TWI446216B - Keyswitch and keyboard thereof - Google Patents

Description

Button and its keyboard

The present invention relates to a button and a keyboard thereof, and more particularly to a button and a keyboard thereof that utilize lateral magnetic attraction or lateral magnetic repulsive force as a driving force required for resetting a keycap.

In terms of the current usage habits of notebook computers, the keyboard is one of the indispensable input devices for entering text, symbols or numbers. Recently, due to the trend of thinning notebook computers, the keyboards applied to notebook computers have also become thinner.

Conventional keys are often provided with elastic elements, such as rubber washers (Rubber Dome), etc., as a source of spring force for the keycap reset when used as a button. However, the conventional elastic member has a specific height, so that the button needs to have a large space for the elastic member to be disposed therein. In other words, the conventional buttons are provided with elastic components, which limits the structural size of the keyboard, and is not conducive to the thinning trend of the notebook computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to provide a button and a keyboard thereof that utilize lateral magnetic attraction or lateral magnetic repulsive force as a driving force required for resetting a keycap to solve the above problems.

According to an embodiment, the button of the present invention comprises a keycap, a bottom plate, a first support member, a second support member, a magnetic plate member, and a first magnet. The first support member has a first sliding shaft portion and a first connecting portion. The first sliding shaft portion is slidably coupled to the bottom plate, and the first connecting portion is movably coupled to the key cap. One end of the second support member is slidably coupled to the keycap and the other end is movably coupled to the bottom plate. The magnetic plate member is selectively formed on one of the first sliding shaft portion and the second supporting member of the first support member. The first magnet is located on one side of the magnetic plate member. When the key cap is moved to a pressing position, the first magnet laterally attracts or laterally repels the magnetic plate member, thereby driving the key cap from the pressing position. A release position moves.

According to another embodiment, the keyboard of the present invention includes a backplane and a plurality of buttons. The buttons are disposed on the bottom plate, and at least one of the buttons comprises a key cap, a first support member, a second support member, a magnetic plate member, and a first magnet. The first support member has a first sliding shaft portion and a first connecting portion. The first sliding shaft portion is slidably coupled to the bottom plate, and the first connecting portion is movably coupled to the key cap. One end of the second support member is slidably coupled to the keycap and the other end is movably coupled to the bottom plate. The magnetic plate member is selectively formed on one of the first sliding shaft portion and the second supporting member of the first support member. The first magnet is located on one side of the magnetic plate member. When the key cap is moved to a pressing position, the first magnet laterally attracts or laterally repels the magnetic plate member, thereby driving the key cap from the pressing position. A release position moves.

In summary, the present invention utilizes the lateral magnetic force or the lateral magnetic repulsion force generated between the magnetic plate member on the support member and the magnet on one side of the magnetic plate member to drive the key cap in the pressed position to release. The position moves, which in turn produces the effect of utilizing lateral magnetic attraction or lateral magnetic repulsive force as the driving force required for the keycap to reset. In this way, by omitting the arrangement of the elastic elements and replacing the arrangement of the magnetic plates and the magnets, the keyboard provided by the present invention can effectively reduce the space required for the whole of the keys, thereby making the keyboard internal. The structural space can be used with greater design flexibility to facilitate the subsequent thinning of the keyboard.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a perspective view of a keyboard 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard 1 includes a plurality of buttons 3 and a bottom plate 5, and the buttons 3 are disposed on the bottom plate 5. The button 3 is used for the user to press, thereby performing the function that the user desires to input. The keyboard 1 is preferably a keyboard generally used in a personal computer, but is not limited thereto. For example, the keyboard 1 can also be applied to a portable electronic device (such as a notebook computer or a folding keyboard) generally having an opening and closing mechanism composed of an upper cover and a lower casing.

The design of using the magnetic force to drive the button reset can be applied to at least one of the plurality of buttons 3, the number of which depends on the actual application of the keyboard 1. For the sake of simplicity, the following is for One of the buttons 3 having a magnetic drive reset design is described. As for the other structural design of the button 3 of the same design, it can be deduced. Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the keyboard 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the button 3 shown in FIG. 1 along the X-X section line. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the button 3 includes a keycap 9, a first support member 11, a second support member 13, a magnetic plate member 15, and a first magnet 17. The first support member 11 is coupled between the keycap 9 and the bottom plate 5. The second support member 13 is connected between the keycap 9 and the bottom plate 5 and is pivotally connected to the first support member 11 , and the structural design of the key cap 9 and the first support member 11 and the second support member 13 is performed. The key cap 9 has a first sliding slot 19 and a first latching slot 21 , and the bottom panel 5 has a second sliding slot 23 and a second latching slot 25 . The first support member 11 has a first sliding shaft portion 27 and a first connecting portion 29. When the first supporting member 11 is assembled, the first sliding shaft portion 27 is slidably disposed in the first sliding slot 19, and A connecting portion 29 is movably (rotated or slid) pivotally connected to the second card slot 25. The second support member 13 has a second sliding shaft portion 31 and a second connecting portion 33. When the second supporting member 13 is assembled, the second sliding shaft portion 31 is slidably disposed in the second sliding slot 23, and The two connecting portions 33 are movably (rotated or slid) pivotally connected to the first card slot 21. In this way, through the structural connection design described above, the key cap 9 can be moved relative to the bottom plate 5 between the pressing position and the release position by the first support member 11 and the second support member 13.

In this embodiment, as can be seen from FIG. 3, the magnetic plate member 15 is formed on the first sliding shaft portion 27 of the first support member 11 and is composed of a metal material, and the first magnet 17 is located on the magnetic plate member 15. On the opposite side, thereby, when the keycap 9 is moved to the release position as shown in FIG. 3, the first magnet 17 can generate a lateral magnetic attraction force with the magnetic plate member 15 to adsorb the magnetic plate member 15, thereby The keycap 9 can be stably positioned in the release position as shown in FIG. In addition, the first magnet 17 used for each of the buttons 3 having the magnetic drive reset design can be fixed to the same substrate (not shown) for ease of manufacturing assembly.

As for the trigger design of the button 3, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the second support member 13 extends inwardly to form an extension arm 35. One end of the extension arm 35 has a trigger bump 37, and the keyboard 1 further includes a circuit board 7 disposed on the bottom plate 5. The circuit board 7 is preferably a thin film circuit board and has a switch 39 at a position corresponding to the trigger bump 37, such as a membrane switch. Or other trigger switch. Thereby, when the keycap 9 is moved to the pressing position, the triggering bump 37 can trigger the switch 39.

The following is a detailed description of the operation of the button 3. Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the key cap 9 shown in FIG. 3 pressed to the pressing position. When the user presses the keycap 9, the keycap 9 drives the first support member 11 and the second support member 13 to pivot relative to each other. In the process, the magnetic plate member 15 follows the first support member 11 The sliding shaft portion 27 slides away from the first magnet 17 (as shown in Fig. 4). Next, as the first support member 11 and the second support member 13 are relatively pivoted, the key cap 9 of the button 3 can be moved downward from the release position as shown in FIG. 3 until the user will The keycap 9 is pressed to the pressing position as shown in FIG. 4, and at this time, the trigger 37 can be triggered to trigger the switch 39, so that the keyboard 1 can perform the function that the user desires to input (as shown in FIG. 4). Show).

On the other hand, since the first magnet 17 generates a lateral magnetic attraction between the magnetic plate member 15 composed of a metal material, when the user no longer presses the keycap 9, the first magnet 17 provides The lateral magnetic attraction can attract the magnetic plate member 15 to return to the position shown in FIG. 3 from the position shown in FIG. 4 and be sucked again by the first magnet 17, so that the key cap 9 is as shown in FIG. The pressed position shown automatically returns to the release position as shown in Fig. 3, so that the button 3 can be automatically returned.

In addition, the structural design of the magnetic plate member is not limited to the above embodiment, and the design of the magnetic material itself may be used instead of the above-mentioned design composed of the metal material, thereby exerting magnetic attraction between the magnetic plate member and the first magnet. The effect of force. For example, please refer to FIG. 5, which is a schematic cross-sectional view of a button 3' according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The components described in the second embodiment and the components described in the first embodiment. If the numbers are the same, it means that they have similar functions or relative structures, and the details are not described here. The main difference between the button 3' and the button 3 is the design of the magnetic plate. As can be seen from Fig. 5, the button 3' includes a key cap 9, a first support member 11, a second support member 13, a first magnet 17, and a magnetic plate member 41. The magnetic plate member 41 includes a carrier plate portion 43 and a second magnet 45. The carrier plate portion 43 is formed on the first sliding shaft portion 27, and the second magnet 45 is disposed on the carrier plate portion 43 for The first magnet 17 generates a lateral magnetic attraction, whereby the carrier plate portion 43 can utilize the lateral magnetic force generated between the first magnet 17 and the second magnet 45 when the user no longer presses the keycap 9. The suction force is moved inward relative to the first magnet 17 to be adsorbed again by the first magnet 17, so that the keycap 9 can be automatically returned. As for the triggering operation between the button 3' and the switch 39 of the circuit board 7, it can be referred to the analogy of the first embodiment, and details are not described herein again.

In addition, the magnetic drive design between the magnetic plate member and the first magnet may not be limited to the magnetic attraction design mentioned in the second embodiment, and the magnetic mutual exclusion design may also be adopted. For example, please refer to FIG. 6 , which is a schematic cross-sectional view of a button 3 ′′ according to a third embodiment of the present invention, the components described in the third embodiment and the components described in the second embodiment. If the numbers are the same, it means that they have similar functions or relative structures, and the details are not described here. The main difference between the button 3" and the button 3' is the configuration of the first magnet. As can be seen from Fig. 6, the button 3" includes a keycap 9, a first support member 11, a second support member 13, a magnetic plate member 41, and a first magnet 47. The first magnet 47 is located opposite the magnetic plate member 41. The outer side is used to generate a lateral magnetic repulsive force with the second magnet 45, whereby when the user no longer presses the keycap 9, the carrier plate portion 43 can be utilized between the first magnet 17 and the second magnet 45. The generated lateral magnetic repulsion is moved inward relative to the first magnet 17 to be separated from the first magnet 17, so that the keycap 9 can be automatically returned. As for the triggering action between the button 3" and the switch 39 of the circuit board 7, It can be referred to the analogy of the first embodiment, and details are not described herein again.

It is to be noted that the arrangement position of the magnetic plate member and the first magnet may not be limited to the above embodiment, and may be modified to be disposed on the other side of the corresponding button. For example, please refer to FIG. 7 , which is a schematic cross-sectional view of a button 3 ′′′ according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The components described in the fourth embodiment are the same as those described in the third embodiment. If the component numbers are the same, it means that they have similar functions or relative structures, and the details are not described here. The main difference between the button 3''' and the button 3" is the position of the magnetic plate and the first magnet. As can be seen, the button 3''' includes a keycap 9, a first support member 11, a second support member 13, a magnetic plate member 49, and a first magnet 51. The first magnet 51 is located opposite the magnetic plate member 49. On the inner side, the magnetic plate member 49 includes a carrier plate portion 53 and a second magnet 55. The carrier plate portion 53 is formed on the second connecting portion 33, and the second magnet 55 is disposed on the carrier plate portion 53 for A side magnetic repulsion force is generated with the first magnet 51, whereby when the user no longer presses the keycap 9, the carrier plate portion 53 can utilize the side generated between the first magnet 51 and the second magnet 53. To the magnetic repulsion and via the second connecting portion 33 of the second support member 13 and the second card slot 25 of the bottom plate 5 Pivoting and pivoting upwards, so that the keycap 9 can be automatically returned. As for the triggering action between the button 3''' and the switch 39 of the circuit board 7, it can be analogized with reference to the first embodiment, and no longer Narration.

In addition, referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a button 3"" according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a keycap 9 shown in FIG. A schematic view of the cross section when pressed to the pressed position. The elements described in the fifth embodiment are the same as those described in the fourth embodiment, indicating that they have similar functions or relative structures, and are not described herein again. The buttons 3"" and the buttons 3"' are mainly The difference lies in the arrangement position of the magnetic plate member and the first magnet. As can be seen from Fig. 8, the button 3"" includes the keycap 9, the first support member 11, the second support member 13, a magnetic plate member 57, and a first magnet 59. The first magnets 59 are located on opposite sides of the magnetic plate member 57. The magnetic plate member 57 is made of a metal material and is formed to extend outward from the second connecting portion 33. Thereby, when the user presses the keycap 9, the keycap 9 drives the first support member 11 and the second support member 13 to pivot relative to each other, in the process, the magnetic plate member 57 follows the second support member. The second connecting portion 33 of 13 is pivoted to be separated from the first magnet 17 (as shown in Fig. 9). As for the triggering action between the button 3"" and the switch 39 of the circuit board 7, it can be referred to the analogy of the first embodiment, and details are not described herein again.

On the other hand, since the first magnet 59 generates a lateral magnetic attraction between the magnetic plate member 57 composed of a metal material, when the user no longer presses the keycap 9, the first magnet 59 provides The lateral magnetic attraction can attract the magnetic plate member 57 to return to the position shown in FIG. 8 from the position shown in FIG. 9 and be sucked again by the first magnet 59, so that the key cap 9 is as shown in FIG. The pressed position shown automatically returns to the release position as shown in Fig. 8, whereby the button 3"" can be automatically returned. It should be noted that this embodiment may also adopt a design in which the magnetic plate member has a magnetic force (ie, the magnetic plate member includes a carrier plate portion and a second magnet design).

Compared with the prior art, the present invention utilizes the lateral magnetic force or the lateral magnetic repulsion force generated between the magnetic plate member on the support member and the magnet on one side of the magnetic plate member to drive the key cap located at the pressing position. The release position moves, thereby producing the effect of utilizing lateral magnetic attraction or lateral magnetic repulsive force as a driving force required for the keycap to be reset. In this way, by omitting the arrangement of the elastic elements and replacing the arrangement of the magnetic plates and the magnets, the keyboard provided by the present invention can effectively reduce the space required for the whole of the keys, thereby making the keyboard internal. The structural space can be used with greater design flexibility to facilitate the subsequent thinning of the keyboard.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

1. . . keyboard

5. . . Bottom plate

7. . . Circuit board

9. . . keycap

11. . . First support

13. . . Second support

19. . . First chute

twenty one. . . First card slot

twenty three. . . Second chute

25. . . Second card slot

27. . . First sliding shaft

29. . . First connection

31. . . Second sliding shaft

33. . . Second connection

35. . . Extension arm

37. . . Trigger bump

39. . . switch

43,53. . . Carrier plate

45, 55. . . Second magnet

3, 3', 3", 3''', 3""... buttons

15, 41, 49, 57. . . Magnetic plate

17, 47, 51, 59. . . First magnet

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial exploded view of the keyboard shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line X-X.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the key cap shown in Fig. 3 pressed to the pressing position.

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a button according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a button according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a button according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a button according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the key cap shown in Fig. 8 pressed to the pressing position.

3. . . button

5. . . Bottom plate

7. . . Circuit board

9. . . keycap

11. . . First support

13. . . Second support

15. . . Magnetic plate

17. . . First magnet

19. . . First chute

twenty one. . . First card slot

twenty three. . . Second chute

25. . . Second card slot

27. . . First sliding shaft

29. . . First connection

31. . . Second sliding shaft

33. . . Second connection

37. . . Trigger bump

39. . . switch

Claims (18)

A button comprising: a key cap; a bottom plate; a first support member having a first sliding shaft portion and a first connecting portion, the first sliding shaft portion being slidably coupled to the bottom plate, the first a connecting portion is movably coupled to the key cap; a second support member having one end movably coupled to the key cap and the other end movably coupled to the bottom plate; a magnetic plate member selectively formed on the base plate a first sliding member of the first support member and one of the second support members; and a first magnet located on one side of the magnetic plate member when the key cap is moved to a pressing position The first magnet laterally attracts or laterally repels the magnetic plate member, thereby driving the keycap to move from the pressed position to a release position. The button of claim 1, wherein the magnetic plate member is composed of a metal material and formed on the first sliding shaft portion, and the first magnet and the magnetic plate are moved when the key cap is moved to the release position. The piece produces a side magnetic attraction to attract the magnetic plate. The button of claim 1, wherein the magnetic plate member comprises: a carrier plate portion formed on the first sliding shaft portion; and a second magnet disposed on the carrier plate portion for The first magnet generates a side magnetic attraction force to drive the keycap to move from the pressed position to the release position. The button of claim 1, wherein the magnetic plate member comprises: a carrier plate portion formed on the first sliding shaft portion; and a second magnet disposed on the carrier plate portion for The first magnet generates a side magnetic repulsion to drive the keycap to move from the pressed position to the released position. The button of claim 1, wherein the second support member has a second sliding shaft portion and a second connecting portion, the second sliding shaft portion is movably coupled to the keycap, and the second connecting portion is Actively connected to the bottom plate, the magnetic plate member comprises: a carrying plate portion formed on the second connecting portion; and a second magnet disposed on the carrying plate portion for the first magnet A lateral magnetic repulsive force is generated to drive the keycap to move from the pressed position to the released position. The button of claim 1, wherein the second support member has a second sliding shaft portion and a second connecting portion, the second sliding shaft portion is movably coupled to the keycap, and the second connecting portion is Actively connected to the bottom plate, the magnetic plate member is composed of a metal material and extends outward from the second connecting portion, and when the key cap is moved to the release position, the first magnet and the magnetic plate member are generated. Magnetic attraction is applied to one side to attract the magnetic plate member. The button of claim 1, wherein the second support member has a second sliding shaft portion and a second connecting portion, the second sliding shaft portion is movably coupled to the keycap, and the second connecting portion is Actively connected to the bottom plate, the magnetic plate member comprises: a carrying plate portion extending outwardly from the second connecting portion; and a second magnet disposed on the carrying plate portion for A magnet generates a side magnetic attraction to drive the keycap to move from the depressed position to the released position. The button of claim 1, wherein the second support member extends inwardly to form an extension arm, and one end of the extension arm has a triggering bump, the button further includes a circuit board, and the circuit board is disposed on the bottom plate. And having a switch at a position corresponding to the triggering bump, the first magnet being disposed on the circuit board, when the keycap is moved to the pressing position to pivot the first supporting member and the second supporting member The trigger bump triggers the switch. A keyboard comprising: a bottom plate; and a plurality of buttons disposed on the bottom plate, at least one of the buttons comprising: a key cap; a first support member having a first sliding shaft portion And a first connecting portion, the first sliding shaft portion is slidably coupled to the bottom plate, the first connecting portion is movably coupled to the key cap; and a second supporting member is movably coupled to the key at one end thereof a cap, the other end is movably coupled to the bottom plate; a magnetic plate member selectively formed on one of the first sliding shaft portion and the second support member of the first support member; a magnet located on one side of the magnetic plate member, the first magnet laterally attracting or laterally repelling the magnetic plate member when the key cap is moved to a pressing position, thereby driving the key cap from the pressing position A release position moves. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the magnetic plate member is made of a metal material and formed on the first sliding shaft portion, and the first magnet and the magnetic plate are moved when the key cap is moved to the release position. The piece produces a side magnetic attraction to attract the magnetic plate. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the magnetic plate member comprises: a carrier plate portion formed on the first sliding shaft portion; and a second magnet disposed on the carrier plate portion for The first magnet generates a side magnetic attraction force to drive the keycap to move from the pressed position to the release position. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the magnetic plate member comprises: a carrier plate portion formed on the first sliding shaft portion; and a second magnet disposed on the carrier plate portion for The first magnet generates a side magnetic repulsion to drive the keycap to move from the pressed position to the released position. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the second support member has a second sliding shaft portion and a second connecting portion, the second sliding shaft portion is movably coupled to the keycap, and the second connecting portion is Actively connected to the bottom plate, the magnetic plate member comprises: a carrying plate portion formed on the second connecting portion; and a second magnet disposed on the carrying plate portion for the first magnet A lateral magnetic repulsive force is generated to drive the keycap to move from the pressed position to the released position. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the second support member has a second sliding shaft portion and a second connecting portion, the second sliding shaft portion is movably coupled to the keycap, and the second connecting portion is Actively connected to the bottom plate, the magnetic plate member is composed of a metal material and extends outward from the second connecting portion, and when the key cap is moved to the release position, the first magnet and the magnetic plate member are generated. Magnetic attraction is applied to one side to attract the magnetic plate member. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the second support member has a second sliding shaft portion and a second connecting portion, the second sliding shaft portion is movably coupled to the keycap, and the second connecting portion is Actively connected to the bottom plate, the magnetic plate member comprises: a carrying plate portion extending outwardly from the second connecting portion; and a second magnet disposed on the carrying plate portion for A magnet generates a side magnetic attraction to drive the keycap to move from the depressed position to the released position. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the keycap has a first sliding slot and a first sliding slot, the bottom plate has a second sliding slot and a second sliding slot, the first sliding shaft portion slidably The second connecting portion is movably pivotally disposed in the second sliding slot, and the second sliding portion is slidably disposed in the second sliding slot, the second connecting portion is disposed in the first sliding slot The gantry is pivotally connected to the first card slot. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the second support member extends inwardly to form an extending arm, the one end of the extending arm has a triggering bump, and the keyboard further comprises a circuit board, the circuit board is disposed on the bottom plate And having a switch at a position corresponding to the triggering bump, the first magnet being disposed on the circuit board, when the keycap is moved to the pressing position to pivot the first supporting member and the second supporting member The trigger bump triggers the switch. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the first magnet is fixed to the bottom plate.