This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial No. 201310044688.9, filed on Feb. 4, 2013. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a key structure and, more particularly, to a key structure including a positioning unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A keyboard usually couples to an electronic device (such as a notebook) for users to input data in the notebook.
Conventional keyboards are generally divided into a contact-type keyboard and a contactless-type keyboard. The most common contact-type keyboard is a mechanical keyboard and a membrane keyboard. The most common contactless-type keyboard is a capacitive keyboard.
The capacitive contactless-type keyboard generates a corresponding electronic signal by sensing the variation of the capacitance. The contact-type keyboard moves vertically via a bridge structure (a scissor structure) to make elements contact to transmit an electronic signal of the keyboard.
However, the key structure of the contact-type keyboard is complicated, which causes inconvenience and difficulty in assembly.
Additionally, in order to operate when the ambient lighting is insufficient, several light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed under the keyboard to illuminate the key structure. However, a bridge structure of the key structure often blocks the light from the light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
A key structure which is convenient to assemble and can move vertically in a smooth and stable way is provided.
A key structure including a bottom portion, a keycap, an elastic element and a positioning unit is provided. The keycap includes a plurality of fixing portions. The elastic element is configured between the bottom portion and the keycap. The positioning unit is fixed on the bottom portion and assembled with the fixing portions. The keycap moves relative to the bottom portion via the positioning unit.
In the key structure, the fixing portions are assembled with the positioning unit, and the keycap moves relative to the bottom portion via the positioning unit. When the keycap is pressed to make the keycap move towards the bottom portion, the keycap moves along the positioning unit towards the bottom portion without deviation. On the contrary, when an external force pressing the keycap is released, the elastic element can make the keycap leave away from the bottom portion via its elastic force, and the keycap still moves along the positioning unit towards the bottom portion without deviation. Thus, the key structure is smooth and stable in the vertically moving process via the positioning unit.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
The keycap 120 includes a plurality of fixing portions 124a. The elastic element 130 is configured between the bottom portion 110 and keycap 120. The positioning unit 140 is fixed on the bottom portion 110 and assembled with the fixing portions 124a. The keycap 120 moves relative to the bottom portion 110 via the positioning unit 140.
In this configuration, the fixing portions 124a are assembled with the positioning unit 140 and the keycap 120 moves relative to the bottom portion 110 via the positioning unit 140. When the keycap 120 is pressed to make the keycap 120 move from an original position P1 as shown in
The keycap 120 includes a body 122 and a plurality of side portions 124. The side portions 124 are located around the body 122, and the fixing portions 124a are respectively located at the side portions 124. In the embodiment, the shape of the side portions 124 is a rectangle, and the number of the side portions 124 is four, which is not limited herein, they can be changed according to actual requirements.
Additionally, the positioning unit 140 includes one or more positioning portions 142 which are located above the side portions 124. The positioning portions 142 are corresponding to the fixing portions 124a respectively. Referring to
The shape and the number of the positioning portions 142 can be adjusted according to an actual key structure 100, which is not limited herein. Referring to
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On the contrary, when the keycap 120 is pressed to make the keycap 120 move from the original position P1 as shown in
As a result, the key structure 100 is smooth and stable when it moves up and down via the positioning pillars 144 of the positioning unit 140. In the embodiment, the number of the positioning pillars 144 is four, and they are respectively configured at four corners of the body 122, which is not limited herein. In other embodiments, the number of the positioning pillars 144 may be more than four, which is not limited herein.
The elastic element 130 includes a connecting portion 132, a conducting portion 134 and a pair of support legs 136. The connecting portion 132 is connected to the back surface 120a of the keycap 120.
The conducting portion 134 is located between the support legs 136. Additionally, the conducting portion 134 is configured at the back surface 120a of the keycap 120 corresponding to the press unit 112. When the keycap 120 moves relative to the bottom portion 110, the connecting portion 132 moves towards the bottom portion 110 to make the support legs pressed and deformed, and then the conducting portion 134 contacts the press unit 122 to execute a function of inputting.
Additionally, the key structure 100 also may be a key of an illuminant keyboard. An illuminant module (not shown) is set under the key of the illuminant keyboard. The body 122 includes a light-transmitting area 122a. The light-transmitting area 122a is located at an upper or side surface of the keycap 120. In the embodiment, instead of a conventional bridge structure, the positioning unit 140 is used to make the key structure 100 smooth and stable in the process of moving up and down, and the positioning unit 140 is not configured between the body 122 and bottom portion 110, and thus the positioning unit 140 would not occupy most space of the body 122. Consequently, it can increase a probability that light of the illuminant module passes through the light-transmitting region 122a and provide a better visual effect.
The manufacture and assembling process of the key structure 100 are illustrated hereinafter.
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Detailedly speaking, the key structure 100 further includes a locking portion 150. The positioning unit 140 is assembled with the bottom portion 110 by the locking portion 150. The bottom portion 100 includes a screw lock hole 114. The locking portion 150 passes through the corresponding screw lock hole 114 to make the bottom portion 110 and the positioning unit 140 lock together. In other embodiments, referring to
The difference between a key structure 200 in this embodiment and the key structure 100 in
In this configuration, in the key structure 200, each hook 222a moves in the corresponding sliding runner 342 to make the keycap 220 move relative to the bottom portion 210. When the keycap 220 is pressed to make the keycap 200 move from the original position P1 as shown in
As stated above, in the key structure of the embodiments of the invention, a fixing portion is assembled with a positioning unit, and a keycap moves relative to a bottom portion via the positioning unit. When the keycap is pressed to make the keycap move towards the bottom portion, the keycap moves along the positioning unit towards the bottom portion without deviation. On the contrary, when an external force pressing the keycap is released, the keycap moves away from the bottom portion via the elastic force of an elastic element, and the keycap still moves along the positioning unit without deviation. Thus, the key structure is smooth and stable in the vertically moving process via the positioning unit cooperating with the elastic element.
Additionally, the positioning unit in this embodiment is configured around the keycap, that is, the positioning unit is not configured between the body and the bottom portion, the positioning unit does not need to take up most volume of the body, and thus the light of the illuminant module passes through the light-transmitting area is seldom blocked, and the visual effect is better.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not for limiting the scope. Persons having ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the scope. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments described above.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201310044688.9 | Feb 2013 | CN | national |