The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to a keyboard device and a method for manufacturing a key frame of the keyboard device.
Generally, the widely-used peripheral input device of a computer system includes for example a mouse device, a keyboard device, a trackball device, or the like. Via the keyboard device, characters or symbols can be inputted into the computer system directly. As a consequence, most users and most manufacturers of the input devices pay much attention to the keyboard devices.
Hereinafter, the structure and the function of a conventional keyboard device will be illustrated with reference to
The conventional keyboard device 1 comprises plural key structures 10, a base plate 11, a membrane circuit board 12 and a key frame 13. The membrane circuit board 12 comprises plural membrane switches 121 corresponding to the plural key structures 10. Each of the plural key structures 10 comprises a keycap 101, a scissors-type connecting element 102 and an elastic element 103. The scissors-type connecting element 102 is connected between the keycap 101 and the base plate 11. Moreover, the scissors-type connecting element 102 comprises a first frame 1021 and a second frame 1022. The second frame 1022 is pivotally coupled to the first frame 1021. Consequently, the first frame 1021 and the second frame 1022 can be swung relative to each other. The elastic element 103 is arranged between the keycap 101 and the base plate 11. Moreover, the elastic element 103 comprises a contacting part (not shown).
While the keycap 101 of any key structure 10 is depressed and moved downwardly relative to the base plate 11, the first frame 1021 and the second frame 1022 of the scissors-type connecting element 102 are switched from an open-scissors state to a stacked state. Moreover, as the keycap 101 is moved downwardly to compress the elastic element 103, the corresponding membrane switch 121 is pushed and triggered by the contacting part of the elastic element 103. Consequently, the keyboard device 1 generates a corresponding key signal. When the keycap 101 of the key structure 10 is no longer depressed, the keycap 101 is moved upwardly relative to the base plate 11 in response to an elastic force of the elastic element 103. Meanwhile, the first frame 1021 and the second frame 1022 are switched from the stacked state to the open-scissors state again, and the keycap 101 is returned to its original position.
The key frame 13 is located over the membrane circuit board 12. Moreover, the key frame 13 comprises a main body 132 and plural receiving holes 131 corresponding to the plural key structures 10. The keycap 101 of the key structure 10 is movable within the corresponding receiving hole 131. For achieving some special purposes, the keyboard device 1 is specially designed. For example, the keyboard device 1 has a special mechanism for allowing the keycaps 101 to be ascended or descended in response to the movement of the key frame 13. Consequently, the keyboard device 1 has a slim shape when a notebook computer (not shown) with the keyboard device 1 is carried by the user. Moreover, while the keyboard device 1 is operated by the user, the keycap 101 generates a larger travelling distance to provide better tactile feel to the user. This mechanism is well known to those skilled in the art, and is not redundantly described herein.
However, the above mechanism still has some drawbacks. For example, while the keyboard device 1 is operated by the user, the relative position between the keycap 101 of the key structure 10 and the key frame 13 is not friendly to the user. Please refer to
An object of the present invention provides a keyboard device with a key frame. The key frame is made of plural materials. Consequently, the tactile feel of depressing the keycap of the keyboard device is enhanced.
Another object of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a key frame of a keyboard device in order to simplify the process of aligning plural materials.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard device. The keyboard device includes a membrane circuit board, a key frame and a key structure. The membrane circuit board includes a membrane switch. The key frame is located over the membrane circuit board. The key frame includes a main body and a receiving hole. The receiving hole runs through the main body along a vertical direction. The main body includes a first substrate layer, a second substrate layer and a contact layer. The first substrate layer and the second substrate layer are staked along the vertical direction. The contact layer is arranged between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer. The second substrate layer is combined with the first substrate layer through the contact layer. The key structure is aligned with the membrane switch. The key structure includes a keycap. When the keycap is depressed, the keycap is moved within the receiving hole.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a key frame of a keyboard device. The key frame includes a main body and plural receiving holes. Moreover, plural keycaps of the keyboard device are movable within the plural receiving holes. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, a first substrate layer of the main body is produced by an injection molding process. The first substrate layer is made of a first material. The first substrate layer includes plural first openings corresponding to the plural receiving holes. Then, a single substrate and the first substrate layer are combined together through a contact layer. The single substrate is made of a second material. Then, a cutting process is performed on the single substrate to generate plural second openings corresponding to the plural receiving holes in the single substrate, so that a second substrate layer of the main body is produced. Each of the second openings is in communication with the corresponding first opening.
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:
Please refer to
Each of the plural key structures 20 comprises a keycap 201, a connecting element 202 and an elastic element 203. The connecting element 202 is connected between the keycap 201 and the base plate 21. Through the connecting element 202, the keycap 201 is moved upwardly or downwardly relative to the base plate 21. The elastic element 203 is arranged between the keycap 201 and the base plate 21. Moreover, the elastic element 203 comprises a contacting part (not shown). In this embodiment, the connecting element 202 is a scissors-type connecting element. Moreover, the connecting element 202 comprises a first frame 2021 and a second frame 2022. The second frame 2022 is pivotally coupled to the first frame 2021. Consequently, the first frame 2021 and the second frame 2022 can be swung relative to each other.
While the keycap 201 of any key structure 20 is depressed and moved downwardly relative to the base plate 21, the first frame 2021 and the second frame 2022 of the scissors-type connecting element 202 are switched from an open-scissors state to a stacked state. Moreover, as the keycap 201 is moved downwardly to compress the elastic element 203, the corresponding upper contact 2222 is pushed and triggered by the contacting part of the elastic element 203. Consequently, the corresponding upper contact 2222 is contacted with the corresponding lower contact 2232 through the corresponding perforation 2241. In such way, the corresponding membrane switch 221 is electrically conducted, and the keyboard device 2 generates a corresponding key signal. When the keycap 201 of the key structure 20 is no longer depressed, the keycap 201 is moved upwardly relative to the base plate 21 in response to an elastic force of the elastic element 203. Meanwhile, the first frame 2021 and the second frame 2022 are switched from the stacked state to the open-scissors state again, and the keycap 201 is returned to its original position. The connecting relationships between the connecting element 202, the base plate 21 and the keycap 201 are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only.
The key frame 23 is located over the membrane circuit board 22. Moreover, the key frame 23 comprises a main body 232 and plural receiving holes 231 corresponding to the plural key structures 20. The plural receiving holes 231 run through the main body 232 along a vertical direction. The keycap 201 of the key structure 20 is movable within the corresponding receiving hole 231. For achieving some special purposes, the keyboard device 2 is specially designed. For example, the keyboard device 2 has a special mechanism for allowing the keycaps 201 to be ascended or descended in response to the movement of the key frame 23. Consequently, the keyboard device 2 has a slim shape when a notebook computer (not shown) with the keyboard device 2 is carried by the user. Moreover, while the keyboard device 2 is operated by the user, the keycap 201 generates a larger travelling distance to provide batter tactile feel to the user. This mechanism is well known to those skilled in the art, and is not redundantly described herein.
In this embodiment, the main body 232 of the key frame 23 comprises a first substrate layer 2321, a second substrate layer 2322 and a contact layer 2323. The first substrate layer 2321 and the second substrate layer 2322 are staked along the vertical direction. The contact layer 2323 is arranged between the first substrate layer 2321 and the second substrate layer 2322. The second substrate layer 2322 is combined with the first substrate layer 2321 through the contact layer 2323. The first substrate layer 2321 is made of a first material. The second substrate layer 2322 is made of a second material. The hardness of the second material is lower than the hardness of the first material. The benefits of this design will be described with reference to
Please refer to
Preferably but not exclusively, the first material is a plastic material, a metallic material or any other comparable material with higher hardness. For example, the first material is acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) or aluminum, which is conventionally used to fabricate the key frame. Preferably but not exclusively, the second material is leather or foam. If the second material is leather, the interference between the user's finger 8 and the key frame is reduced while the keycap 201 is depressed. Moreover, if the second material is leather, the second substrate layer 2322 may have a color pattern such as a decorative pattern. In comparison with the conventional key frame with the monochromatic texture, the key frame of the present invention is aesthetically-pleasing. Moreover, the second substrate layer 2322 made of leather can facilitate the user to identify the keycap 201.
A method for manufacturing a key frame of a keyboard device will be described as follows.
Preferably but not exclusively, the cutting process is a beam cutting process that uses a high energy light beam (e.g., a laser beam) to cut the single substrate 7. In accordance with the present invention, the single substrate 7 and the first substrate layer 231 are firstly combined together, and then the second openings 23221 are formed in the single substrate 7 by the cutting process. In such way, the process of aligning the plural second openings 23221 of the second substrate layer 2322 with the plural first openings 23211 of the first substrate layer 2321 will be simplified.
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 modifications and similar structures.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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106108935 | Mar 2017 | TW | national |