The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to a keyboard device.
With increasing development of science and technology, a variety of electronic devices are designed in views of convenience and user-friendliness. For helping the user well operate the electronic devices, the electronic devices are gradually developed in views of humanization. The input devices of the common electronic devices include for example mouse devices, keyboard devices, trackball devices, or the like. Via the keyboard device, texts or symbols can be inputted into the computer system directly. As a consequence, most users and most manufacturers of input devices pay much attention to the development of keyboard devices.
Generally, a keyboard device comprises plural key structures. Each key structure comprises a keycap, a scissors-type connecting member, a membrane circuit board and a supporting plate. These components are stacked on each other sequentially. In case that the keyboard device is a luminous keyboard device, the keyboard device is equipped with a backlight module under the supporting plate.
Moreover, a membrane switch is installed on the membrane circuit board, and an elastic element is arranged between the keycap and the membrane circuit board. The scissors-type connecting member is connected between the keycap and the supporting plate. Moreover, the scissors-type connecting member comprises a first frame and a second frame. The second frame is pivotally coupled to the first frame. Consequently, the first frame and the second frame can be swung relative to each other. While the keycap of any key structure is depressed and moved downwardly relative to the supporting plate, the first frame and the second frame of the scissors-type connecting member are switched from an open-scissors state to a stacked state. Moreover, as the keycap is moved downwardly to compress the elastic element, the corresponding membrane switch is pushed and triggered by the elastic element. Consequently, the keyboard device generates a corresponding key signal.
When the keycap of the key structure is no longer depressed, the keycap is moved upwardly relative to the supporting plate in response to an elastic force of the elastic element. Meanwhile, the first frame and the second frame are switched from the stacked state to the open-scissors state again, and the keycap is returned to its original position.
However, the conventional keyboard device still has some drawbacks. For example, in a general usage status (e.g., the general text inputting task), the conventional keyboard device is only able to generate the corresponding text input signals when the keys at different positions are depressed by the user. That is, whenever a key is clicked, only a signal is generated. If the keyboard device is in the usage status corresponding to the task of playing games, it is necessary to simultaneously depress more than two keys to execute a special control command. In other words, the conventional keyboard device is not user-friendly.
Therefore, there is a need of providing an improved keyboard device in order to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional technologies.
An object of the present invention provides a keyboard device with a key structure. While a keycap assembly of the key structure is moved downwardly, a triggering part of a connecting member is moved downwardly to trigger a signal generator to generate a first signal. As the keycap assembly is continuously moved downwardly, an elastic element is moved downwardly to trigger a membrane switch to generate a second signal.
Another object of the present invention provides a key structure. While a keycap assembly of the key structure is moved downwardly, a triggering part of a connecting member is moved downwardly to trigger a signal generator to generate a first signal. As the keycap assembly is continuously moved downwardly, an elastic element is moved downwardly to trigger a membrane switch to generate a second signal.
The other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the disclosed technical features.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a keyboard device is provided. The keyboard device includes plural key structures. Each key structure includes a plate assembly, a keycap assembly, an elastic element, a connecting member and a signal generator. The plate assembly includes a membrane switch. The keycap assembly is located over the plate assembly. The elastic element is arranged between the plate assembly and the keycap assembly. The connecting member is arranged between the plate assembly and the keycap assembly. The keycap assembly is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the plate assembly through the connecting member. The connecting member includes a triggering part. The signal generator is installed on the plate assembly and aligned with the triggering part of the connecting member. While the keycap assembly is moved toward the plate assembly through the connecting member, the triggering part of the connecting member is moved downwardly to trigger the signal generator to generate a first signal. After the signal generator is triggered, the keycap assembly is continuously moved downwardly and the elastic element is moved downwardly to trigger the membrane switch to generate a second signal. The first signal and the second signal are different types of signals.
In an embodiment, the signal generator includes an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver, which are aligned with each other. The infrared emitter emits an infrared ray to the infrared receiver. A region between the infrared emitter and the infrared receiver is defined as a sensing region. The triggering part of the connecting member includes a light-shielding structure. While the keycap assembly is moved downwardly relative to the plate assembly through the connecting member, the light-shielding structure of the connecting member is correspondingly moved to the sensing region. Consequently, the signal generator is triggered to generate the first signal.
In an embodiment, the signal generator includes a first electrode and a second electrode, which are aligned with each other. The triggering part of the connecting member includes a conductive block. While the keycap assembly is moved downwardly relative to the plate assembly through the connecting member, the conductive block of the connecting member is correspondingly moved and contacted with the first electrode and the second electrode, and a conductive loop between the first electrode and the second electrode is established. Consequently, the signal generator is triggered to generate the first signal.
In an embodiment, the elastic element includes a contacting part. While the keycap assembly is moved downwardly through the connecting member, the keycap assembly is moved downwardly to compress the elastic element, and the contacting part is moved downwardly toward the plate assembly. After the signal generator is triggered, the membrane switch is triggered by the contacting part of the elastic element, so that the second signal is generated.
In an embodiment, the first signal is a sound signal, and the second signal is a text input signal.
In an embodiment, the first signal and the second signal are different control signals.
In an embodiment, the plate assembly further includes a membrane wiring board, a supporting assembly, a waterproof plate and a circuit board. The membrane wiring board include the membrane switch and a first opening. The elastic element is arranged between the membrane wiring board and the keycap assembly. The supporting assembly is located over the membrane wiring board. The supporting assembly includes a second opening and a third opening. The second opening and the first opening are in communication with each other to be collaboratively defined as an opening part. The elastic element is penetrated through the third opening and installed on the membrane wiring board. The waterproof plate is located under the membrane wiring board. The circuit board is arranged between the membrane wiring board and the waterproof plate. The signal generator is installed on the circuit board. The signal generator is exposed to the opening part.
In an embodiment, the supporting assembly is a combination of a supporting plate and a supporting frame, and the second opening and the third opening are formed in the supporting frame. The keycap assembly is a combination of a keycap and a covering body. The covering body is embedded in the supporting frame. The covering body is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the supporting frame. The connecting member is arranged between the supporting frame and the covering body. The elastic element is arranged between the covering body and the membrane wiring board.
In an embodiment, the plate assembly further includes a first adhesive layer, a second adhesive layer and a separation layer. The first adhesive layer is arranged between the supporting assembly and the membrane wiring board. The second adhesive layer is arranged between the membrane wiring board and the separation layer. The separation layer is arranged between the second adhesive layer and the circuit board.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a key structure is provided. The key structure includes a plate assembly, a keycap assembly, an elastic element, a connecting member and a signal generator. The plate assembly includes a membrane switch. The keycap assembly is located over the plate assembly. The elastic element is arranged between the plate assembly and the keycap assembly. The connecting member is arranged between the plate assembly and the keycap assembly. The keycap assembly is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the plate assembly through the connecting member. The connecting member includes a triggering part. The signal generator is installed on the plate assembly and aligned with the triggering part of the connecting member. While the keycap assembly is moved toward the plate assembly through the connecting member, the triggering part of the connecting member is moved downwardly to trigger the signal generator to generate a first signal. After the signal generator is triggered, the keycap assembly is continuously moved downwardly and the elastic element is moved downwardly to trigger the membrane switch to generate a second signal. The first signal and the second signal are different types of signals.
From the above descriptions, the present invention provides the keyboard device. After the keycap assembly is depressed, the keycap assembly is moved toward the plate assembly through the connecting member. While the keycap assembly is moved downwardly, the triggering part of the connecting member is correspondingly moved downwardly to trigger the signal generator to generate the first signal. After the signal generator is triggered, the keycap assembly is continuously moved downwardly. Consequently, the elastic element is moved downwardly to trigger the membrane switch to generate the second signal. In other words, one clicking action of the key structure can generate two different signals. Moreover, the key structure may be selectively triggered to generate one signal or two different signals according to the pressing force of the user. Consequently, the flexibility of using the keyboard device in different usage statuses will be enhanced.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
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The key structure 10 of the keyboard device 1 will be described in more details as follows.
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After the keycap assembly 12 is depressed, the keycap assembly 12 is moved toward the plate assembly 11 through the connecting member 14. While the keycap assembly 12 is moved downwardly, the triggering part 140 of the connecting member 14 is correspondingly moved downwardly to trigger the signal generator 15 to generate a first signal. After the signal generator 15 is triggered, the keycap assembly 12 is continuously moved downwardly. Consequently, the elastic element 13 is moved downwardly to trigger the membrane switch 1110 to generate a second signal. In other words, one clicking action of the key structure 10 can generate two different signals.
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As mentioned above, the key structure 10 is specially designed. Consequently, one clicking action of the key structure 10 can generate two different signals. In an embodiment, the first signal generated by the signal generator 15 and the second signal generated by the membrane switch 1110 are two different control signals. For example, when the keyboard device 1 is used to control a game, the user may depress the key structure 10 to sequentially generate two different control signals to control the characters in the game. For example, the first control signal is firstly generated to control the character in the game to run, and the second control signal is then generated to control the character in the game to accelerate running. If the task of controlling the character in the game to run is sufficient but it is not necessary for the character to accelerate running, the user may depress the key structure 10 for the travel distance as shown in
In the above embodiment, the first signal generated by the signal generator 15 and the second signal generated by the membrane switch 1110 are two different control signals. It is noted that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, in another embodiment, the first signal generated by the signal generator 15 is a sound signal, and the second signal generated by the membrane switch 1110 is a text input signal. The types of the first signal and the second signal are not restricted. When the user needs to generate one signal in response to one clicking action of the key structure 10, the user may selectively disable the signal generator 15 or the membrane switch 1110.
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In comparison with the key structure 10 as shown in
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From the above descriptions, the present invention provides the keyboard device. After the keycap assembly is depressed, the keycap assembly is moved toward the plate assembly through the connecting member. While the keycap assembly is moved downwardly, the triggering part of the connecting member is correspondingly moved downwardly to trigger the signal generator to generate the first signal. After the signal generator is triggered, the keycap assembly is continuously moved downwardly. Consequently, the elastic element is moved downwardly to trigger the membrane switch to generate the second signal. In other words, one clicking action of the key structure can generate two different signals. Moreover, the key structure may be selectively triggered to generate one signal or two different signals according to the pressing force of the user. Consequently, the flexibility of using the keyboard device in different usage statuses will be enhanced.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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109140849 | Nov 2020 | TW | national |
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