Key structure and portable computer using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12548720-B2
Application number	US-202318354654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2023
Priority date	Dec 14, 2022
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

A key structure includes a base, a bracket, a sensing circuit, an elastic member, a key cap, and a screwing member. The bracket is disposed on the base, the sensing circuit is disposed on the bracket, and the sensing circuit has an opening. The elastic member is disposed on the sensing circuit and covers the opening. The key cap is disposed on the elastic member. The screwing member passes through the opening and screws the bracket to the base, and the key cap, the elastic member, and the screwing member are coaxially arranged. In addition, a portable computer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A key structure, comprising:
a base; a bracket, disposed on the base; a sensing circuit, disposed on the bracket, and the sensing circuit having an opening; an elastic member, disposed on the sensing circuit and covering the opening; a key cap, disposed on the elastic member and shielding the elastic member; and a screwing member, passing through the opening and screwing the bracket to the base, wherein the key cap, the elastic member, and the screwing member are coaxially arranged, and the elastic member covers and shields the screwing member, wherein the screwing member is screwed in a top-to-bottom direction from the bracket toward the base.

2 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein a central section of the elastic member is H-shaped and has an upper skirt portion and a lower skirt portion corresponding to each other, the key cap abuts on the upper skirt portion, the lower skirt portion spans and surrounds the opening, and the lower skirt portion abuts on the sensing circuit.

3 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the sensing circuit comprises:
an upper circuit layer, a lower skirt portion of the elastic member abutting on the upper circuit layer; a lower circuit layer, disposed on the bracket; and an insulating layer, disposed between the upper circuit layer and the lower circuit layer, when the key cap is not pressed by an external force, a conductive portion of the upper circuit layer and a conductive portion of the lower circuit layer face each other across a gap, and when the key cap is pressed by an external force, the key cap exerts force on the upper circuit layer through the elastic member, so that the conductive portion of the upper circuit layer and the conductive portion of the lower circuit layer abut on each other through the gap and conduct electrical conduction.

4 . The key structure according to claim 3 , wherein the conductive portion of the upper circuit layer surrounds the opening, and the conductive portion of the lower circuit layer surrounds the opening.

5 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the screwing member is a screw, the base has a protruding post, and the protruding post has a screw hole adapted for the screw.

6 . The key structure according to claim 5 , wherein the bracket has a convex portion that abuts on the protruding post.

7 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a bottom shell and a circuit board, the circuit board is assembled to the bottom shell, and the screwing member passes through the circuit board and is screwed to the bottom shell.

8 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a bottom shell and a circuit board, the circuit board is assembled to the bottom shell, and the screwing member is screwed to the bottom shell and is located outside a range of the circuit board.

9 . The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a bottom shell, a circuit board, and a stud, the circuit board is assembled to the bottom shell, the stud is disposed at the circuit board, and the screwing member is screwed to the stud.

10 . A portable computer, comprising:
a body, having a base; a keyboard module, comprising a bracket, a sensing circuit, and at least one key, the bracket being disposed on the base, the sensing circuit being disposed on the bracket, and the sensing circuit having at least one opening, the key comprising: an elastic member, disposed on the sensing circuit and covering the opening; a key cap, detachably abutting on the elastic member; and a screwing member, passing through the opening and screwing the bracket to the base, wherein the key cap, the elastic member, and the screwing member are coaxially arranged, wherein the screwing member is screwed in a top-to-bottom direction from the bracket toward the base.

11 . The portable computer according to claim 10 , wherein a central section of the elastic member is H-shaped and has an upper skirt portion and a lower skirt portion corresponding to each other, the key cap abuts on the upper skirt portion, the lower skirt portion spans and surrounds the opening, and the lower skirt portion abuts on the sensing circuit.

12 . The portable computer according to claim 10 , wherein the sensing circuit comprises:
an upper circuit layer, a lower skirt portion of the elastic member abutting on the upper circuit layer; a lower circuit layer, disposed on the bracket; and an insulating layer, disposed between the upper circuit layer and the lower circuit layer, when the key cap is not pressed by an external force, a conductive portion of the upper circuit layer and a conductive portion of the lower circuit layer face each other across a gap, when the key cap is pressed by an external force, the key cap exerts force on the upper circuit layer through the elastic member, so that the conductive portion of the upper circuit layer and the conductive portion of the lower circuit layer abut on each other through the gap and conduct electrical conduction.

13 . The portable computer according to claim 12 , wherein the conductive portion of the upper circuit layer surrounds the opening, and the conductive portion of the lower circuit layer surrounds the opening.

14 . The portable computer according to claim 10 , wherein the screwing member is a screw, the base has a protruding post, and the protruding post has a screw hole adapted for the screw.

15 . The portable computer according to claim 14 , wherein the bracket has a convex portion that abuts on the protruding post.

16 . The portable computer according to claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a bottom shell and a circuit board, the circuit board is assembled to the bottom shell, and the screwing member passes through the circuit board and is screwed to the bottom shell.

17 . The portable computer according to claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a bottom shell and a circuit board, the circuit board is assembled to the bottom shell, and the screwing member is screwed to the bottom shell and is located outside a range of the circuit board.

18 . The portable computer according to claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a bottom shell, a circuit board, and a stud, the circuit board is assembled to the bottom shell, the stud is disposed at the circuit board, and the screwing member is screwed to the stud.

Assignees

• Acer Inc

Inventors

• Wen Chun-Hung
• Sun Hui-Ping
• Yu Jui-Yi
• Chueh Yen-Chou
• Chen Chun-Hsien

Classifications

• G06F1/1662 Primary

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• H01H2223/024

  Screw · CPC title

• H01H2233/07

  Cap or button on actuator part · CPC title

• G06F3/0202

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title

• H01H13/7065 Primary

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