Keyswitch capable of identifying keycap change

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11094481-B2
Application number	US-201916372385-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2019
Priority date	Nov 15, 2016
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A keyswitch capable of identifying keycap change includes a substrate, a keycap, a resilient component, an optical detection module and a processor. The keycap is disposed above the substrate and includes a reflective element. The optical detection module is disposed on the substrate and adapted to receive an optical signal reflected from the reflective element. The processor is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the optical detection module. The processor is adapted to analyze the optical signal for acquiring a type and a movement of the keycap. The keyswitch further includes a supporting component and a membrane. An end of the supporting component is connected to the keycap, and the other end of the supporting component is connected to the substrate. The membrane has light penetrating property and is disposed above the optical detection module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyswitch with a keycap change identifying function and at least two operation modes, comprising
a substrate;
a keycap disposed above the substrate, the keycap comprising a reflective element with a specific reflection coefficient according to a type of the keycap, wherein the type is identified to determine an operation mode of the keyswitch;
a resilient component disposed between the substrate and the keycap;
an optical detection module disposed on the substrate, the optical detection module receiving an optical signal reflected from the reflective element; and
a processor disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the optical detection module, the processor analyzing an intensity range of the optical signal for acquiring the type of the keycap.

2. The keyswitch of claim 1 , wherein the optical detection module comprises an optical emitter and an optical receiver, and the optical receiver receives the optical signal emitted from the optical emitter via the reflective element.

3. The keyswitch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a supporting component, an end of the supporting component being connected to the keycap, and another end of the supporting component being connected to the substrate.

4. The keyswitch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a membrane having a light penetrating property and disposed above the optical detection module.

5. The keyswitch of claim 1 , wherein the processor analyzes an intensity of the optical signal to determine a reflection coefficient of the reflective element and accordingly to acquire the type of the keycap.

6. The keyswitch of claim 1 , wherein the processor further analyzes a position of the optical signal projected onto the optical detection module to determine a reflection coefficient and accordingly to acquire the type of the keycap.

7. The keyswitch of claim 1 , wherein the reflective element has a flat surface or an arc surface facing the optical detection module.

8. The keyswitch of claim 1 , wherein the reflective element is detachably disposed on a base of the keycap.

9. The keyswitch of claim 8 , wherein the reflective element is inclined relative to the base.

10. The keyswitch of claim 8 , wherein the reflective element is disposed on the base by coating or adhesive.

11. The keyswitch of claim 1 , wherein the optical detection module provides a linear optical detection function, and the processor analyzes an intensity variation of the optical signal to determine a movement of the keycap.

12. The keyswitch of claim 11 , wherein the keycap is detachably assembled with the resilient component, the processor analyzes the optical signal to determine whether the keycap is replaced and whether to switch modes of the linear optical detection function.

13. The keyswitch of claim 11 , wherein the keycap and the resilient component are a combined set detachably disposed on the substrate, the processor analyzes the optical signal to determine whether the combined set is replaced and whether to switch modes of the linear optical detection function.

14. The keyswitch of claim 1 , wherein the keycap comprises a base, and a first reflective element and a second reflective element formed by material having different reflection coefficients and disposed on the base, and the processor analyzes the optical signal to determine whether the optical signal is reflected from the first reflective element or the second reflective element.

15. The keyswitch of claim 14 , wherein the first reflective element and the second reflective element are disposed on the base alternatively.

16. The keyswitch of claim 14 , wherein the keycap is movably assembled with the substrate, and the processor analyzes the optical signal to determine whether the optical detection module faces the first reflective element or the second reflective element.

Assignees

• Pixart Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Wang Tsung-Fa
• Chang Yen-Min

Classifications

• H03K17/968 Primary

  using opto-electronic devices · CPC title

• H03K17/98

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

• H01H13/7073 Primary

  characterised by springs, e.g. Euler springs · CPC title

• G06F1/1662

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title