Key structure with display panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11984276-B2
Application number	US-202117477517-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2021
Priority date	May 17, 2021
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

A key structure with display panel, including a display panel, a transparent keycap, and a scissors assembly, is provided. The transparent keycap is disposed above the display panel. An image generated by the display panel is projected out of the key structure through the transparent keycap. The scissors assembly is disposed between the display panel and the transparent keycap and exposes a display surface of the display panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key structure with display panel, comprising:
a display panel;
a transparent keycap, disposed above the display panel, wherein an image generated by the display panel is projected out of the key structure through the transparent keycap;
a scissors assembly, disposed between the display panel and the transparent keycap and exposing a display surface of the display panel;
an elastic support, disposed on the display panel, connected to the transparent keycap, and exposing the display surface;
an elastic body, disposed on the display panel; and
at least one auxiliary member, disposed on the inner side and pivotally connected to the scissors assembly,
wherein the scissors assembly is connected to an inner side of the elastic support,
wherein the transparent keycap is connected to a top surface of the elastic body, and the elastic body has the inner side,
wherein the elastic body is silicon rubber, and the at least one auxiliary member is plastic and is combined with the elastic body by insert molding.

2. The key structure with display panel according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a thin-film circuit, disposed on the display panel and exposing the display surface, wherein the elastic support is located on the thin-film circuit.

3. The key structure with display panel according to claim 2 , wherein the thin-film circuit has a switch located outside the display surface, the elastic support further has a protrusion extending toward the switch, the key structure is pressed and the elastic support is elastically deformed and drives the protrusion to move toward and trigger the switch, and the key structure is not pressed and the elastic support is not elastically deformed and does not drive the protrusion to release triggering and move away from the switch.

4. The key structure with display panel according to claim 3 , wherein the switch is an optical switch.

5. The key structure with display panel according to claim 3 , wherein the switch is a conductive pad switch.

6. The key structure with display panel according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a base plate, disposed between the thin-film circuit and the elastic support, wherein one end of the scissors assembly away from the transparent keycap is slidably and pivotably connected to the base plate.

7. The key structure with display panel according to claim 1 , wherein the scissors assembly is pivotally connected to the transparent keycap.

8. A key structure with display panel, comprising:
a display panel, having a plurality of display surfaces;
a plurality of transparent keycaps, disposed above the display panel, wherein the display surfaces respectively generate images to be projected out of the key structure through the transparent keycaps;
a plurality of scissors assemblies, disposed between the display panel and the transparent keycaps and exposing the display surfaces;
an elastic support, disposed on the display panel, connected to the transparent keycaps, and having a plurality of openings corresponding to and exposing the display surfaces;
an elastic body, disposed on the display panel and having the openings; and
a plurality of auxiliary members, disposed in pairs in the openings of the elastic body,
wherein each of the scissors assemblies is connected to the elastic support and is located on an inner side of the opening,
wherein the transparent keycaps are connected to a top surface of the elastic body,
wherein each of the scissors assemblies is pivotally connected to the pair of auxiliary members of the same opening.

9. The key structure with display panel according to claim 8 , wherein the elastic body is silicon rubber, and the auxiliary member is plastic and is combined with the elastic body by insert molding.

10. The key structure with display panel according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a thin-film circuit, disposed on the display panel and exposing the display surfaces, wherein the elastic support is located on the thin-film circuit.

11. The key structure with display panel according to claim 10 , wherein the thin-film circuit has a plurality of switches located outside a range of each of the display surfaces, the elastic support further has a plurality of protrusions extending toward the switches, the key structure is pressed and the elastic support is elastically deformed and drives the protrusion to move toward and trigger the switch, and the key structure is not pressed and the elastic support is not elastically deformed and does not drive the protrusion to release triggering and move away from the switch.

12. The key structure with display panel according to claim 11 , wherein each of the switches is an optical switch.

13. The key structure with display panel according to claim 11 , wherein each of the switches is a conductive pad switch.

14. The key structure with display panel according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a base plate, disposed between the thin-film circuit and the elastic support, wherein one end of each of the scissors assemblies away from the transparent keycap is slidably and pivotably connected to the base plate.

15. The key structure with display panel according to claim 8 , wherein the scissors assemblies are respectively and correspondingly pivotally connected to the transparent keycaps.

Assignees

• Acer Inc

Inventors

• Chen Hung-Chi

Classifications

• H01H13/04 Primary

  Cases; Covers · CPC title

• G06F1/1662 Primary

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• H01H13/14

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

• H01H13/20

  Driving mechanisms · CPC title

• H01H13/86

  characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size · CPC title