Key support mechanism and key module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10325735-B2
Application number	US-201815867753-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2018
Priority date	Sep 22, 2017
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

The invention provides a key support mechanism and a key module. The key support mechanism is adapted to be disposed between a base plate and a keycap and includes two scissor structures and a first connecting member. The two scissor structures include two first support frames and two second support frames respectively pivotally connected to the two first support frames. Each of the first support frames includes a first side and a second side opposite to each other, a first fixing part located on the first side, and a second fixing part located on the second side. Each of the second support frames includes a third side and a fourth side opposite to each other, a third fixing part located on the third side, and a fourth fixing part located on the fourth side. The two first fixing parts and the two third fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the keycap, and the two second fixing parts and the two fourth fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the base plate. The first connecting member is fixed and connected to the two first support frames and are close to the two first sides, such that the two first support frames of the two scissor structures are linked to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key module comprising:
a base plate;
a circuit membrane disposed on the base plate and comprising a switch;
an elastic member disposed on the switch;
a key support mechanism disposed on the circuit membrane, the key support mechanism comprising:
two scissor structures, wherein the elastic member is located between the two scissor structures, and the two scissor structures respectively comprise:
two first support frames, each of the first support frames comprising a first side and a second side opposite to each other, a first fixing part located on the first side, and a second fixing part located on the second side, wherein the two second fixing parts are respectively fixed to the base plate;
two second support frames respectively pivotally connected to the two first support frames, each of the second support frames comprising a third side and a fourth side opposite to each other, a third fixing part located on the third side, and a fourth fixing part located on the fourth side, wherein the two fourth fixing parts are respectively fixed to the base plate; and

a first connecting member fixed and connected to the two first support frames and located close to the two first sides, such that the two first support frames of the two scissor structures are linked to each other; and

a keycap covering the elastic member and the key support mechanism, wherein the two first fixing parts of the two first support frames and the two third fixing parts of the two second support frames are respectively fixed to the keycap,
wherein the two first support frames and the first connecting member are integrally formed.

2. The key module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first support frames comprises a first slot, and each of the second support frames is adapted to be pivotally rotated into the first slot of the corresponding first support frame.

3. The key module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second support frames comprises a second slot, and each of the first support frames is adapted to be pivotally rotated into the second slot of the corresponding second support frame.

4. The key module according to claim 1 , wherein the key support mechanism further comprises:
a second connecting member fixed and connected to the two second support frames and located close to the two third sides, such that the two second support frames of the two scissor structures are linked to each other.

5. A key support mechanism adapted to be disposed between a base plate and a keycap, the key support mechanism comprising:
two scissor structures respectively comprising:
two first support frames, each of the first support frames comprising a first side and a second side opposite to each other, a first fixing part located on the first side, and a second fixing part located on the second side, wherein the two first fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the keycap, and the two second fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the base plate; and
two second support frames respectively pivotally connected to the two first support frames, each of the second support frames comprising a third side and a fourth side opposite to each other, a third fixing part located on the third side, and a fourth fixing part located on the fourth side, wherein the two third fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the keycap, and the two fourth fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the base plate; and
a first connecting member fixed and connected to the two first support frames and located close to the two first sides, wherein the two first support frames and the first connecting member are integrally formed, such that the two first support frames of the two scissor structures are linked to each other.

6. The key support mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein each of the first support frames comprises a first slot, and each of the second support frames is adapted to be pivotally rotated into the first slot of the corresponding first support frame.

7. The key support mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein each of the second support frames comprises a second slot, and each of the first support frames is adapted to be pivotally rotated into the second slot of the corresponding second support frame.

8. The key support mechanism according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a second connecting member fixed and connected to the two second support frames and located close to the two third sides, such that the two second support frames of the two scissor structures are linked to each other.

Assignees

• Lite On Electronics Guangzhou
• Lite On Technology Corp

Inventors

• Yen Ming-Fu
• Chuang Hsiang-Sheng

Classifications

• H01H13/14

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

• H01H2233/07

  Cap or button on actuator part · CPC title

• H01H13/20 Primary

  Driving mechanisms · CPC title

• H01H13/10

  Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon · CPC title

• H01H3/125 Primary

  using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser · CPC title