CN102623224B - Key - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a key, which includes a bottom plate, a key cap, a supporting device and a driving element. The bottom plate has a first magnetic area. The supporting device includes a first abutting portion. The driving element includes a second magnetic area and a second abutting portion, wherein the second magnetic area is located on the first magnetic area, and the second abutting portion is located on the first abutting portion. When the keycap is not pressed, the magnetic attraction force between the second magnetic area and the first magnetic area keeps the keycap at the unpressed position. When the keycap is pressed by an external force, the first abutting portion pushes up the second abutting portion, causing the second magnetic region to be away from the first magnetic region, so that the keycap moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position. When the external force is released, the magnetic attraction force makes the second magnetic region close to the first magnetic region, causing the second abutting part to press down the first abutting part, so that the keycap moves back from the pressed position to the unpressed position. The present invention does not need to install conventional The elastic part in the button can effectively prolong the service life of the button.

Description

button

technical field

The present invention relates to a button, in particular to a button that utilizes magnetic attraction force to move the keycap along with the support device between the unpressed position and the pressed position.

Background technique

As far as current personal computer usage habits are concerned, the keyboard is one of the indispensable input devices for inputting characters, symbols or numbers. Not only that, but all consumer electronic products in daily life or large-scale processing equipment used in the industry need to be equipped with a key structure as an input device to operate the above-mentioned electronic products and processing equipment.

Please refer to FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a button 1 in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1 , the button 1 includes a bottom plate 10 , a keycap 12 , a circuit board 14 , a supporting device 16 and an elastic member 18 . The circuit board 14 is disposed on the base plate 10 . The supporting device 16 is disposed between the keycap 12 and the bottom plate 10 for supporting the keycap 12 . The elastic member 18 is also disposed between the keycap 12 and the bottom plate 10. When the keycap 12 is pressed by the user, the elastic member 18 provides the elastic recovery force of the keycap 12, so that the keycap 12 can return to the position before being pressed. Since the elastic member 18 is often made of rubber, the rubber will be fatigued under long-term use, thereby shortening the service life of the button 1 .

Contents of the invention

Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a key, which utilizes magnetic attraction force to move the keycap along with the support device between the unpressed position and the pressed position.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a button, which is characterized in that it comprises: a bottom plate with a first magnetic region; a keycap; a supporting device, which is arranged between the bottom plate and the keycap, and is connected to the keycap and the keycap respectively. The bottom plate is connected in a rotatable manner, and the keycap moves between the unpressed position and the pressed position along with the support device, the support device includes a first abutting part; and a driving element is arranged between the bottom plate and the keycap , the driving element includes a second magnetic zone and a second abutting portion, the second magnetic zone is located on the first magnetic zone, and the second abutting portion is located on the first abutting portion; wherein, when the keycap When not pressed, the magnetic attraction force between the second magnetic area and the first magnetic area keeps the keycap at the unpressed position; when the keycap is pressed by external force, the first abutting portion The top of the two abutting parts causes the second magnetic zone to be far away from the first magnetic zone, so that the keycap moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position along with the supporting device; when the external force is released, the magnetic attraction makes the second The proximity of the magnetic zone to the first magnetic zone causes the second abutment portion to press down the first abutment portion, so that the keycap moves from the pressed position back to the unpressed position along with the supporting device.

As an optional technical solution, one of the first magnetic region and the second magnetic region is a magnetic element, and the other of the first magnetic region and the second magnetic region is a magnetic element or a magnetically permeable material.

As an optional technical solution, the supporting device includes two supporting pieces, the two supporting pieces are oppositely arranged and respectively include a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion is rotatably connected to the bottom plate, The second connecting portion is rotatably connected to the keycap.

As an optional technical solution, a connecting seat is provided on the bottom plate, the first connecting portion is rotatably connected to the connecting seat of the bottom plate, and the second connecting portion is connected to the key in an abutting and rotatable manner cap.

As an optional technical solution, the base plate is provided with a first connecting seat, and the side of the keycap corresponding to the second connecting part is provided with a second connecting seat, and the first connecting part is rotatably connected to the base plate The first connecting seat, and the second connecting part is rotatably connected to the second connecting seat.

As an optional technical solution, the driving element has a fixed end and a floating end, the fixed end is fixed on the bottom plate, and the second magnetic region and the second abutting portion are disposed on the floating end.

As an optional technical solution, the supporting device has a slot, and the second magnetic zone is located in the slot, so that the second magnetic zone can be in direct contact with the first magnetic zone.

As an optional technical solution, the button further includes a circuit board, the circuit board is arranged on the bottom plate, the circuit board has at least one switch, and the support device has at least one trigger part. When the unpressed position moves to the pressed position, the trigger part triggers the switch.

As an optional technical solution, the button further includes a frame, the frame is arranged on the bottom plate, the frame has a plurality of limiting grooves, the keycap has a plurality of limiting parts corresponding to the plurality of limiting grooves, the The keycap is arranged in the frame, and the plurality of limiting parts are located in the plurality of limiting slots, so as to prevent the keycap from breaking away from the frame.

As an optional technical solution, the supporting device includes a first supporting piece and a second supporting piece, the first supporting piece and the second supporting piece are arranged oppositely, and the first supporting piece has the first abutting portion, when When the keycap is pressed by the external force, the first abutting portion pushes against the second abutting portion.

As an optional technical solution, the second supporting part has a linking part, and when the keycap is pressed by the external force, the second supporting part links the first supporting part through the linking part.

The present invention further proposes a keyboard, which includes the above keys.

To sum up, in the present invention, a driving element is arranged between the bottom plate and the keycap, the second magnetic area of the driving element is set on the first magnetic area of the bottom plate, and the second abutting portion of the driving element is set on the support on the first abutment of the device. When the keycap is not pressed, the magnetic attraction force between the second magnetic region and the first magnetic region can keep the keycap at the unpressed position. When the keycap is pressed by an external force, the first abutting part pushes up the second abutting part so that the second magnetic zone is away from the first magnetic zone, so that the keycap moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position along with the supporting device. When the external force is released, the magnetic attraction force makes the second magnetic area close to the first magnetic area, causing the second abutting part to press down the first abutting part, so that the keycap moves back to the unpressed position from the pressed position along with the supporting device. Since the present invention does not need to install the elastic parts in the conventional key, the service life of the key can be effectively prolonged.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood through the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a button in the prior art.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a button according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the button in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the button in FIG. 2 from another perspective.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the key in FIG. 2 along line X-X.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the key in FIG. 2 along line Y-Y.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the button in FIG. 2 along line Z-Z.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the keycap in FIG. 5 when it is pressed.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the keycap in FIG. 6 when it is pressed.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the keycap in FIG. 7 when it is pressed.

Fig. 11 is a combination diagram of keys according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Please refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 10, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the button 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the button 3 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the button 3 in FIG. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the key 3 in Fig. 2 along the X-X line, Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the key 3 in Fig. 2 along the Y-Y line, and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the key 3 in Fig. 2 along the Z-Z line 8 is a sectional view of the keycap 32 in FIG. 5 when it is pressed, FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the keycap 32 in FIG. 6 when it is pressed, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the keycap 32 in FIG. 7 when it is pressed. Sectional view.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 10 , the button 3 includes a bottom plate 30 , a keycap 32 , a supporting device 34 , a driving element 36 , a circuit board 38 and a frame 40 . The circuit board 38 is disposed on the base plate 30 . In practical applications, the circuit board 38 may be a thin film circuit board, but not limited thereto. The frame 40 is disposed on the base plate 30 , and the keycap 32 is disposed in the frame 40 . In this embodiment, the frame 40 has a plurality of limiting grooves 400 , and the keycap 32 has a plurality of limiting portions 320 corresponding to the plurality of limiting grooves 400 . When the keycap 32 is disposed in the frame 40 , the limiting portion 320 of the keycap 32 is located in the limiting groove 400 of the frame 40 to prevent the keycap 32 from detaching from the frame 40 .

The supporting device 34 is disposed between the bottom plate 30 and the keycap 32 , and is rotatably connected to the keycap 32 and the bottom plate 30 respectively. In this embodiment, the support device 34 may include two support members 340 . The two support members 340 are oppositely disposed and respectively include a first connecting portion 3400 and a second connecting portion 3402 , wherein the first connecting portion 3400 is rotatably connected to the bottom plate 30 , and the second connecting portion 3402 is rotatably connected to the keycap 32 . In this embodiment, the first connecting portion 3400 is rotatably connected to the connecting seat 300 of the bottom plate 30 , and the second connecting portion 3402 is rotatably connected to the keycap 32 in an abutting manner, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, a connecting seat (not shown) may also be provided on the bottom surface of the keycap 32 so that the second connecting portion 3402 is rotatably connected to the connecting seat of the keycap 32 . Thereby, the keycap 32 can move between the unpressed position (as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 ) and the pressed position (as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 ) along with the supporting device 34 .

The driving element 36 is disposed between the bottom plate 30 and the keycap 32 . The two support members 340 respectively include a first abutting portion 3404 , and the driving element 36 includes a second abutting portion 360 , wherein the second abutting portion 360 is located on the first abutting portion 3404 . In addition, the bottom plate 30 has a first magnetic area 302 , and the driving element 36 includes a second magnetic area 362 , wherein the second magnetic area 362 is located on the first magnetic area 302 . One of the first magnetic region 302 and the second magnetic region 362 may be a magnetic member (for example, a magnet), and the other of the first magnetic region 302 and the second magnetic region 362 may be a magnetic member (for example, a magnet) or Magnetically permeable material (for example, iron or other metals). In this embodiment, the first magnetic region 302 can be a magnetic element, and the second magnetic region 362 can be a magnetically permeable material. In practical applications, the driving element 36 can be completely made of magnetically permeable materials. In addition, in another embodiment, both the first magnetic region 302 and the second magnetic region 362 can be magnets.

In this embodiment, the driving element 36 has a fixed end E1 and a floating end E2 , wherein the fixed end E1 is fixed on the bottom plate 30 , and the second magnetic region 362 and the second abutting portion 360 are disposed on the floating end E2 . In addition, the support device 34 has a slot 342, and the second magnetic zone 362 of the driving element 36 is located in the slot 342, so that the second magnetic zone 362 can directly contact the first magnetic zone 302, so as to enhance the contact between the second magnetic zone 362 and the first magnetic zone 302. The magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic regions 302 .

When the keycap 32 is not pressed, the magnetic attraction force between the second magnetic region 362 and the first magnetic region 302 of the driving element 36 keeps the keycap 32 at the unpressed position (as shown in FIGS. 5-7 ). When the keycap 32 is pressed by an external force, and the external force is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction force, the supporting member 340 will rotate around the first connecting portion 3400 as a fulcrum. At this time, the first abutting portion 3404 of the support member 340 will push the second abutting portion 360 of the element 36 upwards, causing the second magnetic zone 362 to be far away from the first magnetic zone 302, so that the keycap 32 is accompanied by the supporting device 34 from being unpressed. The position moves to the pressed position (as shown in Figures 8 to 10). When the external force is released, the magnetic attraction force makes the second magnetic area 362 of the driving element 36 close to the first magnetic area 302 , causing the second abutting portion 360 to press down the first abutting portion 3404 of the supporting member 340 . At this time, the supporting member 340 will rotate around the first connecting portion 3400 so that the keycap 32 moves from the pressed position back to the unpressed position along with the supporting device 34 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , FIG. 6 , FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 , there are switches 380 on both sides of the circuit board 38 , and the two supporting parts 340 of the supporting device 34 have triggering parts 3408 respectively. When the keycap 32 is pressed to the pressed position as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 , the trigger portion 3408 of the support member 340 can be used to trigger the switch 380 on the circuit board 38 to perform the corresponding input function. It should be noted that the switch 380 may also be provided on only one side of the circuit board 38 , and the corresponding trigger portion 3408 may be provided on one of the two support members 340 , depending on actual applications.

Please refer to FIG. 11 . FIG. 11 is a combination diagram of a button 3 ′ according to another embodiment of the present invention. The button 3 ′ in FIG. 11 omits the above-mentioned keycap 32 and frame 40 . As shown in Figure 11, the supporting device 34' of the button 3' includes a first supporting member 340a and a second supporting member 340b, and the first supporting member 340a and the second supporting member 340b are arranged oppositely, wherein the first supporting member 340a has a second supporting member 340b. An abutment portion 3404 , and the second supporting member 340 b has a linkage portion 3406 . When the above-mentioned keycap 32 is set on the supporting device 34', and the keycap 32 is pressed by an external force, the first abutting part 3404 will push against the second abutting part 360 of the drive element 36, and the second supporting part 340b will The first support member 340a is linked by the linkage portion 3406 pressing against the first support member 340a, so that the keycap 32 moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position along with the supporting device 34'. It should be noted that the elements with the same numbers in FIG. 11 as those shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 10 have roughly the same working principle and will not be repeated here.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention sets the driving element between the bottom plate and the keycap, sets the second magnetic area of the driving element on the first magnetic area of the bottom plate, and sets the second abutting portion of the driving element on the on the first abutment part of the supporting device. When the keycap is not pressed, the magnetic attraction force between the second magnetic region and the first magnetic region can keep the keycap at the unpressed position. When the keycap is pressed by an external force, the first abutting part pushes up the second abutting part so that the second magnetic zone is away from the first magnetic zone, so that the keycap moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position along with the supporting device. When the external force is released, the magnetic attraction force makes the second magnetic area close to the first magnetic area, causing the second abutting part to press down the first abutting part, so that the keycap moves back to the unpressed position from the pressed position along with the supporting device. Since the present invention does not need to install the elastic parts in the conventional key, the service life of the key can be effectively extended.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

1. a button, is characterized in that comprising:

Base plate, has the first magnetic area;

Keycap;

Bracing or strutting arrangement, is arranged between this base plate and this keycap, and is connected in rotating mode with this keycap and this base plate respectively, and this keycap follows this bracing or strutting arrangement in not moving between pressing position and pressing position, and this bracing or strutting arrangement comprises the first abutting part; And

Drive element, be arranged between this base plate and this keycap, this drive element comprises the second magnetic area and the second abutting part, and this second magnetic area is positioned on this first magnetic area, and this second abutting part is positioned on this first abutting part;

Wherein, when this keycap is not pressed, the magnetic attraction between this second magnetic area and this first magnetic area makes this keycap be maintained at this not pressing position; When this keycap is during by pressed by external force, this first abutting part will cause this second magnetic area away from this first magnetic area in top on this second abutting part, make this keycap follow this bracing or strutting arrangement by this not pressing position move to pressing position; When this external force discharges, this magnetic attraction makes this second magnetic area cause this second abutting part that this first abutting part is pressed down near this first magnetic area, makes this keycap follow this bracing or strutting arrangement to move back to this not pressing position by this pressing position.

2. button as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that: one of them of this first magnetic area and this second magnetic area is magnetic part, and in this first magnetic area and this second magnetic area, another is magnetic part or magnetic conductive material.

3. button as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that: this bracing or strutting arrangement comprises two strutting pieces, these two strutting pieces are oppositely arranged, and these two strutting pieces all comprise the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, this first connecting portion connects this base plate in rotating mode, and this second connecting portion connects this keycap in rotating mode.

4. button as claimed in claim 3, is characterized in that: on this base plate, be provided with Connection Block, this first connecting portion connects this Connection Block of this base plate in rotating mode, and this second connecting portion connects this keycap with butt and rotating mode.

5. button as claimed in claim 3, it is characterized in that: on this base plate, be provided with the first Connection Block, this keycap is provided with the second Connection Block corresponding to a side of this second connecting portion, this first connecting portion connects this first Connection Block of this base plate in rotating mode, and this second connecting portion connects this second Connection Block in rotating mode.

6. button as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that: this drive element has stiff end and floating end, and this stiff end is fixed on this base plate, and this second magnetic area and this second abutting part are arranged on this floating end.

7. button as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that: this bracing or strutting arrangement has fluting, and this second magnetic area is arranged in this fluting, and this second magnetic area can directly be contacted with this first magnetic area.

8. button as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that: this button separately comprises circuit board, this circuit board is arranged on this base plate, this circuit board has at least one switch, this bracing or strutting arrangement has at least one trigger unit, when this keycap is followed this bracing or strutting arrangement pressing position is not moved to this pressing position by this, this trigger unit triggers this switch.

9. button as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that: this button separately comprises framework, this framework is arranged on this base plate, this framework has a plurality of stopper slots, this keycap have to should be a plurality of a plurality of limiting sections of arranging of stopper slots, this keycap is arranged in this framework and these a plurality of limiting sections are arranged in this plurality of stopper slots, to prevent that this keycap from departing from this framework.

10. button as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that: this bracing or strutting arrangement comprises the first strutting piece and the second strutting piece, this first strutting piece and this second strutting piece are oppositely arranged, and this first strutting piece has this first abutting part, when this keycap is during by this pressed by external force, on this first abutting part, push up this second abutting part.

11. buttons as claimed in claim 10, is characterized in that: this second strutting piece has linkage part, and when this keycap is during by this pressed by external force, this second strutting piece is by this first strutting piece of this linkage part interlock.

12. 1 kinds of keyboards, is characterized in that comprising the button as described in any one in claim 1-11.