CN220208803U - Key switch and keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to input devices, and particularly to a key switch and a mechanical keyboard. The key switch comprises a shell and a pressing handle, wherein an elastic reset element and a knocking block are further arranged in the shell, the knocking block is rotatably arranged in the shell through a rotating shaft, a driving block is arranged on the pressing handle, when the knocking block is positioned at a first initial position, the driving block moves downwards along with the pressing handle and can drive the knocking block to rotate, and the knocking block can knock the shell after being separated from the driving block. The keyboard comprises a circuit board, at least one keycap and at least one key switch using the technical scheme, wherein the key switch is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the keycap is connected to the key switch. Compared with the prior art, the elastic reset element and the knocking block respectively realize the functions of elastic reset and knocking, have better sounding effect, are not easy to damage and are convenient for adjusting handfeel.

Description

Key switch and keyboard

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to input devices, and particularly to a key switch and a mechanical keyboard.

Background

Mechanical keyboards are a type of keyboard that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Structurally, each key of a mechanical keyboard has a separate switch to control the closing, which is also referred to as a "shaft". According to the classification of the switch, the shaft body of the mechanical keyboard can be divided into a green shaft, a tea shaft, a linear shaft and the like, and the corresponding hand feeling of each shaft body is inconsistent due to different structures. The green shaft can generate obvious paragraph sense in the pressing process and is accompanied with knocking sound; the tea shaft has friction force in the pressing process, can generate friction hand feeling, but has no knocking sound; the linear axis produces a "linear" feel because there is no obstruction in the pressing down of the handle. Along with the increasing demands of users for customization, how to meet the demands of users for customization is a problem to be solved at present. However, in existing keyboards, it is difficult for a user to autonomously switch the sound emitting state and the feel attribute according to the need.

In order to overcome the problem, the utility model patent 202021276157.4 adopts a sliding switching piece and a spring part limiting block to change the position of the torsion spring, and further can switch between two sounds such as sound, silence and the like or two handfeel such as linearity and paragraph according to whether the torsion spring knocks the base and the knocking time. This prior art, while meeting the needs of some customizations of users, has the drawback of being evident: firstly, the torsion spring sounds in a mode that the torsion spring impacts the base, namely, the torsion spring is not only a reset element but also a knocking element, so that a good balance effect is difficult to obtain at the same time, and the design requirements on the material and shape of the torsion spring are high; secondly, the sound production effect of the torsional spring as a knocking element is thinner, and the torsional spring is easy to damage along with the increase of knocking times, so that the regulating function of the switch is completely invalid; finally, the torsion spring can be directly used as a knocking element to only meet the switching of 'with' and 'without' sound or hand feeling, so that further sound or hand feeling subdivision is difficult according to different degrees of 'with', and the setting of more than two different knocking hand feeling is severely limited. In addition, even if only two states are required, there are a number of inconveniences in achieving switching of hand feeling by changing the position of the torsion spring.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to provide the key switch which has better sounding effect, is not easy to damage and is convenient for adjusting the hand feeling.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present utility model is to provide a keyboard using the above-mentioned key switch.

In order to solve the technical problems, the utility model adopts the following technical scheme:

the utility model provides a key switch, including the casing and set up in this casing and can be relative this casing up-and-down motion press the handle, still be equipped with an elasticity reset element in this casing and with this elasticity reset element is connected strike the piece, strike the piece through a pivot with rotatable mode set up in the casing, press being equipped with a drive piece on the handle, this when beating the piece and being in first initial position, the drive piece follows press the handle down motion and can drive strike the piece and rotate, this strike the piece with can strike behind the drive piece separation the casing.

After the structure is adopted, the section sense of the key can be generated through the contact of the driving block and the knocking block, and the knocking block knocks the shell under the reset action of the elastic reset element to generate the sound of the key, so that the green-axis hand feeling is realized. Compared with the prior art, the elastic reset element and the knocking block respectively realize the functions of elastic reset and knocking, so that the designs of the elastic reset element and the knocking block are not interfered with each other, the knocking block can be designed in a diversified manner to realize a better sounding effect, the elastic reset element can also get rid of the limit of the knocking function to return to the functional design of reset, and the problem that the elastic reset element is directly impacted to cause damage in the prior art can be effectively avoided; the contact area and the contact effectiveness between the driving block and the knocking block are far greater than those of the prior art, and the driving block and the knocking block are directly contacted with the elastic reset element, so that different paragraph sensations are easier to further adjust.

As an improvement of the foregoing technical solution, the key switch further includes an adjusting device that rotates the rotating shaft to enable the striking block to have a second initial position, and when the striking block is in the second initial position, the driving block moves downward along with the pressing handle and can drive the striking block to rotate, and the striking block is separated from the driving block and cannot strike the housing. The initial position of the knocking block is changed by arranging the adjusting device, so that the knocking block is contacted with the driving block, but the knocking block does not collide with the shell, and the hand feeling of a tea shaft which rubs but does not sound is realized.

Further improved, the adjusting device can enable the knocking block to have a third initial position by rotating the rotating shaft, and when the knocking block is in the third initial position, the driving block moves downwards along with the pressing handle and cannot contact with the knocking block. When the knocking block is positioned at the third initial position, the knocking block completely deviates from the downward movement track of the driving block, the knocking block and the driving block cannot be contacted, the knocking block cannot be impacted to make a sound, and the hand feeling of a linear shaft is realized. According to the scheme, through the mutual matching of the adjusting device, the knocking speed, the guide block and the elastic reset element, the key switch generates three handfeel of a green axis, a tea axis and a linear axis, and compared with the prior art, the self-defining requirement of a user can be met.

Specifically, the adjusting device comprises an adjusting rod arranged on the rotating shaft, a first installation position and a second installation position for fixing the adjusting rod are arranged on the shell, and the two installation positions correspond to the second initial position and the third initial position of the knocking block respectively. The adjusting rod is supported by different installation positions, so that the rotating shaft can be relatively fixed at a required initial position.

More specifically, the adjusting device further comprises a push handle slidably disposed on the housing, and the first mounting position and the second mounting position are sequentially disposed on the push handle along the sliding direction of the push handle. Because the push handle can slide left and right on the chute, and the first installation position and the second installation position are sequentially arranged on the push handle, the adjustment rod can be changed back and forth between the first installation position, the second installation position, different positions separated from the first installation position and the second installation position and the like by pushing the push handle, so that the switching of different handfeel is realized, and the push handle has higher usability and convenience.

Preferably, one end of the pushing handle is provided with a first guide slope in an extending manner, the first guide slope is connected with the first installation position, a second guide slope is further arranged between the first installation position and the second installation position, and the height of the second installation position is larger than that of the first installation position. The guide slope surface is convenient for a user to enter the first installation position in a smooth mode when pushing the pushing handle, and enter the second installation position from the first installation position, and vice versa, so that the smoothness in hand feeling switching is further improved.

Further preferably, the knocking block is triangular prism-shaped and comprises a first end, a second end and a third end, the first end is connected with the rotating shaft, the second end is provided with a triggering lever which can be contacted with the driving block, the third end is provided with an impacting lever which can knock the shell, and one end of the elastic reset element penetrates through the impacting lever. The triangular column structure is favorable for setting up and forming interactive organic whole of knocking block and pivot, trigger lever and striking lever.

More specifically, be equipped with two in the casing strike the piece, the first end of these two strike the piece all with the pivot is connected, elastic reset element is the U-shaped, and the both ends outwards extend about this elastic reset element and form pin joint portion and wear to locate respectively strike the striking thick stick of two strike the piece. The symmetrical arrangement of the two knocking blocks is beneficial to improving the stability and effectiveness of the contact and the collision.

More specifically, the lower part of the pressing handle is outwards extended to be provided with two L-shaped elastic arms, the outer side surfaces of the two elastic arms are respectively provided with one driving block, and the two driving blocks are respectively matched with the two knocking blocks. The arrangement of the elastic arm enables the contact relation between the driving block and the knocking block to have a certain degree of self-adaptability, and abrasion and impact caused by excessively high rigid contact are avoided.

The keyboard further comprises at least one key switch using the technical scheme, wherein the key switch is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the key cap is connected to the key switch.

The features of the present utility model will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the following drawings and description of the embodiments.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exploded structure of a key switch according to a preferred embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the push handle assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an external structure of the key switch in a first initial position;

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the structure of FIG. 4 when the handle is pressed;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the tapping block of FIG. 8 tapping the housing;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the external structure of the key switch in a second initial position;

FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the structure of FIG. 12 when the push handle is pressed;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the external structure of the key switch in a third initial position according to the present utility model;

FIG. 15 is a schematic front view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the structure of FIG. 16 when the handle is pressed;

fig. 18 is a schematic view of a portion of a keyboard according to a preferred embodiment of the present utility model.

Detailed Description

In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages to be solved more apparent, the present utility model is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the utility model.

All of the drawings disclose only a portion closely related to the present utility model, not the entire structure of the key switch. The utility model encompasses embodiments in which two parts, devices or structures are integrally formed without affecting the ability to achieve the objectives of the utility model, unless specifically indicated otherwise, when the terms "provided with," "disposed," "connected," "mounted," "connected," and "secured" are used in the claims and specification to describe a relationship between two parts, devices or structures; when the utility model is used with "a" or "an" preceding a feature, it is intended that the feature system only appear for the first time, and not that the meaning of one, etc. of the words.

A preferred embodiment of the key switch provided by the present utility model is shown in fig. 1-17. Referring to fig. 1 and 4, the key switch includes a housing 1 and a handle 2 disposed in the housing 1 and capable of moving up and down relative to the housing 1. The housing 1 is formed by buckling an upper cover 11 and a lower cover 12, and of course, other connection modes or integral molding can be adopted; the shell 1 is internally provided with a spring 13, the bottom of the pressing handle 2 is provided with a guide post 21 which is sleeved in the spring 13, the top 22 of the pressing handle 2 is provided with a plug-in structure 221 which can be connected with a key cap (not shown in the figure) and extends out of a through hole 111 in the upper cover 11, the pressing handle 2 can move downwards after being pressed by a user, and after the guide post 21 enters a cavity in a protruding part 14 arranged at the bottom of the lower cover 12, the pressing handle 2 can move upwards to return to an initial state through the resilience force of the spring 13.

As shown in fig. 1, an elastic restoring element 3 and a knocking block 4 connected with the elastic restoring element 3 are also provided in the housing 1. In the present embodiment, the elastic restoring element 3 is a torsion spring, but not limited thereto; referring to fig. 6, a rotary shaft 5 is mounted at the edge of the lower cover 12 of the housing 1, and the knocking block 4 is rotatably disposed in the housing 1 through the rotary shaft 5; the pressing handle 2 is provided with a driving block 23, as shown in fig. 4-7, when the knocking block 4 is at the first initial position, the driving block 23 moves downwards along with the pressing handle 2 after the pressing handle 2 is pressed, and when the driving block 23 contacts with the knocking block 4 (see fig. 8), the driving block can drive and further drive the knocking block 4 to rotate along the rotation direction of the rotating shaft 5; when the pressing handle 2 continues to move downwards, the knocking block 4 is separated from the driving block 23, and after separation, the knocking block 4 reversely rotates under the action of the elastic reset element 3 and knocks the inner side part of the upper cover 11 (see fig. 9) of the shell 1, so that knocking sound occurs. In the embodiment, the driving block 23 is contacted with the knocking block 4 to generate the section sense of the key, and the knocking block 4 knocks the shell 1 under the reset action of the elastic reset element 3 to generate the sound of the key, so that the green-axis hand feeling is realized. Compared with the prior art, the elastic reset element 3 and the knocking block 4 respectively realize the functions of elastic reset and knocking, so that the designs of the elastic reset element 3 and the knocking block 4 are not interfered with each other, the knocking block 4 can be variously designed to realize a better sounding effect, the elastic reset element 3 can also get rid of the limitation of the knocking function to return to the functional design of reset, and the problem that the elastic reset element 3 is directly knocked to cause damage in the prior art can be effectively avoided; the contact area and the contact effectiveness between the driving block 23 and the knocking block 4 are far greater than that of the prior art, namely, the prior art is directly contacted with the elastic reset element 3, so that different paragraph sensations are easier to regulate further.

As an improvement of the above-mentioned solution, the key switch further comprises an adjusting device 6 for enabling the knocking block 4 to have a second initial position by rotating the rotating shaft 5. 10-12, when the knocking block 4 is at the second initial position and the pressing handle 2 is pressed, the driving block 23 moves downward along with the pressing handle 2, and when the driving block contacts with the knocking block 4 (see fig. 13), the driving block can drive and further drive the knocking block 4 to rotate along the rotation direction of the rotating shaft 5; unlike the first initial position of the striking block 4, the striking block 4 is not able to strike the housing 1 after being separated from the driving block 23 when the pressing handle 2 is moved downward. The adjusting device 6 can be realized in various modes provided by the prior art, and only the condition that the resilience force of the elastic reset element 3 is insufficient to enable the elastic reset element to reversely rotate to the knocking shell 1 after the knocking block 4 is separated from the driving block 23 is satisfied; the initial position of the knocking block 4 is changed by arranging the adjusting device 6, so that the knocking block 4 contacts with the driving block 23, but the knocking block 4 does not collide with the shell 1, namely the embodiment can realize the feeling of a friction and non-sounding tea shaft.

In the light of the above-mentioned inventive concept, the above-mentioned technical solution can be further improved to provide more hand feeling for the user to select, and in this embodiment, three hand feeling are preferable, that is, the adjusting device 6 can further provide the third initial position for the striking block 4 by continuing to rotate the rotating shaft 5. 14-16, when the striking block 4 is in the third initial position, the driving block 23 will follow the downward movement of the pressing handle 2 after pressing the pressing handle 2; unlike the first and second initial positions of the knock block 4, the knock block 4 is located at a position completely deviated from or avoiding the track of the downward movement of the driving block 23 (see fig. 17), and the two cannot be contacted. The striking block 4 cannot rub against the driving block 23 or strike to make a sound, thereby providing a "linear axis" feel. The preferred embodiment enables the key switch to realize free switching of three handfeel of a green axis, a tea axis and a linear axis through the mutual matching of the adjusting device 6, the quick knocking, the guiding block and the elastic reset element 3, and compared with the prior art, the key switch can better meet the user-defined requirement of a user.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the preferred adjusting device 6 of the present embodiment includes an adjusting rod 61 disposed on the rotating shaft 5, and the adjusting rod may be inserted, clamped, or integrally formed. The upper surface of the lower cover 12 of the housing 1 is provided with a first mounting position 63 and a second mounting position 64 for fixing the adjusting rod 61, and the two mounting positions respectively correspond to the second initial position and the third initial position of the knocking block 4. The adjusting rods 61 are supported by different installation positions, so that the rotating shaft 5 can be relatively fixed at the required initial position, and the aim of switching different handfeel is fulfilled.

More preferably, the adjusting device 6 further includes a push handle 62 slidably disposed on the housing 1, as shown in fig. 3 and 6, a strip-shaped sliding rail 121 is disposed on the upper surface of the lower cover 12 of the housing 1 (please refer to fig. 1), a sliding slot 621 matching with the sliding rail 121 is disposed at the bottom of the push handle 62, and the push handle 62 slides on the housing 1 through the matching between the sliding slot 621 and the sliding block; the first mounting position 63 and the second mounting position 64 are disposed on the push handle 62 in the sliding direction of the push handle 62 in this order, and the "sliding direction" refers to the direction in which the push handle 62 moves linearly along the slide rail 121, and is the left-right direction as shown in the drawing. Because the push handle 62 can slide left and right on the chute 621, and the first mounting position 63 and the second mounting position 64 are sequentially arranged on the push handle 62, the adjusting rod 61 can be changed back and forth between the first mounting position 63, the second mounting position 64, and different positions separated from the first mounting position and the second mounting position by pushing the push handle 62, so that the switching of different handfeel is realized, and the push handle has higher usability and convenience. Further preferably, referring to fig. 3 with emphasis, in this embodiment, one end (the left end in the illustrated position) of the push handle 62 extends leftwards to form a first guide slope 65, and the first guide slope 65 facilitates smooth lifting (when the adjusting rod 61 enters the first installation position 63) or separating (when the push handle 62 is separated from the adjusting rod 61) the adjusting rod 61; in this embodiment, the adjusting rod 61 adopts a cylindrical structure, and the first and second mounting positions 63 and 64 are arc grooves matched with the cylindrical structure; the first guide slope surface 65 is connected with the first installation position 63, and the adjusting rod 61 can enter the first installation position 63 after sliding over the tail end of the first guide slope surface 65; a second guiding slope 66 is further disposed between the first mounting position 63 and the second mounting position 64, and the height of the second mounting position 64 is greater than that of the first mounting position 63, and the second guiding slope 66 can solve the problem of smoothness of switching the adjusting rod 61 back and forth between different mounting positions; a push-pull portion 67 is further provided on the right side of the second mounting position in this embodiment, so as to perform related operations on the push handle. The guiding slope surface enables the adjusting rod 61 to enter the first installation position 63 and enter the second installation position 64 from the first installation position 63 in a smooth manner, and vice versa, so that the smoothness in hand feeling switching is further improved.

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 7, in this embodiment, the knocking block 4 has a triangular prism shape, and three end surfaces of the triangular prism shape are a first end 41, a second end 42 and a third end 43 of the knocking block 4; the first end 41 is connected to the rotating shaft 5, and is preferably integrally formed; the second end 42 is provided with a triggering lever 44 which can be contacted with the driving block 23, the third end 43 is provided with an impact lever 45 which can strike the shell 1, the triggering lever 44 and the impact lever 45 can respectively adopt different shapes and sizes according to the requirements so as to meet the functions of friction and strike, in the embodiment, the triggering lever is of a cylindrical structure, and the triggering lever and the impact lever are integrally formed with the striking block 4, so that the production is convenient and the stability is good; one end of the elastic restoring element 3 is arranged on the striking rod 45 in a penetrating way. The triangular column structure facilitates the arrangement of the striking block 4 with the shaft 5, the trigger lever 44 and the striking lever 45 and forms an interactive organic whole. In this embodiment, two knocking blocks 4 are disposed in the housing 1, and first ends 41 of the two knocking blocks 4 are connected to the rotating shaft 5 in an integrally formed manner; referring to fig. 1, the elastic restoring element 3, i.e. the torsion spring, is generally U-shaped, and is fixedly disposed at the bottom of the lower cover 12 of the housing 1, and two lateral pivoting portions 31 are formed by extending the left and right ends of the upper portion of the elastic restoring element 3 outwards, and the two pivoting portions 31 are respectively disposed through the impact bars 45 of the two impact blocks 4. The symmetrical arrangement of the two knocking blocks 4 is beneficial to improving the stability and the effectiveness in the process of collision.

As shown in fig. 1 and 6, the lower portion of the pressing handle 2 extends outwards and then upwards to form two elastic arms 24 with approximately L-shapes (reverse L-shapes), the outer side surfaces of the two elastic arms 24 are respectively provided with one driving block 23, and in this embodiment, the driving blocks 23 are formed outside the top of the elastic arms 24 in an integrally formed manner by adopting a semi-cylindrical shape; the two driving blocks 23 are respectively matched with the two knocking blocks 4, and the effect of driving the knocking blocks 4 to rotate is realized through friction force. The arrangement of the elastic arms 24 enables the contact relation between the driving block 23 and the knocking block 4 to have a certain degree of self-adaption, and abrasion and impact caused by excessively high rigid contact are avoided.

The utility model also provides a preferred embodiment of the keyboard. The keyboard as shown in fig. 18 (only part of the structure is shown in the drawing) comprises a circuit board 1' and at least one keycap 2', the keyboard further comprises at least one key switch 3' using the above technical scheme, the key switch 3' is electrically connected (the electric connection part is not shown in the drawing) to the circuit board 1', and the keycap 2' is detachably connected to the key switch 3'. It should be understood that the keyboard may employ the key switch 3' disclosed in the present utility model for all keys, or may employ only some keys.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the utility model is not intended to be limiting, but rather is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and principles of the utility model.

Claims (10)

1. The utility model provides a key switch, includes casing and sets up in this casing and can be relative this casing up-and-down motion's press handle, its characterized in that: the novel portable electronic device is characterized in that an elastic reset element and a knocking block connected with the elastic reset element are further arranged in the shell, the knocking block is rotatably arranged in the shell through a rotating shaft, a driving block is arranged on the pressing handle, and when the knocking block is in a first initial position, the driving block moves downwards along with the pressing handle and can drive the knocking block to rotate, and the knocking block can knock the shell after being separated from the driving block.

2. The key switch of claim 1, wherein: the key switch further comprises an adjusting device which can enable the knocking block to have a second initial position through rotating the rotating shaft, when the knocking block is located at the second initial position, the driving block moves downwards along with the pressing handle and can drive the knocking block to rotate, and the knocking block is separated from the driving block and cannot knock the shell.

3. The key switch of claim 2, wherein: the adjusting device can further enable the knocking block to have a third initial position by rotating the rotating shaft, and when the knocking block is in the third initial position, the driving block moves downwards along with the pressing handle and cannot contact the knocking block.

4. A key switch according to claim 3, wherein: the adjusting device comprises an adjusting rod arranged on the rotating shaft, a first installation position and a second installation position for fixing the adjusting rod are arranged on the shell, and the two installation positions correspond to a second initial position and a third initial position of the knocking block respectively.

5. The key switch of claim 4, wherein: the adjusting device further comprises a push handle arranged on the shell in a sliding mode, and the first installation position and the second installation position are sequentially arranged on the push handle along the sliding direction of the push handle.

6. The key switch of claim 5, wherein: one end of the push handle is extended to be provided with a first guide slope, the first guide slope is connected with the first installation position, a second guide slope is further arranged between the first installation position and the second installation position, and the height of the second installation position is greater than that of the first installation position.

7. The key switch according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein: the knocking block is triangular prism-shaped and comprises a first end, a second end and a third end, the first end is connected with the rotating shaft, the second end is provided with a triggering lever which can be contacted with the driving block, the third end is provided with an impacting lever which can knock the shell, and one end of the elastic reset element penetrates through the impacting lever.

8. The key switch of claim 7, wherein: the shell is internally provided with two knocking blocks, first ends of the two knocking blocks are connected with the rotating shaft, the elastic reset element is U-shaped, and the left end and the right end of the elastic reset element outwards extend to form a pivoting part and respectively penetrate through the knocking bars of the two knocking blocks.

9. The key switch of claim 8, wherein: the lower part of the pressing handle is outwards extended to be provided with two L-shaped elastic arms, the outer side surfaces of the two elastic arms are respectively provided with one driving block, and the two driving blocks are respectively matched with the two knocking blocks.

10. A keyboard comprising a circuit board and at least one keycap, characterized in that: the keyboard further comprising at least one key switch according to any one of claims 1-9, said key switch being electrically connected to said circuit board, said key cap being connected to said key switch.