Input device with adjustable force level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10192698-B2
Application number	US-201715824320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2017
Priority date	Dec 8, 2016
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

An input device with an adjustable force level is provided. The input device includes a circuit board and a key structure. The key structure includes a key body, a casing and a pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle. The pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle is partially or completely accommodated within the casing and sustaining the key body. When the key body is moved downwardly, a resisting force to resist the key body is provided by the pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle and the force level of the resisting force is adjusted by the user. When a force with the force level is applied to the key body by the user, a switch of the circuit board is triggered.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An input device with an adjustable force level, comprising:
a circuit board comprising a switch; and
a key structure located over the circuit board, and comprising:
a key body comprising a keycap and a triggering element, wherein the triggering element is connected with the keycap;
a casing located under the keycap and assembled with the circuit board, wherein the triggering element is inserted into an inner portion of the casing; and
a pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle partially or completely accommodated within the casing and contacted with the key body, wherein the pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle comprises a pressure-adjusting opening, and a pressure within the pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle is set through the pressure-adjusting opening, wherein when the key body is pressed down, a resisting force to resist the key body is provided by the pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle according to the pressure within the pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle,
wherein when the key structure is pressed down to a triggered position by a user, the switch of the circuit board is triggered by the triggering element.

2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit board comprises a perforation, and the casing further comprises a protrusion part, wherein the protrusion part is penetrated through the perforation, so that the casing is positioned on the circuit board, wherein when the triggering element is moved downwardly to the triggered position, the switch of the circuit board is pressed by the triggering element.

3. The input device according to claim 2 , wherein a fluid channel is formed in the protrusion part of the casing, and the pressure-adjusting opening is in communication with the fluid channel, wherein the pressure within the pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle is set through the fluid channel.

4. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the key body further comprises a movable position-limiting post, and the movable position-limiting post is connected with the keycap, wherein when the keycap is pressed down by the user, the movable position-limiting post is moved downwardly along a position-limiting groove of the casing, wherein the pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle is disposed within the position-limiting groove and contacted with a distal end of the movable position-limiting post.

5. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises an accommodation space between the keycap and the circuit board, and the pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle is accommodated within the accommodation space.

6. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure-adjusting opening is in communication with a fluid channel of the circuit board, and the pressure within the pressure-adjustable elastic receptacle is set through the fluid channel.

Assignees

• Primax Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Chung-Yuan

Classifications

• H01H13/04

  Cases; Covers · CPC title

• G06F3/02

  Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials · CPC title

• G06F3/0202 Primary

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title

• H01H13/85

  characterised by tactile feedback features · CPC title

• H01H13/14

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title