CN101847535A

CN101847535A - Keyboard structure

Info

Publication number: CN101847535A
Application number: CN200910129480A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 林志成
Original assignee: YUANJING TECHNOLOGY Co Ltd
Current assignee: Chicony Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-25
Filing date: 2009-03-25
Publication date: 2010-09-29

Abstract

The invention discloses a keyboard structure, characterized in that a casing in the shape of a keycap is formed by stamping a metal foil base material in a manner of tool stamping and the external surface of the casing is ground and polished to result in smooth surface or specular gloss, a base having a jointing portion is stably and fixedly integrated with the inner surface of the casing in a manner of laser welding or gluing, and patterns or characters of key codes are formed on the external surface of the casing by means of laser graving, metal coating, etching coloration or screen printing, thus the keycap with such a thickness but certain thinness, excellent overall visual effect and great metallic texture and gloss is manufactured so that the surface of the keyboard structure is extremely outstanding in surface touch and pressing smoothness, and due to good structural strength, the keyboard structure is hardly deformed and damaged under pressing, thereby facilitating fast input of users and simultaneously reducing the using inconvenience and difficulty; the keyboard structure according to the invention includes better product competitiveness.

Description

Keyboard structure

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of keyboard structure, especially refer to sheet metal is dashed the housing that sets out the keycap shape, and pedestal and housing be combined into one produce the keycap of the certain and metal-like of thickness, sense of touch, sliding compliance and the also preferable and difficult generation type of structural strength are become, import, have more product competitiveness fast to make things convenient for the user.

Background technology

The technology of computer equipment and relevant peripheral electronic installation thereof is is constantly researched and developed, innovation, making has more and more many tools practicality come out one after another with functional electronic installation and extensive now on the market, and most of Introduced cases electronic installations all need to carry out literal by button, the input of numeral or instruction, as slide-mouse, keyboard maybe can be for the rocking bar of recreation use, the relevant peripheral equipment at tool output/inputs such as light gun control interface, so that the design of keyboard also along with this trend develops rapidly, and changed at different demands, for instance, the button that uses on the keyboard of early stage desktop computer is to the special employed button of notebook computer that supplies, its otherness is just considerably big, mainly be that what to be particular about because of notebook computer is light, thin, short, little design optimization, so its employed button just can't be just like the button on the desktop computer keyboard general same design, and must be at the specified different qualities of notebook computer, the demand change.

General keyboard kenel mostly presents in the mechanical type mode of pushing for plural button, this kind press-key structure mainly includes keycap, elastic component, circuit film and circuit board are formed, and keycap is presented for supporting by the elastic component that is positioned at loam cake, following strain displacement, after making the corresponding conducting of electrical contact of institute's tool on its keycap and the circuit film, be electrically connected at circuit board with the I/O end on the circuit film again and will push that the key of representative is transmitted in electronic installation on the keycap, just can make relative demonstration or literal at display, numeral and instruction input action, but penetrate one-body molded because of existing keycap mostly is plastic cement greatly, the difficulty that the mode of this kind moulding has the one customization to make, offer mould in addition as needs, cost is higher, also can cause and short and volume contraction that cooling curing takes place, disappearances such as distortion then make product quality and qualification rate significantly reduce; In addition, because the electronic product volume trends towards miniaturization to reduce occupation space, and the keycap thickness that existing plastic cement penetrates is thicker and assembling after still have the certain size size, do not meet the design requirement of product slimming yet, if but change the keycap integral thickness thin, except will increasing relative raising of difficulty, product defect rate in the manufacturing, and work as the user for a long time by depressing problem and disappearances such as just can causing the generation type change of the not enough institute of structural strength, damage; Moreover, when the user is when input action is made in typewriting fast, promptly can be because of the influence of the plastic cement material characteristic of above-mentioned keycap own, make its surface touch, sliding compliance is relatively poor and be unfavorable for quick input, and the whole visual texture of described key cap surface comparatively is short of, if when being applied to the higher electronic installation of high price, the requirement of quality exquisiteness degree, then can't effectively highlight user individual's taste and eye.

Therefore, how to solve above-mentioned existing problem and disappearance, be the relevant manufacturer that is engaged in the industry and desire most ardently the direction place that research improves.

So the inventor is to collect related data because above-mentioned existing deficiency and disappearance, via assessing in many ways and consider, by constantly studying, revising, the beginning is designed this kind keyboard structure patent of invention and is born with the many years of experience of being engaged in the industry in the side.

Summary of the invention

Main purpose of the present invention is to be to utilize the tool punch process that the sheet metal base material is dashed to set out keycap shape housing, and at the housing outer surface grinding and polishing, and can obtain smooth surface or bright luster, again pedestal is become one with radium-shine welding or gummed mode and shell inner surface firm engagement, and housing outer surface is for utilizing laser engraving, metal coating or screen painting process the pattern or the literal of key, just can produce this kind and have certain thinness and whole vision metal-like, the keycap of gloss, make its surface touch, it is splendid to push sliding compliance, in addition preferable in that to be difficult for generation type loss on transmission bad by depressing because of structural strength, make things convenient for the user to import fast with this, reduce inconvenience and difficulty on using simultaneously, have more product competitiveness person.

For achieving the above object, the technical solution used in the present invention comprises:

A kind of keyboard structure refers to be available for users to push the keyboard structure that triggers the output control signal especially, includes keycap, circuit module and linked component and forms, and it is characterized in that:

Described keycap has a hollow housing, and is positioned with pedestal at enclosure interior accommodation space inner surface place, and the pedestal both sides are located to be provided with to be corresponding junction surface more than at least one group;

Described circuit module has circuit board and can be positioned glue film on the circuit board, and on glue film, be provided with and can compress the elastomer that presents deformation displacement for pedestal, and the elastomer inner edge be extended with downwards can be for supporting the contact site that carries out signal triggering at the corresponding make and break contact of circuit board;

Described linked component is housed in the accommodation space of keycap inside, and have the first connecting rod and a second connecting rod of movable inlay card on location-plate and the location-plate thereof, again by first connecting rod, second connecting rod be with pedestal on the movable inlay card of corresponding engagement portion, be used for holding presenting and rise or the decline state at keycap.

Compared with prior art, the beneficial effect that has of the present invention is:

1, keycap 1 of the present invention sets out the keycap shape housing 11 that thickness is 0.1～0.3mm for utilizing tool that the sheet metal base material is dashed, and pedestal 12 firm engagement are become one at housing 11 inner surfaces with radium-shine welding manner, keycap 1 thickness after the moulding of this kind processing mode has certain thinness, and can simplify manufacturing program, improve quality and qualification rate, and have preferable structural strength and for a long time by depressing disappearances such as being difficult for the change of generation type, damage.

2, keycap 1 of the present invention carries out grinding and polishing for housing 11 outer surfaces at metal material, and obtain smooth surface or bright luster, make its surperficial tactility, to push sliding compliance splendid, with this input action that makes things convenient for the user to write data, mail and to operate other various functions directly, fast, can not influence by the operability that is pressed on the keycap 1 yet, then can reduce relatively and use inconvenience and degree of difficulty.

3, housing of the present invention 11 is established for the substrate passed tool by sheet metal dashes and fabrication schedules such as the pattern of grinding and polishing, key or literal processing, and this kind of moulding integral surface visually has keycap 1 structure of good metal-like, gloss, then can be applicable to the electronic installation that high price, quality exquisiteness degree have relatively high expectations and effectively highlight individual unique taste and eye, improve and wholely use function, have more product competitiveness person.

4, keycap 1 of the present invention becomes a keyboard structure for cooperating circuit module 2 and linked component 3 to assemble, as apply to electronic installation and can realize the data of writing, mail and the input of operating other various functions, and can utilize tool to carry out the automation assembling and reach a large amount of productions, have the effectiveness that improves production capacity, reduces the production and assembly cost simultaneously.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a manufacturing flow chart of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a structural representation of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the stereo appearance figure that the present invention adds man-hour;

Fig. 5 is the three-dimensional exploded view of preferred embodiment of the present invention before assembling;

Fig. 6 is the side cutaway view of preferred embodiment of the present invention before assembling;

Fig. 7 is the stereo appearance figure of preferred embodiment of the present invention after assembling;

Fig. 8 is the side cutaway view of preferred embodiment of the present invention after assembling.

Description of reference numerals: 1, keycap; 11, housing; 1211, axial trough; 110, accommodation space; 1212, guide rail; 12, pedestal; 122, reference column; 121, junction surface; 123, radium-shine pad; 2, circuit module; 21, circuit board; 222, contact site; 22, glue film; 223, shrinkage pool; 221, elastomer; 3, linked component; 31, location-plate; 3122, catch surface; 311, saturating emptying aperture; 32, first connecting rod; 312, docking section; 33, second connecting rod; 3121, axial trough.

Embodiment

For reaching above-mentioned purpose and effect, the technology used in the present invention means and structure thereof, drawing now illustrates in detail that with regard to preferred embodiment of the present invention its feature and function are as follows, are beneficial to understand fully.

Seeing also Fig. 1, Fig. 2, shown in Figure 3, is to be respectively manufacturing flow chart of the present invention, structural representation and three-dimensional exploded view, finds out that by knowing among the figure manufacture method of keyboard of the present invention is to handle according to following process step:

(101) utilize the punch process mode sheet metal base material to be dashed the housing 11 that sets out the keycap shape;

(102) housing 11 outer surfaces carry out grinding and polishing, and obtain smooth surface or bright luster;

(103) pedestal 12 is preset the accommodation space 110 that is positioned housing 11 inside and make its inner surface support contact, and be combined into one with radium-shine welding, cladding or gummed mode and housing 11;

(104) laser engraving, metal coating or etching are painted in order to utilize, the screen painting processing mode makes the key pattern or the clear demonstration of literal with housing 11 outer surfaces, promptly produce the keycap finished product.

And can know by above-mentioned process step and to learn that the present invention utilizes tool punching press (Stampling) processing mode that the sheet metal base material of keycap 1 is dashed and sets out the keycap shape housing 11 that thickness is 0.1～0.3mm; And can utilize flexible polishing instrument, abrasive grain or other polishing mediums to carry out grinding and polishing at housing 11 outer surfaces, promptly obtain smooth surface or bright luster; Again with pedestal 12 for to be combined into one with radium-shine welding, cladding or gummed mode and housing 11 inner surfaces, wherein radium-shine welding manner is main to be preset pedestal 12 earlier and is positioned housing 11 inner accommodation spaces 110 and its inner surface is formed support contact, and is radiated at the firm engagement state that its four corners in surface produce plural radium-shine pad 123 with radium-shine light beam; Just can utilize then that laser engraving, metal coating or etching are painted, screen painting etc. makes pattern with single or multiple lift time chromatography processing mode or literal is clear is presented on its housing 11 outer surfaces, and after super-dry, heat treatment, make the pattern or the literal of its colouring reach stable state, this pattern or literal are the key of keycap 1 representative, just finish producing keycap 1 finished product.

In addition, housing 11 can be iron, stainless steel or the laminar metal material of other tools, and pedestal 12 also can be iron, metal materials such as stainless steel, or plastic cement, materials such as rubber are made, yet, the preferable enforcement of described the present invention is to be that metal material explains with housing 11 and pedestal 12 thereof, and be radiated at radium-shine light beam that it is identical or dissimilar metal is surperficial, rely on the radium-shine metal molten that makes to form welding again, do not need to weld by scolder, and it is fast to have speed of welding, positional accuracy height and deflection are less or do not have a characteristic of distortion, but when practical application then not being is as limitation with this, also the pedestal 12 of plastic cement material can be utilized the then thing of tool adhesion effects such as sticker or resin to be adhered on housing 11 inner surfaces, be can be according to user's demand or in response to the material characteristic, assembly program and spatial limitation etc., and can replace the pedestal 12 that unlike material is made arbitrarily, and cooperate housing 11 with radium-shine welding, cladding or gummed mode are combined into one, such as can reach the method for aforementioned effect, step, flow process is contained by the present invention all should, simple and easy modification of this kind and equivalent structure change, all should in like manner be included in the claim of the present invention, close and give Chen Ming.

Please continue to consult Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, shown in Figure 8, be to be respectively three-dimensional exploded view, side cutaway view assembling before, stereo appearance figure assembling after and side cutaway view assembling after of preferred embodiment of the present invention before assembling, find out by knowing among the figure, the present invention is formed by including keycap 1, circuit module 2 and linked component 3, so with regard to the main member of this case and feature describes in detail as after, wherein:

Described keycap 1 has a hollow housing 11, and is formed with accommodation space 110 in housing 11 inside, and accommodation space 110 inner surface places are positioned with pedestal 12, and place, pedestal 12 both sides is provided with and is corresponding junction surface 121 more than at least one group; Moreover for can be provided with the guide rail 1212 that is drop-shaped butt hole, indent axial trough 1211 or generally is the L type, its pedestal 12 bottom surfaces then are extended with reference column 122 towards the below in addition on the junction surface 121.

Described circuit module 2 is by by circuit board 21 and can be constituted for the glue film 22 that is positioned on the circuit board 21, wherein circuit board 21 surfaces have plural make and break contact and circuit layout, and glue film 22 is provided with at least one or can be for the elastomer 221 that presents deformation displacement after compressing more than one, and elastomer 221 inner edges are extended with contact site 222 downwards, can carry out the signal triggering action by the make and break contact that contact site 222 supports in circuit board 21 correspondences, then be provided with shrinkage pool 223 in elastomer 221 outer rims again.

Described linked component 3 is housed in the accommodation space 110 of keycap 1 inside, and by location-plate 31 and can rise or the first connecting rod 32 of decline state is constituted with second connecting rod 33 for holding to present at housing 11, wherein, but location-plate 31 surface central authorities are for offering the saturating emptying aperture 311 that ammunition feed gonosome 221 passes, and saturating 311 two outsides of emptying aperture are respectively equipped with the docking section 312 that is inverted L shape, and in the docking section 312 inboards are formed with the axial trough 3121 of tool catch surface 3122, and can form and rise or the first connecting rod 32 and the second connecting rod 33 of decline state for being relative displacement for movable inlay card has on the docking section 312.

When the present invention in when assembling, be earlier with the first connecting rod 32 of 3 tools of linked component and the docking section 312 movable inlay cards of second connecting rod 33 and location-plate 31 both sides, making its second connecting rod 33 1 side shaft portions hold in the docking section 312 front ends is an elasticity and struts, and the catch surface 3122 along the curved arc shape is forced in axial trough 3121, can deviate from by catch surface 3122 restriction second connecting rod 33 is unlikely, again first connecting rod 32 1 side shaft portions are embedded in the axial trough 3121 on the docking section 312, and, then first connecting rod 32 is passed in second connecting rod 33 and form intersects the state that bridges along axial trough 3121 internal face horizontal direction slide displacements.

And after the location-plate 31 of linked component 3 is to finish with first connecting rod 32 and second connecting rod 33 assemblings, linked component 3 can be housed in the accommodation space 110 of keycap 1 housing 11 inside, make its first connecting rod 32, second connecting rod 33 opposite side axial regions respectively with pedestal 12 on corresponding engagement portion 121 movable inlay cards, be an elasticity and strut and can hold at the junction surface 121 front ends by the axial region of first connecting rod 32 opposite sides, be forced into again in curved arc shape axial trough 1211, and the axial region of second connecting rod 33 opposite sides is embedded in guide rail 1212 on the junction surface 121, and along guide rail 1212 upper surface horizontal direction slide displacements, with this structural design, not only simple in structure, easily assembled fast, and can utilize tool to carry out the automation assembling and reach a large amount of productions, has the raising production capacity simultaneously, reduce the effectiveness of production and assembly cost.

In addition set elastomer 221 on circuit module 2 glue films 22 is passed outside the saturating emptying aperture 311 that location-plate 31 central authorities offer, and with the reference column 122 that extends pedestal 12 bottom surfaces form align after, again reference column 122 is penetrated location in the shrinkage pool 223 of elastomer 221 outer rims, so, just keycap 1 cover can be overlayed on circuit module 2 outsides and form the effect of well covering, and can stablize when elastomer 221 is compressed and be difficult for skew or rock.

And in use, be to press down on earlier on keycap 1 housing 11 surfaces, and can push against with the junction surface 121 of pedestal 12 and to be relative displacement at the first connecting rod 32 of linked component 3 and second connecting rod 33 and to form for keycap 1 and rise or the decline state, circuit module 2 is positioned at and just can presents deformation displacement after elastomer set on the glue film 22 221 is subjected to pedestal 12 bottom surfaces to compress effect simultaneously, and support towards the below by the contact site 222 of elastomer 221 inner edges and to trigger corresponding make and break contact at circuit board 21 and form and electrically conduct, and the key that allows circuit board 21 will push representative on the keycap 1 exports a control signal, reaches the effectiveness of signal triggering with this.

Above-mentioned keycap 1 is corresponding junction surface 121 for being provided with at place, pedestal 12 both sides more than at least one group, yet, the present invention is corresponding and is that to form four point locations be explanation (as shown in Figure 3) for two junction surfaces 121 of axial trough 1211 or L type guide rail 1212 with two groups, but the present invention when practical application then is not is as limitation with this, also can be provided with and be corresponding junction surface 121 more than at least one group and form two point locations, also can be provided with three junction surfaces 121 and form the three-point fix (not shown) at pedestal 12 both sides places; Moreover, on the junction surface 121 for can be provided with the shaped design such as guide rail 1212 that are drop-shaped butt hole, indent axial trough 1211 or generally are the L type, yet, skill feature of the present invention is not limited thereto, all any familiar described skill persons are in field of the present invention, can think easily and variation or modification, all should covered in the claim of following this case, close and give Chen Ming.

Therefore, the invention described above keyboard structure has following advantage when reality is used, wherein:

1, keycap 1 of the present invention is for utilizing tool that the punching of sheet metal base material is set out the keycap shape housing 11 that thickness is 0.1～0.3mm, and with radium-shine welding manner pedestal 12 firm engagement are become one at housing 11 inner surfaces, keycap 1 thickness after the moulding of this kind processing mode has certain thinness, and can simplify manufacturing program, improve quality and qualification rate, and have better structural strength and for a long time by depressing disappearances such as being difficult for the change of generation type, damage.

2, keycap 1 of the present invention carries out grinding and polishing for housing 11 outer surfaces at metal material, and obtain smooth surface or bright luster, make its Surface Contact sense, to press sliding compliance splendid, with this input action that makes things convenient for the user to write data, mail and to operate other various functions directly, fast, also can not affect by the operability that is pressed on the keycap 1, but then relative reduce uses inconvenience and degree of difficulty.

3, housing of the present invention 11 for by the base material of sheet metal through tool punching establish and the fabrication schedules such as the pattern of grinding and polishing, key or literal processing, and this kind of moulding integral surface visually has keycap 1 structure of good metal-like, gloss, then can be applicable to the electronic installation that high price, quality exquisiteness degree have relatively high expectations and effectively highlight individual unique taste and eye, improve and wholely use function, have more product competitiveness person.

4, keycap 1 of the present invention is for cooperating circuit module 2 and linked component 3 to be assembled into a keyboard structure, as apply to electronic installation and can realize the data of writing, mail and the input that operates other various functions, and can utilize tool to carry out automatic assembling and reach a large amount of productions, have the effectiveness that improves production capacity, reduces the production and assembly cost simultaneously.

More than explanation is for the purpose of the present invention just illustrative; and nonrestrictive, those of ordinary skills understand, in the situation that does not break away from the spirit and scope that claim limits; can make many modifications, variation or equivalence, but all will fall within protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. a keyboard structure refers to be available for users to push the keyboard structure that triggers the output control signal especially, includes keycap, circuit module and linked component and forms, and it is characterized in that:

2. keyboard structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: the base bottom surface of described keycap is extended with reference column towards the below, and the elastomer outer rim of circuit module institute tool is provided with shrinkage pool, and can penetrate the location for reference column in the shrinkage pool.

3. keyboard structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: the junction surface of described pedestal is provided with axial trough or L type guide rail, and with the axial region of linked component first connecting rod and second connecting rod institute tool respectively with the axial trough or the movable inlay card of L type guide rail at junction surface.

4. keyboard structure according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: but described linked component offers the saturating emptying aperture that the ammunition feed gonosome passes in location-plate surface central authorities, and inboard, docking section, two outsides of saturating emptying aperture is formed with the axial trough of tool catch surface, and with the axial region of first connecting rod and second connecting rod institute tool respectively with the movable inlay card of the axial trough of docking section.

5. keyboard structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described housing is that iron, stainless steel or the laminar metal material of other tools are made.

6. keyboard structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described pedestal is that iron or stainless steel are made.

7. keyboard structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described pedestal is that plastic cement or rubber are made.