Replaceable key structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10965287-B2
Application number	US-201816226848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2018
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A replaceable key structure includes a key holder and a circuit board. The key holder is disposed above a circuit board. The key holder is formed with a mounting slot for selectively receiving a first key module or a second key module therein. A magnetic sensor and a contact connector are disposed on the circuit board positionally corresponding to the mounting slot of the key holder. The first key module has a shaft, and a magnetic element disposed on the bottom of the shaft. The magnetic sensor can output an analog signal when the magnetic element approaches. The second key module has a trigger switch which has two electrical terminals disposed on the bottom surface of the second key module. When the second key module is installed in the mounting slot, the electrical terminals can be electrically connected to the contact connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A replaceable key structure, comprising:
a key holder having a mounting slot formed thereon, the mounting slot is configured to receive a third key module selectively;
a circuit board disposed under the key holder;
a magnetic sensor mounted on the circuit board and positionally corresponding to the mounting slot; and
a contact connector mounted on the circuit board and positionally corresponding to the mounting slot;
wherein the third key module has a shaft and a spring, the shaft is movable from a topmost position to a bottommost position when an external force is applied, and the shaft is capable of returning to the topmost position by a recovering force of the spring when the external force is removed;
wherein the third key module has a key housing, sides of the key housing are respectively formed with a plurality of engaging members for fixedly engaging the third key module in the mounting slot;
wherein the third key module further includes a magnetic element, the magnetic element is connected to a bottom end of the shaft, and the magnetic sensor is positionally corresponding to the magnetic element; when the magnetic element approaches the magnetic sensor following a displacement of the shaft of the third key module, the magnetic sensor outputs an analog signal by inducing a magnetic field of the magnetic element, and a strength of the analog signal is changed following a distance between the magnetic element and the magnetic sensor;
wherein the third key module includes a trigger switch, the trigger switch is turned on to generate a digital signal when the shaft of the third key module is pushed downward to a triggering position by an external force, wherein the trigger switch has at least one contacting portion disposed on a bottom of the third key module, and the at least one contacting portion is positionally corresponded to the contact connector; when the third key module is disposed in the mounting slot, the contacting portion is capable of contacting the contact connector for transmitting the digital signal to the circuit board.

2. The replaceable key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element is a post-shaped magnet, a central axis of the magnetic element and a reciprocating direction of the shaft of the first key module are parallel to each other, and the magnetic element is disposed on the bottom end of the shaft; wherein the magnetic sensor is a Hall sensor, and a position of the magnetic sensor on the circuit board corresponds to that of the magnetic element.

3. The replaceable key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger switch is disposed on one side of the shaft of the third key module, and has a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, wherein the first electrical terminal has an elastic portion, and the elastic portion is capable of contacting the second electrical terminal so that the trigger switch is in a closed-circuit state; the third key module has a triggering portion disposed on one side of the shaft close to the trigger switch;
when the shaft of the third key module is positioned at the topmost position, the triggering portion is capable of contacting the elastic portion, and the elastic portion is forced to be divided apart from the second electrical terminal so that the trigger switch is in an open-circuit state;
when the shaft of the third key module is positioned at the triggering position, the triggering portion is capable of separating from the elastic portion and contacts with the second electrical terminal, so that the trigger switch is in a closed-circuit state.

4. The replaceable key structure according to claim 3 , wherein the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal respectively have an end extending beyond a bottom of the key housing, and the ends of the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal are respectively formed with the contacting portion; wherein the position of the contact connector on the circuit board corresponds to a position of the trigger switch, the contact connector has two circuit contacts positionally corresponded to the contacting portions of the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal, respectively, and when the second key module is disposed in the mounting slot, the two contacting portions are capable of contacting the two circuit contacts, so that the trigger switch is electrically connected to the contact connector.

Assignees

• Dexin Electronic Ltd
• Dexin Corp

Inventors

• Chen Yi-Shun

Classifications

• H01H2223/028

  detachable · CPC title

• H01H15/102

  comprising cam devices · CPC title

• G06F3/023

  Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes · CPC title

• H03K17/972 Primary

  having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard · CPC title

• H03K2017/9713

  Multiposition, e.g. involving comparison with different thresholds · CPC title