TWI644338B - Keyboard, key module, supporter activating module and method of manufacturing the supporter activating module - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a keyboard, which comprises a plurality of button modules, each button module comprises a base, a circuit film placed on the base, a metal dome placed on the top surface of the circuit film, and a metal dome placed on the metal film. The elastic trigger member and a key cap disposed above the elastic trigger member. The elastic trigger member and the scissor type component constitute a lifting trigger module. The circuit film has a conduction circuit; the metal dome has a central opening, the position of the central opening corresponds to the conduction circuit of the circuit film; the bottom surface of the elastic trigger protrudes from a trigger post, and the trigger column passes through the central opening of the metal dome. When the keycap is pressed, the trigger post of the elastic trigger member is displaced downward to abut the conduction circuit to generate a pilot communication number. The lifting trigger module can be manufactured by a two-shot injection molding method.

Description

Keyboard, button module, lifting trigger module and lifting trigger module manufacturing method

The invention relates to a keyboard and a button module thereof. The button module has a lifting trigger module, and the lifting trigger module can be used to guide the keycap to rise or fall and trigger a conduction circuit to generate a signal when pressed.

A keyboard generally used in a computer usually uses a plastic elastic member placed between the keycap and the circuit film to provide a returning force of the keycap upward. On the other hand, the bottom of the keycap touches the circuit film to trigger a communication number. Such a keyboard has a better pressing feel and a longer stroke, but the overall height is higher.

In addition, smaller buttons, such as those used in cell phones or portable electronic devices, typically utilize a metal dome placed between the keycap and the circuit film. When the keycap is pressed, the cylinder at the bottom of the keycap presses against the metal dome and causes the metal dome to touch the circuit film downward to trigger a communication number. The pressing feel of such a keyboard is stiffer, less preferred, and the stroke is shorter. In addition, the metal shrapnel is over-squeezed, which tends to cause the material of the metal shrapnel to be tired and affect the service life.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a keyboard, a keyboard button module, and a keyboard lifting trigger module, which utilize elastic elastic trigger members. To trigger the conduction circuit, thereby providing a better pressing feel. The invention can also prevent the metal dome from being excessively pressed to prolong the service life of the metal dome.

In order to solve the above technical problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a button module includes a base, a circuit film disposed on the base, a metal dome disposed on a top surface of the circuit film, and a An elastic trigger member disposed on the metal dome and a key cap disposed above the elastic trigger member; the circuit film has a conductive circuit; the metal dome has a central opening, the central opening a position corresponding to the conductive circuit of the circuit film; a bottom surface of the elastic trigger member protrudes from a trigger post, the trigger post passes through the central opening of the metal dome; wherein when the key cap is pressed The trigger post of the elastic trigger member is displaced downward to abut the conductive circuit to generate a pilot communication number.

In order to solve the above technical problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a keyboard is provided. The keyboard includes a plurality of button modules, and each of the button modules includes a base and a circuit film disposed on the base. a metal dome disposed on a top surface of the circuit film, an elastic trigger member disposed on the metal dome, and a key cap disposed above the elastic trigger member; the circuit film has a conductive circuit; The metal dome has a central opening, the central opening corresponds to the conductive circuit of the circuit film; the bottom surface of the elastic trigger protrudes from a trigger post, and the trigger post passes through the metal The central opening of the elastic piece; wherein when the keycap is pressed, the trigger column of the elastic trigger member is displaced downward to abut the conduction circuit to generate a conduction number.

In order to solve the above technical problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a lifting trigger module is further provided, which comprises an elastic triggering member and a scissor-type component. a bottom surface of the elastic trigger member protrudes from a trigger post, the trigger post is used to trigger a conductive circuit of the keyboard; the scissors type component includes a first frame and a second frame, and the second frame can rotate Connected to the inner side of the first frame, the second frame has a hollow receiving portion, and the elastic trigger member is fixedly connected to the hollow receiving portion of the second frame.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a lifting trigger module of a keyboard, which is characterized in that the elastic trigger member is integrally formed into the second frame member of the scissors-type component by means of a two-material injection.

In order to solve the above technical problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a lifting trigger module is further provided, comprising the steps of: injecting a rigid material into a mold by plastic injection molding to form a scissors component; a second frame member; an elastic material is injected into the mold in a plastic injection molding manner to form an elastic trigger member, and the periphery of the elastic trigger member is adhered to the middle of the second frame member; The second frame is rotatably coupled to an inner side of the first frame.

According to a possible embodiment of the present embodiment, the rigid material is polyoxymethylene, and the elastic material is a silicone rubber.

The invention has the following beneficial effects: the trigger column of the elastic trigger member passes through the metal elastic piece to touch the circuit film, and the operation feeling is relatively elastic. The invention firstly provides the elastic contraction distance for elastic contraction, and the distance that the metal dome is pressed down, so that the button module of the invention has a long pressing stroke. The metal dome of the present invention is not pressed against the circuit film, and the metal dome can be prevented from being excessively pressed, thereby prolonging the service life of the metal dome.

In order to further understand the technology, method and effect of the present invention in order to achieve the intended purpose, reference should be made to the detailed description and drawings of the present invention. The drawings and the annexed drawings are intended to be illustrative and not to limit the invention.

100‧‧‧ keyboard

10‧‧‧Key Module

11‧‧‧Key Cap

111‧‧‧First pivotal

112‧‧‧Second pivotal

12‧‧‧Scissors

121‧‧‧ first frame

1211‧‧‧ first side

1212‧‧‧ second side

121h‧‧‧Axis hole

122‧‧‧second framework

1220‧‧‧ Hollow Housing

1221‧‧‧ first side

1222‧‧‧ second side

122X‧‧‧Axis

13‧‧‧Fixed sheets

130‧‧‧Fixed ring

132‧‧‧Extension

14, 14a‧‧‧ metal shrapnel

140‧‧‧Central opening

142‧‧‧foot

15‧‧‧ circuit film

152‧‧‧ conduction circuit

16‧‧‧Base

161‧‧‧First hook

162‧‧‧Second hook

18‧‧‧Flexible triggers

181‧‧‧ trigger column

182‧‧‧The Ministry of the Ring

183‧‧‧Outer Rings

145‧‧‧Light hole

L‧‧‧Lighting elements

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard of the present invention.

2 is an exploded perspective view of the key module of the present invention.

3 is another exploded perspective view of the button module of the present invention.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the lifting trigger module of the keyboard of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another perspective exploded view of the lifting trigger module of the keyboard of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the button module of the present invention not pressed.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the button module of the present invention pressed.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the metal dome of the second embodiment of the key module of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard having a plurality of button modules according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are exploded perspective views of the button module of the present invention. The present invention provides a keyboard 100 that includes a plurality of button modules 10. Each button module 10 includes a keycap 11, a scissor-type component 12, a metal dome 14, a circuit film 15, a base 16, and an elastic trigger 18. The elastic triggering member 18 and the scissor-type component 12 can be combined into a lifting trigger module.

The base 16 may be stamped from a metal plate, and the base 16 has a limiting unit. The limiting unit of the embodiment includes a pair of first hooking members 161 having an inverted L shape and a pair of second hookings having an inverted L shape. A member 162 is attached to the bottom side of the scissor-type member 12. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments of the above-described limiting unit.

A circuit membrane 15 is placed on the base 16, and the circuit film 15 has a conduction circuit 152. The structure of the conduction circuit 152 is exemplified by an upper conductor, a lower conductor, and a spacer between the upper conductor and the lower conductor. When the conduction circuit 152 is touched, the upper conductor is in electrical contact with the lower conductor to generate a signal.

The metal dome 14 is placed on the top surface of the circuit film 15, and the metal dome 14 has a central opening 140, the position of which corresponds to the position of the conduction circuit 152 of the circuit film 15.

The elastic triggering member 18 is disposed under the keycap 11 and placed at the top end of the metal elastic piece. The bottom surface of the elastic triggering member 18 protrudes from a trigger post 181, and the trigger post 181 The central opening 140 of the metal dome 14 is passed through. The keycap 11 is disposed above the elastic trigger 18.

Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , which are perspective exploded views of the lifting trigger module of the keyboard of the present invention. The scissor-type component 12 is disposed on the base 16 and coupled to the base 16 . The scissor-type component 12 includes a first frame 121 and a second frame 122 , and the second frame 122 is rotatably connected On the inner side of the first frame 121. As shown in FIG. 4, the two outer sides of the second frame 122 each have a shaft portion 122x. The inner sides of the first frame 121 respectively form a shaft hole 121h, and the shaft portion 122x is inserted into the shaft hole 121h, so that the second frame 122 can rotate. Grounded to the first frame 121. The second frame 122 has a hollow receiving portion 1220 , and the elastic triggering member 18 is fixedly connected to the hollow receiving portion 1220 of the second frame 122 . As shown in FIG. 3, the hollow receiving portion 1220 is preferably stepped, and the outer edge of the elastic triggering member 18 is adhered to the inner edge of the upper opening, and a portion of the metal elastic piece 14 can be accommodated under the hollow receiving portion 1220. As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7.

The elastic triggering member 18 has an upper ring portion 182 extending upward from the periphery of the trigger post 181 and abutting against the key cap 11 , and an outer ring portion 183 being oriented by the upper ring portion 182 . The outer ring portion 183 is adhered to the periphery of the hollow receiving portion 1220, and the upper ring portion 182 protrudes from the top surface of the second frame 122.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the keying cap 11 is provided with a pivoting unit. The first side 1211 of the first frame 121 is rotatably pivotally connected to the pivoting unit, and the second side 1212 of the first frame 121 can be Slidably connected to the limiting unit, the first side 1221 of the second frame 122 is rotatably pivotally connected to the pivoting unit, and the second side 1222 of the second frame 122 is slidably coupled to the limiting unit unit. The pivoting unit includes a pair of first pivoting portions 111 and a pair of second pivoting portions 112. The first side 1211 of the first frame 121 is pivotally connected to the first pivoting portion 111 , and the first side 1221 of the second frame 122 is pivotally connected to the second pivoting portion 112 .

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the keyboard 100 of the embodiment may further include a A fixing sheet 13 is placed, and the fixing sheet 13 is placed above the metal dome 14. The fixing sheet 13 may be a Mylar insulating film that protects sensitive electronic parts and important components from a slight infiltration of liquid. The fixing sheet 13 has a fixing ring 130, and the fixing ring 130 fixes the metal dome 14 on the circuit film 15. In the assembly process of the keyboard 100, a plurality of the metal domes 14 of the plurality of button modules 10 may be adhered to the fixing sheets 13 first, and then the fixing sheets 13 are attached to the circuit film 15. The fixing sheet 13 of the embodiment further has a plurality of extending portions 132 extending outward from the circumference of the fixing ring 130. The metal elastic piece 14 has a plurality of leg portions 142, and the plurality of extending portions 132 cover the plurality of feet 142. . The leg portion 142 abuts against the circuit film 15. However, the present invention can also omit the fixing sheet 13.

In addition, regarding the lifting trigger module of the present invention, it is preferable to form a one-piece lifting trigger module by using the two-material injection method. More specifically, the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a lifting trigger module of a keyboard, comprising the steps of: injecting a rigid material into a mold by plastic injection molding to form a second frame of a scissor element 12. And an elastic material is injected into the mold in a plastic injection molding manner to form an elastic trigger member 18, and the periphery of the elastic trigger member 18 is adhered to the middle of the second frame member 122; The second frame member 122 is assembled to the first frame member 121 to form a lifting trigger module.

The above rigid material may be polyoxymethylene (POM), also known as polyoxymethylene or polyacetal, which is an engineering thermoplastic, which has the advantages of high rigidity, low friction and good dimensional stability. . The above elastic material may be polymerized siloxanes (or silicone rubber). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, other artificial plastics.

In addition, this embodiment may also be a process of first-time plastic injection, which is to form the scissors-type component 12 at a time, and directly combine the second frame with the first frame.

Please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 , which are cross-sectional views of the button module of the present invention after being pressed and pressed. According to the above configuration, when the keycap 11 is not pressed, the elastic triggering member 18 has elasticity and can support the keycap 11 upward. As seen from FIG. 6, the elastic triggering member 18 of the present embodiment has a small height, most of which is located on a disc surface formed by the outer ring portion 183, and the trigger post 181 protrudes downward from the disc surface, and the upper ring portion 182 is formed. The protrusion is annularly located between the outer ring portion 183 and the trigger post 181. The height of the trigger post 181 is substantially equal to the thickness of the outer ring portion 183, and the height of the upper ring portion 182 protruding from the top surface of the outer ring portion 183 is substantially equal to the thickness of the outer ring portion 183. In addition, the trigger post 181 of the elastic trigger member 18 passes through the metal dome 14 and protrudes slightly from the bottom surface of the metal dome 14. The bottom of the elastic trigger member 18 is supported by the metal dome 14 without touching the circuit film 15.

When the keycap 11 is pressed, the elastic triggering member 18 is first squeezed to deform, and the feedback to the user is the elastic touch feeling of the rubber. Then, the key cap 11 is further pressed downward, and the metal elastic piece 14 is deformed again. At the same time, the trigger post 181 of the elastic triggering member 18 is displaced downward to abut against the circuit film 15 to generate a pilot communication number. As can be seen from FIG. 7 , after the button module 10 of the embodiment is pressed, the distance between the bottom surface of the key cap 11 and the circuit film 15 is substantially equal to the height of the scissors-type component 12 and is substantially equal to the height of the second frame member 122. . The metal dome 14 is pressed under the hollow receiving portion 1220 of the second frame member 122, and the elastic trigger member 18 is pressed against the top surface of the second frame member 122.

The design of the present invention is different from the prior art. The prior art directly touches the metal dome with the middle column of the key cap, resulting in a harder handle. The present invention utilizes the trigger post 181 of the elastic trigger member 18 to pass through the metal dome 14 to touch the circuit film 15, and the operation feel is more elastic.

In addition, in the prior art button stroke, only the metal dome is pressed against the distance that triggers the conduction circuit. In this embodiment, first, the elastic triggering member 18 provides the elastic contraction distance, and the metal spring piece 14 is pressed down. Therefore, the button module of the present invention has a long pressing stroke. Furthermore, the metal dome 14 of the present embodiment is not pressed to the bottom of the circuit film 15, so that the metal dome 14 can be prevented from being excessively pressed. To extend the service life of the metal dome 14. The components are described in detail below.

Please refer to FIG. 8 , which is a top view of the metal dome of the second embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the metal dome 14 may further be provided with at least one light-transmitting hole 145. The circuit film 15 may be provided with at least one light-emitting element L. The elastic trigger member 18 is made of a light-transmitting material. The light of the light-emitting element L passes through the light-transmitting hole 145 and the elastic trigger 18 to be irradiated to the keycap 11. Thereby the keyboard 100 of the present invention can be an illuminated 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.

Claims (19)

A button module includes: a base; a circuit film disposed on the base, the circuit film has a conductive circuit; a metal dome placed on a top surface of the circuit film, the metal dome has a a central opening, the central opening corresponds to the conductive circuit of the circuit film; an elastic trigger member is disposed on the metal elastic piece, and a bottom surface of the elastic trigger member protrudes from a trigger post, a trigger post passing through the central opening of the metal dome; and a key cap disposed above the elastic trigger member; wherein the trigger post of the elastic trigger member when the key cap is pressed Displacement downward to abut the conduction circuit to generate a pilot number. The button module of claim 1, further comprising a scissor-type component disposed on the base and coupled to the base, the scissor-type component comprising a first frame and a second a frame, the second frame is rotatably coupled to an inner side of the first frame, the second frame has a hollow receiving portion, and the elastic trigger member is fixedly coupled to the hollow of the second frame Inside the housing. The key module of claim 2, wherein the key cap is provided with a pivoting unit, the base has a limiting unit, and the first side of the first frame is rotatably pivotally connected to the pivoting unit. a second side of the first frame is slidably coupled to the limiting unit, a first side of the second frame is rotatably pivotally connected to the pivoting unit, and a second side of the second frame is slidable Connected to the limiting unit. The button module of claim 2, wherein the elastic trigger member has an upper ring portion and an outer ring portion, and the upper ring portion extends upward from a circumference of the trigger post And abutting against the key cap, the outer ring portion extends downward and outward from the upper ring portion, the outer ring portion is adhered to the periphery of the hollow receiving portion, and the upper ring portion protrudes from the The top surface of the second frame. The button module of claim 1, further comprising a fixing sheet disposed above the metal dome, the fixing sheet having a fixing ring, the fixing ring fixing the metal dome to the circuit film. The button module of claim 5, wherein the fixing sheet further has a plurality of extending portions extending outward from a circumference of the fixing ring, the metal elastic piece having a plurality of legs, and the plurality of the extending portions are covered Several of the feet. The button module of claim 1, wherein the metal dome is further provided with a light transmission hole, the circuit film is provided with a light emitting component, and the elastic trigger member is made of a light transmissive material, and the light emitting component is The light passes through the light transmission hole and the elastic trigger to illuminate the key cap. A keyboard includes: a plurality of button modules, each of the button modules comprising: a base; a circuit film disposed on the base, the circuit film having a conduction circuit; a metal dome placed at the a top surface of the circuit film, the metal dome has a central opening, the central opening corresponds to the conductive circuit of the circuit film; an elastic trigger member is placed on the metal dome The bottom surface of the elastic trigger member protrudes from a trigger post, the trigger post passes through the central opening of the metal dome; and a key cap is disposed above the elastic trigger member; wherein when the key cap is pressed The trigger post of the elastic trigger member is displaced downward to abut the conductive circuit to generate a pilot communication number. The keyboard of claim 8, further comprising a scissor-type component, the base member a limiting unit, the scissor-type component is disposed on the base and coupled to the base, the scissor-type component includes a first frame and a second frame, and the second frame is rotatably coupled to the An inner side of the first frame, the second frame has a hollow receiving portion, and the elastic trigger member is fixedly coupled to the hollow receiving portion of the second frame. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the key cap is provided with a pivoting unit, the first side of the first frame is rotatably pivotally connected to the pivoting unit, and the second side of the first frame is Slidably coupled to the limiting unit, a first side of the second frame is rotatably pivotally coupled to the pivoting unit, and a second side of the second frame is slidably coupled to the limiting unit. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the elastic triggering member has an upper ring portion and an outer ring portion, the upper ring portion extending upward from a circumference of the trigger post and abutting the key cap, the outer ring The ring portion extends downward and outward from the upper ring portion, the outer ring portion is adhered to the periphery of the hollow receiving portion, and the upper ring portion protrudes from a top surface of the second frame. The keyboard of claim 8, further comprising a fixing sheet disposed above the metal dome, the fixing sheet having a fixing ring, the fixing ring fixing the metal dome to the circuit film; A plurality of the metal domes of the button module are adhered to the fixing sheet. The keyboard of claim 12, wherein the fixed sheet further has a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from a periphery of the fixing ring, the metal dome having a plurality of legs, and the plurality of extensions covering a plurality of Describe the foot. The keyboard of claim 8, wherein the metal dome is further provided with a light-transmissive hole, the circuit film is provided with a light-emitting element, and the elastic trigger is made of a light-transmitting material, and the light of the light-emitting element The light transmissive hole and the elastic trigger member are passed through to the key cap. A lifting trigger module, suitable for a keyboard, comprising: a scissors type component, the scissors type component comprising a first frame and a first a second frame, the second frame is rotatably connected to the inner side of the first frame, the second frame has a hollow receiving portion; a metal elastic piece corresponding to the hollow receiving portion and disposed on the keyboard And a resilient triggering member corresponding to the hollow receiving portion and disposed on the metal elastic piece, the bottom surface of the elastic triggering member protruding from a trigger post; wherein when the elastic triggering member is deformed The trigger post passes through the metal dome to trigger the conduction circuit. The lifting trigger module of claim 15, wherein the elastic triggering member has an upper ring portion and an outer ring portion, the upper ring portion extending upward from a circumference of the trigger post, the outer ring portion being The upper ring portion extends downward and outward, and the outer ring portion is adhered to the periphery of the hollow receiving portion, and the upper ring portion protrudes from a top surface of the second frame. A method for manufacturing a lifting trigger module of a keyboard, comprising the steps of: injecting a rigid material into a mold by plastic injection molding to form a second frame member of a scissors type component; and exposing an elastic material to plastic Forming a mold into the mold to form an elastic trigger member and bonding the periphery of the elastic trigger member to the middle of the second frame member; and rotatably connecting the second frame to the first frame Inside. The method for manufacturing a lifting trigger module of a keyboard according to claim 17, wherein the rigid material is polyoxymethylene, and the elastic material is a silicone rubber. The method of manufacturing the lifting trigger module of the keyboard of claim 17, wherein the bottom surface of the elastic trigger member protrudes from a trigger post, and the trigger post is used to trigger a conductive circuit of the keyboard.