1. Field of the Invention
The instant disclosure is related to a keyboard key structure and method of manufacturing a keycap of a keyboard key. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to a keyboard key structure using laser engraving to form a symbol on a keycap thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
A keyboard is widely used to input letters, numbers or signs to various electronic devices, such as computer, portable electronic device . . . etc. The characters or symbols are mostly formed on a top surface of a keycap by printing. Such a way needs to store a lot of keyboards of different languages which are printed in advance and available for sale or distribution, but causes a stocking burden.
For improving the stocking burden, a conventional way uses laser engraving to form characters and symbols of a specific language on the keyboard keys before delivering the goods, so as to reduce inventory pressure.
However, the method of laser engraving easily damages the keycap, especially as an engraving depth is hard to control accurately, which is why it is easy to injure the keycap body or character layer (or bottom layer). Therefore, a conventional keyboard usually has a protecting layer formed on a top surface of the character layer for protection from damage by the laser. This way is not only time-consuming and laborious, but also increases a thickness of the keycap.
It is one objective of this invention to provide a keyboard key structure, having a character layer which does not need a protecting layer additionally formed thereon, so as to reduce a thickness of the keycap.
In order to achieve the above objectives, according to one exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure, the instant disclosure provides a keyboard key structure, which includes a plurality of keycaps. Each of the keycaps includes a keycap body and an outward layer. The keycap body has an appearance showing a first color, and the outward layer has an appearance showing a second color different from the first color. The outward layer is arranged above the keycap body. The outward layer has an engraving portion, and the first color is exposed in the engraving portion.
One more objective of this invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a keycap of keyboard key, and the keycap preferably has no concaved portions on a top surface thereof after layer engraving.
In order to achieve the above objectives, according to one exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure, the instant disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a keycap of keyboard key, including at least the steps as follows:
Forming a keycap body, and having an appearance with a first color;
Forming an outward layer, and having an appearance with a second color different from the first color, wherein the outward layer is formed above the keycap body;
Forming a transparent protecting layer, covering on the outward layer; and
Forming an engraving portion on the outward layer in an engraving manner by a laser passing through the protecting layer, wherein the engraving portion is under a bottom surface of the protecting layer.
Thus, the instant disclosure has advantages as follows. The character layer of the keyboard key structure of the instant disclosure does not need an additional protecting layer, so that a thickness of the keycap can be reduced.
For further understanding of the instant disclosure, reference is made to the following detailed description illustrating the embodiments and examples of the instant disclosure. The description is for illustrative purpose only and is not intended to limit the scope of the claim.
Refer to
In this embodiment, a character layer 20 with the first color is spread on a top surface of the keycap body 10. The first color is provided by the character layer 20. In this condition, the outward layer 30 is formed on a top surface of the character layer 20. However, the first color of this present disclosure can be provided by the keycap body 10, which will be described in a later embodiment. In this embodiment, the keycap further has a protecting layer 40 formed on a surface of the outward layer 30. The protecting layer 40 preferably is transparent and the second color is exposed through the protecting layer 40, which has a function for protecting the keycap.
The final step of this present disclosure of manufacturing the keyboard key structure is that, utilizing a laser beam to engrave the keycap and forming an engraving portion 50, and the engraving portion 50 passes through the outward layer 30 to expose the first color. The shape of the engraving portion 50 corresponds to the required language of the keyboard. In this embodiment, the engraving portion 50 passes from an outer surface of the protecting layer 40 through the outward layer 30 and extended until reaching a top surface of the character layer 20. When a specific language of keyboard is required, the keys are proceeded with the engraving process to form characters and symbols. Such a manufacturing way has the advantage that, it does not need to print the required language on the keycap in advance, so that there is no condition for keeping keyboards of certain languages in stock.
In this embodiment, the character layer 20 preferably is added with 1% to 10% weight percent of protective wear-resistant agent. Thus, during the laser engraving process, the keycap is not easily abraded by engraving, and passes environmental testing. The protective wear-resistant agent includes at least one of the following inorganic materials: silicon dioxide, ceramic powder, corrosion inhibitor, epoxy resin, Polyacrylamide (PAM), nano-silicon dioxide (whose particle size about 1 to 100 nanometer), talcum powder, aluminum tristearate, calcium stearate, or low-molecular thermoplastic resin. The nano-silicon dioxide, also called as super-fine silicon dioxide, has a nanoparticle (super small) grade, with the functions of anti-ultraviolet, aging resistance, material strength and chemical resistance.
Moreover, the protecting layer 40 can be added with 1% to 10% weight percent of laser-engraving assisted material for easily processing laser engraving. The laser-engraving assisted material can be laser engrave powder. The laser engrave powder could be black or silver color materbatches. The materbatch is a colorant of macromolecule material, which usually includes pigment (dye), carrier and additive . . . etc. In addition, the protecting layer 40 can be added with 1% to 10% weight percent of chemical resistant material. The chemical resistant material can be chosen from at least one of the following materials: inorganic particles, sol-gel, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane, dispersant, antioxidant, ultraviolet absorber, polyether-modified organic-silicones, oxidized high-density polyethylene wax, carnauba wax, or polyethylene wax. Therefore, its transmittance can be raised.
Refer to
Similar to the first embodiment, the character layer 20 is preferably added with 1% to 10% weight percent of protective wear-resistant agent. Thus, the keycap can be protected and is not easily damaged during the laser engraving process, and passes an environmental test. The composition of the protective wear-resistant agent can be the same as that mentioned in the first embodiment.
The protecting layer 40 can be added with 1% to 10% weight percent of laser-engraving assisted material, so as to process the laser engraving easily. The composition of the laser-engraving assisted material can be the same as that of the first embodiment. The protecting layer 40 also can be added with some material to enhance chemical resistance, such as 1% to 10% weight percent of chemical resistant material. The composition of the chemical resistant material can be the same as that mentioned in the first embodiment.
Refer to
Refer to
In this embodiment, the protecting layer 40 preferably is made of laser-resistance material, cooperated with a slimmer outward layer 30. The thickness of the outward layer 30 could be slimmer than 5 μm. In addition, the protecting layer 40 can be added with 1% to 10% weight percent of chemical-resistance material, so that the chemical-resistance material can allow a laser to pass the protecting layer 40 without engraving or etching. the chemical-resistance material can be chosen from at least one of the following materials: inorganic particle (such as silicon dioxide, ceramic powder . . . etc.), Poly Methyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), dispersant, antioxidant, UV Protecting Agents, organosilicon modified polyether, high-density oxidized polyethylene wax, carnauba wax, or polyethylene wax.
A further way of this embodiment can utilize sensitive ink to provide the first color of the character layer 20, such as optically variable ink, or thermochromic ink. When a laser is emitted to the keycap, the color of the ink is changed to another color.
This embodiment further provides a method of manufacturing a keycap of keyboard key, which comprises steps as follows:
Forming a keycap body 10 which has an appearance with a first color;
Forming a character layer 20 with the first color on an upper surface of the keycap body 10;
Forming an outward layer 30 which has an appearance with a second color different from the first color, and the outward layer 30 covers on the character layer 20;
Forming a transparent protecting layer 40, to cover on the outward layer 30; and
Using a laser passing through the protecting layer 40 to engrave an engraving portion 50 on the outward layer 30. The engraving portion 50 is located between a bottom surface of the protecting layer 40 and a top surface of the character layer 30.
In this embodiment, the laser preferably is an ultraviolet laser with a center wavelength at 355 nm, or green laser with a center wavelength at 532 nm, or a laser with a center wavelength at 1064 nm.
In order to help the laser pass through the protecting layer 40 and reduce any damage to the protecting layer 40, in the method of this embodiment, a preferred manner can simultaneously use at least two beams of lasers L1, L2 to focus on the outward layer 30, and on where the engraving portion 50 is. The energy density of each laser beam is smaller than a critical value (or a threshold value) able to etch the protecting layer 40. Each laser beam's energy density is lower than the critical value able to etch the protecting layer 40, so that each laser beam will not damage the protecting layer 40 or reduce or damage the protecting layer 40 before reaching the outward layer 30. Since two laser beams are focused on the same place, the energy density of the laser beams can be added to etch the outward layer 30 and form the engraving portion 50. The two beams of lasers L1, L2 can enter into the protecting layer 40 in different angle of incidence.
This method also could use a single laser beam to achieve the same result in another way. If the protecting layer 40 has a larger thickness, this embodiment can use a single laser beam to pass the protecting layer 40 with a bigger light spot, whose energy density is not enough to etch the protecting layer 40. Then, the laser beam is properly focused on the outward layer 30 with a smaller light spot. A smaller light spot of the same laser beam has a bigger energy density, so as to form the engraving portion 50 on the outward layer 30.
During the laser etching the outward layer 30 to form the engraving portion 50, the scorched material may form smoke. A preferred manner of this embodiment can form a ventilation hole on the keycap in communication with air and the engraving portion 50, so that the smoke can be removed out by vacuuming or another similar way.
Refer to
The method of manufacturing the keyboard key according to this embodiment includes the steps as follows:
Forming a keycap body 10, which has an appearance showing a first color;
Forming an outward layer 30, which has an appearance showing a second color different from the first color, and the outward layer 30 is arranged above the keycap body;
Forming a transparent protecting layer 40, which covers on the outward layer 30; and
Using a laser to pass the protecting layer 40 and engrave an engraving portion 50 on the outward layer 30, and the engraving portion 50 is under a bottom surface of the protecting layer 40.
This present disclosure has advantages as follows. The character layer 20 is preferably added with 1% to 10% weight percent of protective wear-resistant agent. Thus, the keycap can be protected and is not easily damaged during the laser engraving process, and passes an environmental test. Thus, the character layer 20 does not need an additional protecting layer for reducing a thickness of the keycap. Further, this present disclosure can omit a character layer, and even omit a protecting layer disposed outmost for reducing a thickness of the keycap. In addition, this present disclosure can form an engraving portion under the outmost protecting layer 40, and the keycap has no concaved engraving portion, with a more beautiful appearance.
The description above only illustrates specific embodiments and examples of the instant disclosure. The instant disclosure should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the instant disclosure, provided they fall within the scope of the instant disclosure as defined in the following appended claims.
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