positioning magnet 58 (in the context of...). Figure 2 (Two are shown in the image, but not limited to this) and the clamping piece 56 may have a corresponding magnetic element 60 (which may be made of a magnetically conductive material (such as iron or other metals)). Herein, the positioning magnet 58 can magnetically attract the magnetic element 60, so that the clamping piece 56 and the transmission connector 30 can jointly clamp the positioning signal transmission cable 50, allowing multiple contact points 54 to more accurately contact multiple spring terminals 52 through magnetic positioning. It should be noted that the positioning magnet / magnetic element configuration of this invention is not limited to the above embodiment; it may also employ a configuration where the clamping piece 56 has a positioning magnet 58 and the transmission connector 30 has a corresponding magnetic element 60.

[0030] With the above design, compared to the previous technology that used screws to fasten the support base containing the biometric device to the keyboard base, this utility model utilizes the structural engagement between the mounting base of the biometric module and the keyboard base to place the function key switches under the biometric unit. This provides a quick assembly function and achieves the security protection purpose of requiring the user to trigger the keyboard function keys only after biometric identification (such as fingerprint identification). In this way, this utility model can effectively solve the problem of time-consuming and labor-intensive assembly process of keyboards with biometric functions mentioned in the previous technology, and is conducive to the automated manufacturing of keyboards.

[0031] Furthermore, the type and placement of the function key switch used in this invention are not limited to the above embodiments. It can also employ an AI assistant function key switch (e.g., a Copilot button that triggers the Copilot function of the Windows operating system) and a design where the function key switch is located in the function key mounting area on the side of the keyboard base. For example, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the keyboard base plate 12 may also have a function key mounting area 62. The function key mounting area 62 may be located on the side of the keyboard base plate 12 (such as the bottom side, but not limited thereto) to accommodate a biometric identification module 64, so that users can perform operations such as launching artificial intelligence assistant applications only after passing biometric identification (such as fingerprint identification) authentication. As for other related descriptions of the biometric identification module 64 (such as the structural interlocking design of the keyboard base plate and the mounting base, the signal transmission and magnetic positioning design of the transmission connector, etc.), they can be deduced by analogy with the above embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0032] In summary, this invention provides a keyboard with biometric identification functionality. Compared to the prior art that uses screws to secure the mounting base containing the biometric identification device to the keyboard base, this invention utilizes the structural interlocking between the mounting base of the biometric identification module and the keyboard base to place the function key switches under the biometric identification unit. This provides a quick assembly function and achieves the security protection purpose of requiring users to trigger the keyboard function keys only after biometric identification (such as fingerprint identification). In this way, this invention can effectively solve the problem of time-consuming and labor-intensive assembly process of keyboards with biometric identification functionality mentioned in the prior art, and is conducive to the automated manufacturing of keyboards.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to provide illustrative examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. For the purpose of clearly describing the required components, the scale in the schematic drawings does not represent the actual proportional relationships of the components.

[0034] This utility model has been described by the above-described embodiments; however, these embodiments are merely examples for implementing this utility model. It must be noted that the disclosed embodiments do not limit the scope of this utility model. Conversely, any modifications and refinements made without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model are within the scope of patent protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A keyboard with biometric identification function, characterized in that, This keyboard includes: The keyboard base plate has a function key mounting area and a key mounting area. The function key mounting area is located on the side or corner of the keyboard base plate and forms a first engaging structure. Multiple buttons are located in the button mounting area; as well as A biometric identification module is located in the function key installation area. This biometric identification module includes: The mounting base has a second engagement structure corresponding to the position of the first engagement structure, the first engagement structure engaging with the second engagement structure so that the mounting base is detachably mounted in the function key mounting area; A biometric identification unit is housed in the mounting base and has a signal transmission cable; A transmission connector, disposed adjacent to the biometric unit and electrically connected to the signal transmission cable, for transmitting signals from the biometric unit; and A function key switch is located below the biometric unit, so that the function key switch is triggered when the biometric unit is pressed.

2. The keyboard as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting base includes a mounting plate and a receiving seat. The mounting plate has the second engaging structure. The receiving seat accommodates the biometric identification unit and the function key switch, and the receiving seat is disposed on the mounting plate.

3. The keyboard as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The receiving seat is integrally molded onto the mounting plate.

4. The keyboard as described in claim 2, characterized in that, At least one positioning piece is formed by bending from the mounting plate. The at least one positioning piece has a locking groove. The receiving seat protrudes laterally to form a positioning rib corresponding to the position of the at least one positioning piece. The positioning rib is inserted into the locking groove so that the receiving seat can be detachably mounted on the mounting plate.

5. The keyboard as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first engaging structure includes an engaging hole, and the second engaging structure is a T-shaped positioning post. The engaging hole has a through-hole area and an engaging hole area, with the through-hole area communicating with the engaging hole area. When the T-shaped positioning post passes through the through-hole area and the mounting plate moves along an installation direction on the keyboard base plate, the T-shaped positioning post moves away from the through-hole area to slide into and engage in the engaging hole area, thereby fixing the mounting plate to the keyboard base plate.

6. The keyboard as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The first engaging structure also includes at least one limiting bending piece that engages with the side of the mounting plate when the mounting plate moves along the mounting direction on the keyboard base plate.

7. The keyboard as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The biometric module also includes: A glass protective cover is used to cover the biometric unit.

8. The keyboard as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The biometric unit is a fingerprint recognition device.

9. The keyboard as described in claim 1, characterized in that, This function key switch can be a power switch or an AI assistant function key switch.

10. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission connector has multiple spring terminals, and one end of the signal transmission cable has multiple contact points corresponding to the positions of the multiple spring terminals. The multiple contact points contact the multiple spring terminals to establish signal transmission between the biometric unit and the transmission connector via the signal transmission cable.

11. The keyboard as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, The biometric module also includes a clamping piece, and one of the transmission connector and the clamping piece has at least one positioning magnet. The other of the transmission connector and the clamping piece has a magnetic element. The at least one positioning magnet attracts the magnetic element so that the clamping piece and the transmission connector jointly clamp and position the signal transmission cable, so that the plurality of contact points contact the plurality of spring terminals.

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