Keyboard structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10276328-B1
Application number	US-201815990384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 25, 2018
Priority date	Jan 26, 2018
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A keyboard structure includes a keycap, a supporting plate, a connecting element and a clicking element. The keycap has a top surface and a bottom surface. The connecting element is connected with the keycap and the supporting plate. The clicking element is located under the keycap. While the keycap is descended, the clicking element is pressed by the push post and subjected to curvy deformation and then the clicking element is separated from the push post. When the clicking element is elastically restored to an original position to knock on the bottom surface of the keycap, a click sound is generated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard structure, comprising: a keycap having a top surface and a bottom surface; a supporting plate; a clicking element located under the keycap; and a connecting element connected with the keycap and the supporting plate, wherein the connecting element comprises a push post, and the push post is contacted with the clicking element, wherein while the keycap is descended, the clicking element is pressed by the push post and subjected to curvy deformation and then the clicking element is separated from the push post, wherein when the clicking element is elastically restored to an original position to knock on the bottom surface of the keycap, a click sound is generated; wherein the connecting element comprises a first frame and a second frame, and the push post is disposed on a lateral surface of the second frame.

2. The keyboard structure according to claim 1 , wherein the clicking element comprises a clicking part and a fixing part.

3. The keyboard structure according to claim 2 , wherein the push post has a slant surface, and the slant surface is contacted with the clicking part, wherein while the keycap is descended, the clicking part is pressed by the slant surface of the push post and subjected to curvy deformation and then the clicking part is moved along the slant surface and separated from the push post, wherein when the clicking part is elastically restored to an original position to knock on the bottom surface of the keycap, the click sound is generated.

4. The keyboard structure according to claim 3 , wherein the clicking part comprises a clicking block, wherein when the clicking block knocks on the bottom surface of the keycap, the click sound is generated.

5. The keyboard structure according to claim 2 , wherein the supporting plate comprises a positioning hole corresponding to the fixing part, wherein the fixing part is accommodated within and positioned in the positioning hole, so that the clicking element is fixed in the supporting plate.

6. The keyboard structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a membrane layer, wherein the membrane layer is located over the supporting plate, and the membrane layer comprises a switch corresponding to the keycap.

7. The keyboard structure according to claim 6 , further comprising an elastic element, wherein the elastic element is located over the switch, and the elastic element provides an elastic restoring force to the keycap.

8. The keyboard structure according to claim 7 , wherein while the keycap is descended, the elastic element is subjected to deformation and contacted with the switch, so that a keyboard signal is generated.

9. The keyboard structure according to claim 7 , wherein the elastic element is made of rubber, silicone or metallic material.

10. The keyboard structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is located under the supporting plate.

11. The keyboard structure according to claim 1 , wherein the clicking element is made of a soft elastic material, a hard elastic material or a composite elastic material.

12. The keyboard structure according to claim 11 , wherein the soft elastic material is silicone or PVC glue.

13. The keyboard structure according to claim 11 , wherein the hard elastic material is ABS resin, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum or copper.

14. The keyboard structure according to claim 11 , wherein the composite elastic material is a composite material of the soft elastic material and the hard elastic material.

Assignees

• Primax Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Cheng Hsiang-Wen
• Tsai Sheng-An
• Chien Li-Jen

Classifications

• H01H13/84 Primary

  characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback (legends H01H13/83) · CPC title

• H01H3/125 Primary

  using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser · CPC title

• H01H2215/03

  Sound · CPC title

• H01H13/52

  the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch · CPC title

• H01H13/7065

  characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards · CPC title