CN110085471A - Keyboard structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a keyboard structure, which includes a keycap, a support plate, a support element connecting the keycap and the support plate, and a striking element arranged under the keycap. During the descending process of the keycap, the support element presses the striking element through a push-pull block to cause it to bend and deform, and then the striking element is separated from the push-pull block, so that the striking element elastically recovers and strikes the lower surface of the keycap to generate a sound.

Description

keyboard structure

technical field

The invention relates to the field of input devices, in particular to a keyboard structure

Background technique

In today's society, the use of electronic products has become an indispensable part of life. Food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and entertainment are all related to electronic products. In order to make electronic products more convenient to carry or use, the designs of electronic products are becoming thinner and thinner. Generally speaking, electronic products are equipped with a keyboard, and if the equipped keyboard is a mechanical keyboard structure, it usually has a bearing design. The types of keyboard bearings are usually distinguished by colors such as cyan, red, black, brown, and green. Keyboard bearings of different colors will also produce different knocking sounds and pressing pressures when pressed, so that the keyboard can form different knocking patterns. The tapping feeling, and the appropriate tapping sound and pressing pressure can also allow the user to maintain a good typing rhythm.

In order to make electronic products lighter and thinner, generally speaking, efforts are made to simplify the configuration of the support structure or elastic structure in the keyboard structure, or reduce the overall keyboard volume by reducing the height of the support structure. Therefore, the keyboard structure in thin and light keyboards often does not have the design of keyboard bearings, which makes it difficult for the keyboard to produce a proper knocking sound, which may cause the user to not be able to immediately confirm whether the keyboard has been pressed, or even cause discomfort. The pressing feel makes the user unable to maintain the original good typing rhythm.

In the existing technology, in order to allow the simplified keyboard structure to still produce appropriate percussion sound, such as in US Patent No. US9767970, a keyboard structure is proposed, which is provided with a protrusion on the lower surface of the keycap , and the support plate of the keyboard is provided with an elastic structure aligned with the protrusion. When the keycap is lowered, the protruding part will move towards the elastic structure, so that a sound similar to that of a button can be generated through the collision between the protruding part and the elastic structure. However, in order to provide the extended protrusion on the lower surface of the keycap, it may be necessary to change the original combined position of the keycap and the scissors foot structure, and the arrangement of the protrusion also increases the complexity of keyboard assembly. Since the protruding part is a structure extending from the lower surface of the keycap, when the keyboard is pressed frequently, the protruding part may be broken or damaged due to the embrittlement of the material, so that the keyboard cannot produce proper Knocking sound.

Therefore, how to provide a keyboard structure that is easy to assemble while simplifying the design of the keyboard structure, and at the same time allow the keyboard to stably and continuously generate appropriate knocking sounds is the technical problem to be solved by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a keyboard structure which is easy to assemble and can stably and continuously generate knocking sound.

To achieve the aforementioned purpose, the present invention provides a keyboard structure, including: keycaps, support plates, knocking elements, and support elements. The keycap has an upper surface and a lower surface; a support plate; the percussion element is arranged below the keycap; the support element connects the keycap and the support plate, and has a push-off projection for leaning against the percussion element; wherein, During the descending process of the keycap, the pushing projection presses the knocking element, causing the knocking element to produce bending deformation, and then the knocking element breaks away from the pushing projection, so that the knocking element elastically recovers and strikes the lower surface to generate sound.

In the above preferred embodiment, the knocking element has a knocking part and a fixing part.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, wherein the pushing projection abuts against the striking part through the inclined surface, and during the lowering process of the keycap, the pushing projection presses against the striking part through the inclined surface, so that the striking part produces bending deformation, Then the knocking part disengages from the pushing projection along the slope, so that the knocking part returns elastically and hits the lower surface to generate a sound.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, wherein the knocking part has a knocking protrusion, which is used to knock the lower surface to generate a sound.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, wherein the support plate includes a fixing hole corresponding to the fixing part, and the fixing hole is used for accommodating the fixing part so as to fix the knocking element.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, it further includes a film layer disposed on the support plate, and the film layer has switches corresponding to the positions of the keycaps.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, it further includes an elastic element, which is disposed on the switch and used to provide elastic restoring force to the keycap.

In the above preferred implementation manner, during the process of the keycap descending, the elastic element deforms and touches the switch to generate a keyboard signal.

In the above-mentioned preferred implementation manner, the material of the elastic element can be: rubber, silica gel or metal shrapnel.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, the supporting element includes a first bracket and a second bracket, and the pushing projection is disposed on a side surface of the second bracket.

In the above preferred embodiment, it further includes a printed circuit board disposed under the support plate.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, the material of the knocking element is: soft elastic material, hard elastic material or composite elastic material.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, wherein the soft elastic material is: silica gel or PVC soft glue.

In the above preferred embodiment, the rigid elastic material is: ABS resin, polycarbonate, acrylic, stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum or copper.

In the above preferred embodiment, the composite elastic material is composed of soft elastic material and hard elastic material.

The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the keyboard structure provided by the present invention is easier to assemble and is not easily damaged, so that the keyboard can stably and continuously generate appropriate knocking sounds when pressed.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the three-dimensional schematic diagram of keyboard structure of the present invention;

Fig. 2A is the sectional view of keyboard structure of the present invention;

Figure 2B is a top perspective view of the keyboard structure of the present invention; and

3A to 3B are schematic diagrams of the operation of the keyboard of the present invention.

The reference numbers are as follows:

S slope

10 Keyboard structure

11 keycaps

111 upper surface

112 lower surface

1121 First junction

12 Support elements

121 First bracket

122 Second bracket

1221 push against bump

13 Support plate

131 Second junction

14 film layers

141 switch

142 openings

15 printed circuit board

16 Elastic elements

17 percussion element

171 fixed part

172 Percussion

1721 Tap bump

Detailed ways

The advantages and features of the present invention and methods for attaining the same will be more easily understood by more detailed description with reference to exemplary embodiments and accompanying drawings. However, the invention may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. On the contrary, for those skilled in the art, these embodiments are provided to make this disclosure more thorough, comprehensive and fully convey the scope of the present invention.

First, please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a three-dimensional schematic view of the keyboard structure of the present invention. In FIG. 1 , the keyboard structure 10 of the present invention includes: a keycap 11, a supporting element 12, a supporting plate 13, a film layer 14, a printed circuit board (Printed CircuitBoard, PCB) 15, an elastic element 16 and a knocking element 17.

Please continue to refer to FIG. 1 , the keycap 11 has an upper surface 111 and a lower surface 112 , and the lower surface 112 has a plurality of first combining portions 1121 . The supporting element 12 includes a first bracket 121 and a second bracket 122, and the first bracket 121 and the second bracket 122 can be pivotally connected to each other through a pivot shaft, and the side surface of the second bracket 122 has a pushing projection 1221. The support plate 13 has a plurality of second coupling portions 131 and a fixing hole 132 . The film layer 14 has a keyboard signal function, which is arranged on the support plate 13, and the film layer 14 includes a switch 141 corresponding to the position of the keycap 11 and a position corresponding to the second joint portion 131 and a fixing hole 132 The location of the opening 142 . The elastic element 16 is arranged on the switch 141, and the material of the elastic element 16 can be: rubber, silicone or metal shrapnel. The knocking element 17 has a fixing portion 171 corresponding to the fixing hole 132 and an L-shaped knocking portion 172 , and a knocking protrusion 1721 is disposed at an end of the knocking portion 172 . The printed circuit board 15 disposed under the support plate 13 is used to provide operating power to the light-emitting elements (not shown in the figure) in the keyboard structure 10 .

Please refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard structure of the present invention; FIG. 2B is a top perspective view of the keyboard structure of the present invention. When the button is assembled, the supporting element 12 surrounds the elastic element 16, and one end of the first bracket 121 and the second bracket 122 of the supporting element 12 are pivotally connected to the first joint portion 1121 of the keycap 11; The joint part 131 passes through the opening 142 of the film layer 14, and is pivotally connected with the other ends of the first bracket 121 and the second bracket 122, so that the first bracket 121 and the second bracket 122 can be rotatably connected to the keycap 11 and between the support plates 13 , and can drive and guide the keycap 11 to perform a downward and upward movement relative to the support plate 13 . Although the present invention only proposes the embodiment in which the support element 12 is a scissors foot structure, in actual application, it can also be replaced with other support elements with similar functions, such as: V-shaped, A-shaped or two parallel connecting rod structures, and It is not limited to the embodiments of the present invention.

The elastic element 16 disposed on the switch 141 abuts against the lower surface 112 of the keycap 11 for providing elastic restoring force to the keycap 11 . When the upper surface 111 of the keycap 11 is pressed down, the elastic element 16 is deformed due to being squeezed, and thus contacts the switch 141 (as shown in FIG. 1 ) to generate a corresponding keyboard signal; when the keycap 11 When the upper surface 111 of the upper surface 111 is not pressed, the elastic element 16 provides an upward elastic restoring force of the keycap 11 to push the keycap 11 up and reset it.

Please continue to refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the fixing hole 132 of the support plate 13 is used to accommodate and fix the fixing portion 171 of the knocking element 17, so that the knocking element 17 can pass through the opening 142 of the film layer 14 and be fixed on the Support plate 13. It should be further explained that although the present invention only proposes the embodiment in which the knocking element 17 is fixed on the support plate 13, in actual application, the knocking element 17 is also fixed on the film layer 14 or The surface of the printed circuit board 15 is not limited to the embodiment of the present invention. On the other hand, the pushing projection 1221 on the side surface of the second bracket 122 abuts against an end point of the L-shaped striking portion 172 through a slope S, so that the pushing projection 1221 can interfere with the striking portion 172 . In this embodiment, the pushing protrusion 1221 abuts against the knocking protrusion 1721 on the end of the knocking portion 172 through the slope S. As shown in FIG. Although the present invention only proposes an embodiment in which the pushing bump 1221 abuts against the knocking bump 1721, in actual application, the knocking bump 1721 can also be arranged at a position close to the end point of the knocking portion 172, but the pushing The abutting bump 1221 is not in contact with the knocking bump 1721 , but directly abuts against the surface of the knocking portion 172 .

The knocking element 17 is made of soft elastic material, hard elastic material or composite elastic material, so that the knocking element 17 has elastic recovery force and is not easily damaged. Among them, the soft elastic material can be: silicone (scilicone) or PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) soft glue; and the hard elastic material can be: ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) resin, polycarbonate (Polycarbonate, PC), acrylic, stainless steel , galvanized steel (SECC or SGCC), aluminum or copper; and the composite elastic material is composed of soft elastic material and hard elastic material, for example, the fixed part 171 and the knocking part 172 of the knocking element 17 It can be made of soft elastic material, and the knocking bump 1721 can be made of hard elastic material; or the fixing part 171 and knocking part 172 of the knocking element 17 can be made of hard elastic material, and the knocking bump 1721 can be made of soft elastic material. Although the present invention only proposes an embodiment in which the knocking bump 1721 and the knocking part 172 of the knocking element 17 are integrated with each other, in actual application, the knocking element 17 can also be made in an integrally formed manner, instead of The proposed embodiments of the present invention are limited.

Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B . FIGS. 3A to 3B are schematic diagrams of the operation of the keyboard of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3A , when the upper surface 111 of the keycap 11 is lowered due to being pressed, the pushing projection 1221 on the side surface of the second bracket 122 can be pressed and knocked through the slope S during the lowering process of the keycap 11 . The bump 1721 makes the knocking part 172 produce bending deformation. When the keycap 11 continues to descend to the position of the keyboard signal of the trigger switch 141, the knocking part 172 also breaks away from the pushing bump 1221 along the slope S of the pushing bump 1221, so that the pushing bump 1221 and the knocking part 172 cannot interfere with each other. At this time, the striking part 172 elastically recovers, and strikes the lower surface 112 of the keycap 11 with the striking protrusion 1721 . In this way, when the user presses the keyboard and triggers the keyboard signal, the tapping element 17 can tap the keycap 11 at the same time to generate a corresponding tapping sound, so that the user can maintain the original good typing rhythm. On the other hand, the present invention can also adjust the material of the knocking protrusion 1721 to make different knocking sounds when the knocking protrusion 1721 hits the lower surface 112 of the keycap 11 , so as to meet the needs of different users.

Compared with the known technology, the keyboard structure provided by the present invention is easier to assemble and is not easily damaged, so that the keyboard can stably and continuously produce appropriate knocking sounds when pressed; therefore, the present invention is actually a very valuable industrial creation.

The present invention can be modified in various ways by those skilled in the art, all without departing from the intended protection of the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. A keyboard structure, comprising: A key cap has an upper surface and a lower surface; a support plate; A percussion element is arranged under the keycap; and a support element, which connects the keycap and the support plate, and has a pushing projection, which is used to lean against the knocking element; Wherein, during the lowering process of the keycap, the pushing bump presses the knocking element, causing the knocking element to undergo bending deformation, and then the knocking element breaks away from the pushing bump, so that the knocking element returns elastically And tap the lower surface to produce a sound. 2. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the knocking element has a knocking portion and a fixing portion. 3. The keyboard structure according to claim 2, wherein the pushing projection abuts against the striking portion through a slope, and when the keycap is lowered, the pushing projection pushes against the striking portion through the slope. The striking part is bent and deformed, and then the striking part is separated from the pushing projection along the slope, so that the striking part elastically recovers and strikes the lower surface to generate a sound. 4. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the striking portion has a striking protrusion for striking the lower surface to generate a sound. 5. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support plate comprises a fixing hole corresponding to the fixing part, and the fixing hole is used for accommodating the fixing part, thereby fixing the knocking element. 6. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a thin film layer disposed on the support plate, the thin film layer has a switch corresponding to the position of the keycap. 7. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an elastic element disposed on the switch and used for providing an elastic restoring force to the keycap. 8. The keyboard structure according to claim 7, wherein when the keycap is lowered, the elastic element deforms and contacts the switch to generate a keyboard signal. 9. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elastic element is made of rubber, silica gel or metal shrapnel. 10. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting element comprises a first bracket and a second bracket, and the pushing projection is disposed on a side surface of the second bracket. 11. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board disposed under the support plate. 12. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of the striking element is: a soft elastic material, a hard elastic material or a composite elastic material. 13. The keyboard structure according to claim 12, wherein the soft elastic material is: silica gel or PVC soft glue. 14. The keyboard structure according to claim 12, wherein the rigid elastic material is: ABS resin, polycarbonate, acrylic, stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum or copper. 15. The keyboard structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the composite elastic material is composed of the soft elastic material and the hard elastic material.