CN104252986A - Keycap, key structure and keyboard with key structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a keyboard, which is provided with a substrate and at least one key structure arranged on the substrate, wherein the key structure comprises a key switch and a key cap, the key switch comprises a key seat and a shaft element, the key cap comprises a body and a buffer element, the body is arranged on the shaft element, and the body is separated from the key seat at a certain interval in a normal state, so that the body can reciprocate along with the shaft element relative to the key seat. The buffer piece is arranged on one side of the body opposite to the key seat, and when the body is closed to the key seat, the buffer piece can abut against the key seat to prevent the body from directly impacting on the key seat, so that the noise generated when the key structure is pressed by a user can be reduced or eliminated.

Description

Keycap, key structure and keyboard with the key structure

【Technical field】

The invention relates to a key cap, a key structure and a keyboard, in particular to a key cap of a mechanical key, a key structure and a keyboard with the key structure.

【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, all the consumer electronic products in daily life or the large-scale processing equipment used in the industry are equipped with key structures as input devices to operate the above-mentioned electronic products and processing equipment.

With the ever-changing needs of use, various keyboards with different functions have been developed one by one, such as: folding keyboards, membrane keyboards, waterproof keyboards and even luminous keyboards and so on. The actuating structure of the keys of a general computer keyboard can be roughly divided into two types: mechanical and membrane. Various components inside, such as spring caps or keycap sockets, springs, etc. When the key cap is pressed to move downward, the push shaft moves downward, and at the same time, the signal represented by the key is input, and when the character signal represented by the key is indeed typed, the key cap is easily caused by The user presses and impacts on the key base, and then makes a touch sound.

Also because the key base is easily subject to the direct collision of the key cap, the keyboard is not only easily damaged due to the mutual collision between the key cap and the key base, but also produces quite annoying noises. interference, and then affect other people around, causing troubles to others, so that the keyboard can not be used in environments that require quiet, such as offices, libraries or places that require quiet, so that the use of the keyboard in different situations is greatly affected restrictions, causing inconvenience to users. Therefore, if the keyboard can significantly reduce the noise during use, it will be the research and development target of the industry.

【Content of invention】

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a keycap, a key structure and a keyboard with the key structure, so as to solve the annoying noise generated when the conventional keyboard is easy to use, so that the use of the keyboard in various situations is greatly affected. Limitation, which in turn causes the problem of inconvenient use.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a key cap suitable for being combined with a key switch, and the key switch includes a key base and a shaft, the shaft is movably arranged on the key base, the key cap includes a body and A buffer, wherein the main body is arranged on the shaft, the main body is normally separated from a contact surface of the key base by a distance, and can move back and forth with the shaft relative to the key base. The buffer is arranged on one side of the body opposite to the contact surface, wherein when the body is close to the contact surface, the buffer will abut against the contact surface and generate elastic deformation corresponding to the contact surface.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned keycap of the present invention, the shaft member has a protrusion, and the body has a slot, the shape of the slot matches the shape of the protrusion, and the protrusion fits tightly in the slot.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned keycap of the present invention, a groove is provided on the side of the main body opposite to the contact surface, and the buffer member is combined in the groove.

Further, in the keycap of the present invention, the buffer member is foam, sound-absorbing cotton, rubber pad, silicone pad or spring.

The present invention further provides a key structure, which includes a key switch and a key cap. The key switch includes a key base, an elastic part and a shaft part. The key base has a contact surface, and the elastic part and the shaft part are respectively installed in the key base. Reciprocating movement between an actuation position and a release position, wherein the shaft is normally maintained at the release position and compresses the elastic member at the actuation position. The keycap includes a body and a buffer, wherein the body is arranged on the shaft, and the body is normally at a distance from the contact surface of the key base, and can move back and forth with the shaft relative to the key base. The buffer is arranged on one side of the body opposite to the contact surface, wherein when the shaft is at the actuation position, the body is close to the contact surface, and the buffer is against the contact surface, and elastically deforms corresponding to the contact surface.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned button structure of the present invention, the shaft member has a protruding post, and the side of the keycap opposite to the contact surface has a card slot, and the protruding post is tightly fitted in the card slot, and the shape of the card slot is the same as that of the protruding post. shapes match each other.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned button structure of the present invention, a groove is provided on the side of the keycap opposite to the contact surface, and the buffer member is combined in the groove.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned button structure of the present invention, the buffer member is foam, sound-absorbing cotton, rubber pad, silicone pad or spring.

The invention further provides a keyboard, which includes a substrate and a plurality of key structures. There are a plurality of accommodation slots on the substrate, and each key structure is installed in each accommodation slot correspondingly, wherein each key structure includes a key switch and a key cap, and the key cap is detachably installed on the key switch on. The key switch includes a key base, an elastic part and a shaft part. The key base has a contact surface, and the elastic part and the shaft part are respectively installed in the key base. Reciprocating movement between an actuation position and a release position, wherein the shaft is normally maintained at the release position and compresses the elastic member at the actuation position. The keycap includes a body and a buffer, wherein the body is arranged on the shaft, and the body is normally at a distance from the contact surface of the key base, and can move back and forth with the shaft relative to the key base. The buffer is arranged on one side of the body opposite to the contact surface, wherein when the shaft is at the actuation position, the body is close to the contact surface, and the buffer is against the contact surface, and elastically deforms corresponding to the contact surface.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned keyboard of the present invention, the shaft member has a protruding post, and the side of the keycap opposite to the contact surface has a card slot, and the protruding post is tightly fitted in the card slot, and the shape of the card slot is consistent with that of the protruding post. The shapes fit together.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned keyboard of the present invention, a groove is further provided on the side of the keycap opposite to the contact surface, and the buffer member is combined in the groove.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned keyboard of the present invention, the buffer member is foam, sound-absorbing cotton, rubber pad, silicone pad or spring.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned keyboard of the present invention, the elastic member is a compression spring, and the buffer member is foam.

The effect of the present invention is that the keyboard utilizes the design of the keycap with a buffer pad to prevent the keycap and the key base from colliding with each other during operation, and absorbs the force of the impact through the material properties of the buffer, thereby reducing or eliminating the need to operate the keyboard. The noise at the time and the comfort of use are improved, so as to meet the needs of users who can operate the keyboard softly in various situations.

Regarding the features, implementation and effects of the present invention, the preferred embodiments are described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings.

【Description of drawings】

FIG. 1 is a combined schematic diagram of a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the key structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a combined schematic view of the key structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the key structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a combined schematic view of the button structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the button structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Description of main component symbols:

10 keyboard 2131 boss

100 Substrate 220 Keycap

110 Accommodating tank 221 Body

200 key structure 222 buffer

210 key switch 223 card slot

211 key seat 224 groove

2111 contact surface P1 release position

212 Elastic piece P2 actuating position

213 Shaft

【Detailed ways】

The keycap 220 , the key structure 200 and the keyboard 10 disclosed in the following two embodiments of the present invention are the keycap, the key structure and the mechanical keyboard with the key structure.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 . FIG. 1 is a combined schematic diagram of the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of the key structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The keyboard 10 disclosed in this embodiment includes a substrate 100 and a plurality of key structures 200 . The substrate 100 has a plurality of accommodating grooves 110, and each button structure 200 is correspondingly engaged in each accommodating groove 110, and is combined with the substrate in a detachable manner. Each key structure 200 includes a key switch 210 and a key cap 220 , and the key cap 220 is detachably installed on the key switch 210 . The detailed structure of the key switch 210 and the keycap 220 will be further described below.

The key switch 210 of this embodiment includes a key base 211 , an elastic element 212 and a shaft element 213 . The key base 211 has a contact surface 2111, and the key base 211 has an accommodating space, and the accommodating space forms an opening on the contact surface 2111, and the elastic member 212 and the shaft member 213 are respectively installed on the key base 211 through the opening. In the accommodating space, wherein the shaft member 213 is carried on the elastic member 212, and the normal relative key seat 211 is maintained at a release position P1, and the elastic member 212 can be compressed to move to an actuating position P2 relative to the key seat 211 (such as Figure 4). In addition, the other side of the shaft member 213 opposite to the elastic member 212 has a boss 2131, the shape of which can be but not limited to cylindrical or polygonal. 220 combined with each other. It should be noted that the shaft member 213 can perform a reciprocating displacement movement relative to the bottom surface of the key base 211 through the elastic force of the elastic member 212 . Wherein, the elastic member 212 described in this embodiment includes but is not limited to compression springs (Compression springs).

The keycap 220 of this embodiment includes a body 221 and a buffer 222, wherein the body 221 is made of thermoplastic material, such as polyester engineering plastics (PBT) or polyacetal resin (POM), which is beneficial to Forming, and has superior impact resistance and wear resistance. The body 221 has an opposite top surface and a bottom surface, and the bottom surface of the body 221 has a locking groove 223 and a groove 224. The locking groove 223 is formed on a bump on the bottom surface, and the groove 224 surrounds the bump. Further, a concave structure is formed on the bottom surface, wherein the locking groove 223 may be but not limited to a blind hole, and the shape and size of the locking groove 223 match the shape and size of the protrusion 2131 of the shaft member 213 . The buffer 222 is installed in the groove 224, and the shape of the buffer 222 matches the shape of the groove 224, wherein the buffer 222 can be foam, sound-absorbing cotton, rubber pad or silicone pad, etc., which have elastic deformation, And it is composed of elastic material that can absorb impact force and sound, so as to provide the buffering effect of the main body 221 . In addition, the combination method of the buffer member 222 in the groove 224 may be glued or embedded, but it is not limited thereto.

Please refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 . FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the button structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention. To further illustrate, the keycap 220 of this embodiment fits on the boss 2131 of the shaft 213 through the slot 223 in the body 221 to form a tight fit. In addition, the buffer member 222 disposed in the groove 224 of the main body 221 is corresponding to the contact surface 2111 of the key base 211. Therefore, when the shaft member 213 is normally maintained at the release position P1, the contact between the main body 221 and the key base 211 The surfaces 2111 are separated by a distance. On the contrary, when an external force presses the keycap 220 downward, the body 221 closes to the contact surface 2111, and at the same time pushes the shaft member 213 to move downward to an actuation position P2, and the buffer member 222 leans against the contact surface 2111. And being squeezed by the contact surface 2111, the structure of the corresponding contact surface 2111 produces elastic deformation, so as to absorb the external force pressing on the keycap and provide a cushioning effect, which can prevent the keycap 220 from directly hitting the key base 211, resulting in noise or damaged. In addition, when the shaft member 213 compresses the elastic member 212 at the actuating position P2, the elastic member 212 generates a corresponding restoring force. Therefore, when the external force disappears, the shaft member 213 can return to the release position P1 through the restoring force.

Therefore, the function of typing characters can be achieved by repeating the above actions, and the body 221 of the keycap 220 will not directly collide with the key base 211 through the buffer force of the buffer member 222 to prevent noise.

5 and 6, the overall structure of the keycap 220, key structure 200 and keyboard disclosed in the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the keycap 220, key structure 200 and keyboard of the first embodiment. are similar, so the following content only focuses on the differences between the two in detail.

The keycap 220 of this embodiment includes a body 221 and a buffer 222, wherein the body 221 is made of thermoplastic material, such as polyester engineering plastics (PBT) or polyacetal resin (POM), which is beneficial to Forming, and has superior impact resistance and wear resistance. The main body 221 has an opposite top surface and a bottom surface, and the bottom surface has a locking groove 223 and a groove 224, wherein the locking groove 223 is a blind hole formed on a protrusion on the bottom surface, and its shape and size are similar to those of the shaft member 213 The shapes and dimensions of the protrusions 2131 match each other. The groove 224 of the body 221 is a concave structure surrounding the outer periphery of the protrusion.

The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the buffer member 222 of the keycap 220 is a spring, one end of which is accommodated in the groove 224 of the body 221, and is sleeved on the outer peripheral edge of the protrusion, that is, surrounds On the periphery of the locking slot 223 , the other end of the buffer member 222 may be but not limited to butt against the contact surface 2111 of the key base 211 to provide a buffering effect through the elastic force of the spring. In addition, the arrangement of the buffer member 222 can also be such that one end of the buffer member 222 is fixed on the body 221, so that the other end of the buffer member 222 is suspended above the contact surface 2111 of the key base 211, and it can also be placed on the body of the keycap 220. 221 provides a cushioning effect during the reciprocal movement relative to the key base 211 .

Wherein, when the shaft member 213 is maintained at the release position P1 normally, the contact surface 2111 of the main body 221 and the key base 211 is separated by a distance. On the contrary, when an external force presses the keycap 220 downward, the main body 221 moves closer to the contact surface 2111, and at the same time pushes the shaft member 213 to move downward to an actuation position P2, so that the buffer member 222 is compressed and leans against the key base 211 , so as to provide a buffer force when the body 221 of the keycap 220 moves toward the key base 211 , so as to prevent the body 221 from directly colliding with the key base 211 to generate noise. Moreover, when the elastic member 212 of the key switch 210 is compressed by the shaft member 213, a restoring force will be generated correspondingly. Therefore, when the external force disappears, the restoring force can make the shaft member 213 return to the release position P1, and drive the keycap together. The body 221 of 220 is away from the contact surface 2111 of the key base 211 . Therefore, by repeating the above actions, the function of typing characters can be achieved, and the buffer force of the buffer member 222 prevents the body 221 from directly colliding with the key base 211 to prevent noise.

Compared with the prior art, the keyboard of the present invention utilizes the design of the keycap with a buffer pad to prevent the keycap and the key base from colliding with each other during operation, and absorbs the force of the impact through the material properties of the buffer, thereby It can greatly reduce the noise when operating the keyboard and improve the comfort in use, so as to meet the needs of users in use.

Although the embodiments of the present invention are disclosed as above, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the relevant art can use the shapes, structures, and features described in the application scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. and quantity can be slightly changed, so the scope of patent protection of the present invention must be defined by the scope of patent application attached to this specification.

Claims (14)

1. a keycap, is suitable for being combined on a key switch, it is characterized in that, described key switch comprises a keyseat and a shaft member, and described shaft member is movably arranged on described keyseat, and described keycap comprises:

One body, is arranged in described shaft member, being separated by a spacing with a contact-making surface of described keyseat of described body normality, and can with the relatively described keyseat shift reciprocately of described shaft member; And

One bolster, is arranged on the side of the relatively described contact-making surface of described body, and wherein when described body is drawn close in described contact-making surface, described bolster is resisted against on described contact-making surface, and corresponding described contact-making surface produces strain.

2. keycap according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described shaft member has a projection, and described body has a draw-in groove, and the shape of described draw-in groove and the shape of described projection cooperatively interact, and described projection is friction tight is combined in described draw-in groove.

3. keycap according to claim 2, is characterized in that, the side of the relatively described contact-making surface of described body is also provided with a groove, and described bolster is combined in described groove.

4. keycap according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described bolster is foam, acoustical cotton, rubber blanket, silicagel pad or spring.

5. a press-key structure, is characterized in that, described press-key structure includes:

One key switch:

One keyseat, has a contact-making surface;

One elastic component, is arranged in described keyseat; And

One shaft member, is installed on described elastic component, and can relatively described keyseat shift reciprocately between an activated position and an off-position, described shaft member normality maintain described off-position, and compress described elastic component at described activated position; And

One keycap, be located in described shaft member, and to be separated by a spacing with the described contact-making surface of described keyseat, the side of the relatively described contact-making surface of described keycap is provided with a bolster, wherein said shaft member position is at described activated position, described bolster is resisted against described contact-making surface, and corresponding described contact-making surface produces strain.

6. press-key structure according to claim 5, it is characterized in that, described shaft member has a projection, and the side of the relatively described contact-making surface of described keycap has a draw-in groove, described projection is friction tight to be combined in described draw-in groove, and the shape of the shape of described draw-in groove and described projection cooperatively interacts.

7. press-key structure according to claim 6, is characterized in that, the side of the relatively described contact-making surface of described keycap is also provided with a groove, and described bolster is combined in described groove.

8. press-key structure according to claim 5, is characterized in that, described bolster is foam, acoustical cotton, rubber blanket, silicagel pad or spring.

9. press-key structure according to claim 5, is characterized in that, described elastic component is Compress Spring, and described bolster is foam.

10. a keyboard, is characterized in that, described keyboard includes:

One substrate, has multiple storage tank; And

Multiple press-key structure, correspondence is arranged in described each storage tank, and described each press-key structure includes:

One key switch:

One keyseat, has a contact-making surface;

One elastic component, is arranged in described keyseat; And

One shaft member, is installed on described elastic component, and can relatively described keyseat shift reciprocately between an activated position and an off-position, described shaft member normality maintain described off-position, and compress described elastic component at described activated position; And

One keycap, be located in described shaft member, and to be separated by a spacing with the described contact-making surface of described keyseat, the side of the relatively described contact-making surface of described keycap is provided with a bolster, wherein said shaft member position is at described activated position, described bolster is resisted against described contact-making surface, and corresponding described contact-making surface produces strain.

11. keyboards according to claim 10, it is characterized in that, described shaft member has a projection, and the side of the relatively described contact-making surface of described keycap has a draw-in groove, described projection is friction tight to be combined in described draw-in groove, and the shape of the shape of described draw-in groove and described projection cooperatively interacts.

12. keyboards according to claim 10, is characterized in that, the side of the relatively described contact-making surface of described keycap is also provided with a groove, and described bolster is combined in described groove.

13. keyboards according to claim 10, is characterized in that, described bolster is foam, acoustical cotton, rubber blanket, silicagel pad or spring.

14. keyboards according to claim 10, is characterized in that, described elastic component is Compress Spring, and described bolster is foam.