Key structure and portable computer using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9748058-B2
Application number	US-201615049001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2016
Priority date	May 7, 2015
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A key structure includes a key cap, a bridge assembly, a first supporting part, a second supporting part, an attractable element and a magnet. The bridge assembly includes first and second hinge parts. One end of the first hinge part has a first link bar, and the other end has a first pivot coupling portion and a first shaft having a first connecting portion. One end of the second hinge part has a second link bar, and the other end has a second pivot coupling portion and a second shaft having a second connecting portion coupled to the first connecting portion. When the magnet under a first attractive position, the first end of the attractable element is attracted to the first attractive position. When the magnet under a second attractive position, the second end of the attractable element is attracted to the second attractive position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key structure, comprising:
a key cap;
a bridge assembly disposed under the key cap, wherein the bridge assembly comprises:
a first hinge part, wherein one end of the first hinge part has a first link bar, the other end of the first hinge part has a first pivot coupling portion and a first shaft, and the first shaft has a first connecting portion; and
a second hinge part, wherein one end of the second hinge part has a second link bar, the other end of the second hinge part has a second pivot coupling portion and a second shaft, and the second shaft has a second connecting portion;

a first supporting part and a second supporting part coupled to two ends of the first pivot coupling portion and two ends of the second pivot coupling portion, respectively;
an attractable element disposed under the bridge assembly, wherein the attractable element has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end are rotated around an axis and correspondingly to a first attractive position and a second attractive position; and
a magnet providing a magnetic force and being movable between the underneath of the first and second attractive positions, wherein when the magnet is under the first attractive position, the first end of the attractable element is attracted by the magnetic force and moved to the first attractive position; when the magnet is under the second attractive position, the second end of the attractable element is attracted by the magnetic force and moved to the second attractive position.

2. The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first hinge part or the second hinge part has a stopping portion correspondingly located above the second attractive position, and when the magnet is moved to the underneath of the second attractive position to attract the second end of the attractable element, the stopping portion contacts the magnet on the second attractive position.

3. The key structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a supporting board for fixing the first supporting part and the second supporting part, the first and second supporting parts are disposed oppositely and erected on a supporting side of the supporting board, the first supporting part comprises two first pivot holes, the second supporting part comprises two second pivot holes, and the two first pivot holes are opposite to the two second pivot holes for receiving the two ends of the first pivot coupling portion and the two ends of the second pivot coupling portion, respectively.

4. The key structure according to claim 3 , further comprising a base board, wherein the base board is disposed under the supporting board, and the base board or the supporting board is a sliding board, so that the base board and the supporting board slide with respect to each other.

5. The key structure according to claim 4 , wherein the base board has a receiving space for receiving the magnet, the supporting board has a first opening, the first opening and the receiving space are correspondingly under the attractable element, the size of the first opening is larger than the size of the receiving space, the first opening provides an operation space allowing the magnet to be moved to the underneath of the second attractive position from the underneath of the first attractive position, and the receiving space is for fixing the magnet on the base board.

6. The key structure according to claim 5 , wherein the receiving space is formed of a second opening passing through the base board or a recess not passing through the base board.

7. The key structure according to claim 4 , wherein the base board comprises at least one stopping part which is moved to a stopping position of the key cap, and when the magnet is moved to the underneath of the second attractive position to attract the second end of the attractable element, the stopping part contacts the key cap, so that the key cap remains at the stopping position.

8. The key structure according to claim 5 , wherein a height of the magnet is over an upper surface of the supporting board, and when the supporting board and the base board slide with respect to each other, the magnet is moved from one side to the other side of the first opening, and the edge of the first opening of the supporting board contacts the magnet to limit the scope of movement of the base board.

9. The key structure according to claim 5 , wherein the base board is disposed above a lower casing and has a third opening, the lower casing has a positioning part disposed in the third opening, and when the base board slides with respect to the lower casing, the positioning part is moved from one side to the other side of the third opening and contacts the edge of the third opening to limit the scope of movement of the base board.

10. The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are connected on the axis, so that the first hinge part and the second hinge part are rotated around the axis.

11. The key structure according to claim 10 , wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion comprise a protrusion portion and an indention portion coupled to each other on the axis.

12. The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein the key cap comprises a plurality of link bar supporting portions for linking the first link bar of the first hinge part and the second link bar of the second hinge part respectively.

13. The key structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of a part of the first hinge part near the first link bar and a part of the second hinge part near the second link bar has an actuation portion correspondingly located above a touch portion.

14. The key structure according to claim 13 , further comprising a thin film circuit board having a switch element disposed under the touch portion, wherein when the touch portion contacts the actuation portion, the switch element is activated to generate a key pressing signal.

15. A portable computer, comprising an upper cover, a lower cover and a connecting part connecting the upper cover to the lower cover, wherein the upper cover drives the base board or the supporting board of the key structure according to claim 4 to change the key structure to a storing status or a releasing status when the upper cover is rotated.

16. The portable computer according to claim 15 , wherein the connecting part is a hinge coupled to the base board or the supporting board through a connecting assembly which further comprises a moving part coupled between the hinge and the base board or between the hinge and the supporting board, the hinge has first teeth, the moving part has second teeth, and the first teeth and the second teeth are engaged with each other.

17. The portable computer according to claim 16 , wherein the moving part is formed of a part of the base board or the supporting board extended to the underneath of the hinge.

18. The portable computer according to claim 15 , wherein the connecting part is a hinge coupled to the base board or the supporting board through a connecting assembly which further comprises a guide screw parallel to the axial direction of the hinge and coupled to the base board or the supporting board, and the surface of the base board or the supporting board has a screw thread or a screw kit engaged with the screw thread of the guide screw.

19. The portable computer according to claim 18 , wherein the connecting assembly further comprises a first gear and a second gear, the first gear is coaxial with the hinge or is integrall

Assignees

• Lite On Technology Corp

Inventors

• Chen Chun-Lin
• Kuo Chih-Jen
• Yen Ming-Fu
• Hsu Kuo-Hui

Classifications

• H01H3/122 Primary

  with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor · CPC title

• G06F1/1662

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• H01H2221/04

  magnetic · CPC title