Key switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11551889-B2
Application number	US-202016745279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2020
Priority date	Jun 25, 2019
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A key switch is provided, which includes a base, a cap, a first linkage rod, a second linkage rod, an elastic contraction element, at least one activate member and a thin film circuit unit. The base includes a plurality of first connection portions and a plurality of second connection portions. The first linkage rod is movably connected to the first connection portions and the cap. The second linkage rod is movably connected to the second connection portions and the cap. One end of the elastic contraction element is connected to the first linkage rod, and the other end thereof is connected to the second linkage rod. The activate member is disposed on one of the first linkage rod, the second linkage rod and the cap. The thin film circuit unit includes an activate portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key switch comprising:
a base comprising a plurality of first connection portions and a plurality of second connection portions;
a cap movable between a released position and a pressed position;
a first linkage rod having a first top section, a first bottom-left section, and a first bottom-right section, the first bottom-left section and the first bottom-right section being movably connected to one of the plurality of first connection portions, the first top section being movably connected to the cap;
a second linkage rod having a second top section, a second bottom-left section, and a second bottom-right section, the second bottom-left section and the second bottom-right section being movably connected to one of the plurality of second connection portions, the second top section being movably connected to the cap;
an elastic contraction element connected to the first linkage rod and the second linkage rod for driving the first top section and the second top section to move close to each other;
at least one activate member disposed on one of the first linkage rod, the second linkage rod and the cap; and
a thin film circuit unit comprising an activate portion;
wherein when the cap is located at the released position and the first linkage rod and the second linkage rod are in a first spatial attitude, the at least one activate member is separate from the activate portion and the thin film circuit unit outputs a first electrical signal;
when the cap is located at the pressed position and the first linkage rod and the second linkage rod are in a second spatial attitude, the at least one activate member triggers the activate portion, and the thin film circuit unit outputs a second electrical signal different from the first electrical signal.

2. The key switch of claim 1 , wherein the first linkage rod and the second linkage rod are U-shaped, one end of the elastic contraction element is connected to the first top section, and the other end of the elastic contraction element is connected to the second top section.

3. The key switch of claim 2 , wherein the base is located between the thin film circuit unit and the cap.

4. The key switch of claim 2 , wherein the first linkage rod comprises a protruding shaft, the first connection portion comprises a connection slot, the protruding shaft is rotatable in the connection slot, and the connection slot has an inner surface and a protruding portion formed therein; when the first linkage rod moves from the first spatial attitude to a transitional spatial attitude, the protruding shaft rotates on the inner surface along a first side of the protruding portion; when the first linkage rod moves from the transitional spatial attitude to the second spatial attitude, the protruding shaft moves across the protruding portion to provide a resistance force to the first linkage rod; when the first linkage rod moves to the second spatial attitude, the protruding shaft slides to abut against a second side of the protruding portion; the first side is opposite to the second side.

5. The key switch of claim 4 , wherein a cross-section of the protruding shaft is substantially in a rectangular shape, and the connection slot comprises a first concave portion and a second concave portion; when the first linkage rod is in the first spatial attitude, the protruding shaft abuts against the first concave portion; when the first linkage rod is in the second spatial attitude, the protruding shaft extends into the second concave portion to abut against the protruding portion.

6. The key switch of claim 2 , wherein the base further comprises a protruding pillar, the first linkage rod comprises an elastic bent portion and a connection portion, one end of the elastic bent portion is connected to the first linkage rod, another end of the elastic bent portion is connected to the connection portion, the connection portion comprises an opening, and the protruding pillar passes through the opening; when the first linkage rod moves from the first spatial attitude to a transitional spatial attitude, the protruding pillar does not abut against an inner edge of the opening; when the first linkage rod moves from the transitional spatial attitude to the second spatial attitude, the protruding pillar abuts against the inner edge of the opening to deform the elastic bent portion for providing a resistance force to the first linkage rod.

7. The key switch of claim 6 , wherein the elastic bent portion has an S-shaped structure; when the first linkage rod is in the first spatial attitude, a first angle is included between a long axis of the S-shaped structure and a long axis of the first linkage rod; when the elastic bent portion is deformed, a second angle is included between the long axis of the S-shaped structure and the long axis of the first linkage rod.

8. The key switch of claim 2 , wherein the elastic contraction element is a tension spring; when the first linkage rod is in the first spatial attitude, the elastic contraction element extends in a horizontal direction; when the first linkage rod is in the second spatial attitude, the elastic contraction element pulls the second linkage rod and still extends in the horizontal direction.

9. The key switch of claim 2 , wherein the key switch further comprises a first balance lever and a second balance lever, the first balance lever and the second balance lever are substantially U-shaped and have a first lever opening and a second lever opening respectively, the first linkage rod and the second linkage rod have a first rod opening and a second rod opening respectively, the base further comprises a plurality of third connection portions, the first balance lever and the second balance lever are pivoted to the plurality of third connection portions and abut against the cap, a facing direction of the first lever opening is perpendicular to a facing direction of the first rod opening, and a facing direction of the second lever opening is perpendicular to a facing direction of the second rod opening.

10. A key switch comprising:
a base comprising a plurality of first connection portions and a plurality of second connection portions;
a cap movable between a released position and a pressed position;
a first linkage rod having a first top section, a first bottom-left section, and a first bottom-right section, the first bottom-left section and the first bottom-right section being movably connected to one of the plurality of first connection portions, the first top section being movably connected to the cap;
a second linkage rod having a second top section, a second bottom-left section, and a second bottom-right section, the second bottom-left section and the second bottom-right section being movably connected to one of the plurality of second connection portions, the second top section being movably connected to the cap;
an elastic contraction element connected to the first linkage rod and the second linkage rod for driving the first top section and the second top section to move close to each other;
at least one light-path switching member disposed on one of the first linkage rod, the second linkage rod and the cap; and
an optical switch circuit unit comprises a light emitter and a light receiver, a modulation space being formed between the light emitter and the light receiver, the light emitter emitting an optical signal toward the light receiver;
wherein when the cap is located at the released position and the first linkage rod and the second linkage rod are in a first spatial attitude, the at least one light-path switching member and the modulation space have a first spatial relationship, and the optical signal received by the light receiver has a first int

Assignees

• Darfon Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Chang Yu-Chih
• Chan Chin-Lung
• Su Cheng-Min

Classifications

• H01H13/52 Primary

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

• H01H13/85

  characterised by tactile feedback features · CPC title

• H01H13/14

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

• H01H2013/525

  using a return spring acting perpendicular to the actuating direction · CPC title

• H01H13/20

  Driving mechanisms · CPC title