Keyboard module and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9829928-B2
Application number	US-201615174258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2016
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A keyboard module pivotally connected to an electronic device is provided. The keyboard module comprises a bottom plate, a plurality of keys, a keyboard frame and a hinge structure. The plurality of keys are disposed on the bottom plate. The key includes a keycap and a support member for connecting the keycap to the bottom plate. The keyboard frame includes a plurality of openings to expose the keycaps. The hinge structure pivotally connects a display module of the electronic device with the keyboard frame or the bottom plate. When the display module rotates to drive the keyboard frame (or the bottom plate), the keycap moves relative to the keyboard frame (or the bottom plate). An electronic device including the keyboard module is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard module pivotally connected to an electronic device, comprising:
a bottom plate;
a plurality of keys disposed on the bottom plate, each of the keys including:
a keycap; and
a support member for connecting the keycap to the bottom plate;

a keyboard frame including a plurality of openings to expose the keycaps; and
a hinge structure for pivotally connecting a display module of the electronic device to the keyboard frame or the bottom plate;
wherein the keycap includes a first sidewall, a first slope is disposed along an entire surface of the first sidewall and toward the hinge structure, each of the plurality of openings of the keyboard frame includes a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall of the keycap, a second slope is disposed along an entire surface of the second sidewall, and inclined directions of the first slope and the second slope are the same,
wherein when the display module rotates to drive the keyboard frame or the bottom plate, the keycap moves relative to the keyboard frame or the bottom plate, and
wherein the hinge structure is connected to the keyboard frame, when the display module rotates, the second slope moves towards the first slope, and then the second slope abuts against the first slope and the keycap goes down to make the keycap not protrude out of the opening.

2. An electronic device, including:
a display module;
a keyboard module; and
a hinge structure connected with the display module and the keyboard module;
the keyboard module including:
a bottom plate;
a plurality of keys disposed on the bottom plate, each of the keys including:
a keycap; and
a support member for connecting the keycap to bottom plate; and

a keyboard frame including a plurality of openings to expose the keycaps;
wherein the keycap includes a first sidewall, a first slope is disposed along an entire surface of the first sidewall and toward the hinge structure, each of the plurality of openings of the keyboard frame includes a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall of the keycap, a second slope is disposed along an entire surface of the second sidewall, and inclined directions of the first slope and the second slope are the same,
wherein when the display module rotates to drive the keyboard frame or the bottom plate, the keycap moves relative to the keyboard frame or the bottom plate, and
wherein the hinge structure is connected to the keyboard frame, when the display module rotates, the second slope moves towards the first slope, and then the second slope abuts against the first slope and the keycap goes down to make the keycap not protrude out of the opening.

3. A keyboard module pivotally connected to an electronic device, comprising:
a bottom plate;
a plurality of keys disposed on the bottom plate, each of the keys including:
a keycap; and
a support member for connecting the keycap to the bottom plate;

a keyboard frame including a plurality of openings to expose the keycaps; and
a hinge structure for pivotally connecting a display module of the electronic device to the keyboard frame or the bottom plate;
wherein the keycap includes a first sidewall, a first slope is disposed along an entire surface of the first sidewall and toward the hinge structure, each of the plurality of openings of the keyboard frame includes a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall of the keycap, a second slope is disposed along an entire surface of the second sidewall, and inclined directions of the first slope and the second slope are the same,
wherein when the display module rotates to drive the keyboard frame or the bottom plate, the keycap moves relative to the keyboard frame or the bottom plate, and
wherein the hinge structure is connected to the bottom plate, when the hinge structure rotates, the first slope moves towards the second slope, and then the second slope abuts against the first slope and the keycap goes down to make the keycap not protrude out of the opening.

Assignees

• Asustek Comp Inc

Inventors

• Chiu Chien-Hsing

Classifications

• H01H2223/052

  reductible in size, e.g. for transportation · CPC title

• H01H13/86

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

• G06F3/0221

  Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys (G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666) · CPC title

• G06F1/1666 Primary

  Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys (G06F1/1664 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01H2231/042

  Briefcase; Note-book · CPC title