Keyboard and key structure thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12080491-B2
Application number	US-202218071514-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2022
Priority date	Jun 30, 2022
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A key structure of keyboard including a base, at least one force sensing membrane disposed on the base, a scissors mechanism, a key cap, a bracket sets assembled to the key cap, a first sleeve, a second sleeve, a spring, and a pressing member disposed at a bottom of the second sleeve is provided. A side of the scissors mechanism is movably leaned against the base and located on the force sensing membrane, and another side of the scissors mechanism is pivoted to the bracket sets. A portion of the first sleeve is assembled between the key cap and the bracket sets, and another portion of the first sleeve passes through the bracket sets. The second sleeve is movably socketed in the first sleeve. The spring is leaned against the second sleeve and the key cap. A keyboard is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key structure of a keyboard, comprising:
a base;
at least one force sensing membrane, disposed on the base;
a scissors mechanism, a side of the scissors mechanism is movably leaned against the base and located on the at least one force sensing membrane;
a key cap;
a bracket set, assembled to the key cap, another side of the scissors mechanism is pivoted to the bracket set;
a first sleeve, a portion of the first sleeve is assembled between the key cap and the bracket set, and another portion of the first sleeve passes through the bracket set;
a second sleeve, movably socketed in the first sleeve;
a spring, leaned against the second sleeve and the key cap; and
a pressing member, disposed at a bottom of the second sleeve, wherein when the key structure is not pressed, the pressing member contacts the force sensing membrane, and the first sleeve moves toward the force sensing membrane continuously along with the key cap and the bracket set during a process of pressing the key structure, the spring is compressed and the force sensing membrane is deformed through the spring, the second sleeve, and the pressing member until the second sleeve abuts against the key cap.

2. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket set comprises a first bracket and a second bracket, respectively clamped on an inside of the key cap, a part of the first sleeve is clamped between the key cap and the first bracket, and another part of the first sleeve passes through the first bracket and the second bracket.

3. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 2 , wherein the second bracket has a plurality of grooves, the first sleeve has a plurality of protruding ribs located on an outer wall of the first sleeve, and the protruding ribs are correspondingly embedded in the grooves.

4. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 2 , wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are respectively clamped on an inner surface of the key cap with a plurality of side edges.

5. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein an outer wall of the second sleeve has a plurality of protruding ribs, and an inner wall of the first sleeve has a side skirt structure, and the side skirt structure is located on a moving path of the protruding ribs, so that the first sleeve stops the second sleeve.

6. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is a linear spring.

7. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the force sensing membrane is a resistive force sensing membrane.

8. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the pressing member is rubber.

9. The key structure of the keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the pressing member is made of plastic and rubber by double-material injection molding.

10. A keyboard, comprising:
a base;
a first force sensing membrane, disposed on the base;
a second force sensing membrane, disposed between the base and the first force sensing membrane;
at least one first key, disposed on the first force sensing membrane; and
a plurality of second keys, disposed on the first force sensing membrane, wherein an orthographic projection of the at least one first key on the first force sensing membrane and an orthographic projection of the second force sensing membrane on the first force sensing membrane correspond to each other and are consistent with each other,
wherein when the at least one first key is pressed, the first force sensing membrane and the second force sensing membrane generate sensing forces respectively, wherein the key structure of the at least one first key further comprises:
a scissors mechanism, a side of the scissors mechanism is movably leaned against the base;
a key cap;
a bracket set, assembled to the key cap, another side of the scissors mechanism is pivoted to the bracket set;
a first sleeve, a portion of the first sleeve is assembled between the key cap and the bracket set, and another portion of the first sleeve passes through the bracket set;
a second sleeve, movably socketed in the first sleeve;
a spring, leaned against the second sleeve and the key cap; and
a pressing member, disposed at a bottom of the second sleeve,
wherein when the key structure is not pressed, the pressing member contacts the first force sensing membrane,
wherein the first sleeve moves toward the first force sensing membrane and the second force sensing membrane continuously along with the key cap and the bracket set during a process of pressing the key structure, the spring is compressed and the first force sensing membrane and the second force sensing membrane are deformed through the spring, the second sleeve, and the pressing member until the second sleeve abuts against the key cap.

Assignees

• Acer Inc

Inventors

• Chen Hung-Chi

Classifications

• H01H13/14

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

• H01H13/70

  having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard (mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B) · CPC title

• H01H13/7065

  characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards · CPC title

• H01H13/20 Primary

  Driving mechanisms · CPC title

• H01H3/125 Primary

  using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser · CPC title