Customizable keyboard

A keyboard includes a panel and a number of input keys. The input keys are assembled on the panel. The panel includes at least one first positive contact, at least one first negative contact and at least one first signal contact disposed on the panel. Each input key of the number of input keys includes a second positive contact, a second negative contact, a second signal contact and a signal transmitter received therein. The second positive contact, the second negative contact and the second signal contact are configured for connecting to the at least one first positive contact, the at least one first negative contact and the at least one first signal contact respectively when the input key is assembled on the panel. The signal transmitter is configured for emitting a signal reflecting the function of the input key when the input key is pressed.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to input devices and, particularly, to a customizable keyboard.

2. Description of Related Art

Most conventional keyboards follow the qwerty style and cannot be changed. The input keys are fixed to the panel. For regular use these conventional keyboards may be adequate, however, if a user want to play games on his computer using a conventional keyboard, fat fingering may present a problem. Unlike regular typing, a user must input keystrokes depending on the input to the game being played. Therefore, during game playing and the speed of the reaction time of the user it is easy to press a non-active key by mistake.

What is needed, therefore, is a customizable keyboard, to overcome the above-described problems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail below, with references to the accompanying drawings.

Referring toFIG. 1, a keyboard100according to a first exemplary embodiment is shown. The keyboard100includes a panel10and a number of input keys20. The input keys20are assembled on a surface11of the panel10.

Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, corresponding to each input key20, the panel10defines a first receiving space12on the surface11, and includes a first positive contact13, a first complex contact14, and a first magnet15.

The first positive contact13and the first complex contact14are disposed at opposite sides of the first receiving space12correspondingly. The first positive contact13and the first complex contact14are all made of metal. The first complex contact14includes a first signal contact141and a first negative contact142. The first signal contact141is ring-shaped, and the first negative contact142is located in the center of the first signal contact141. The first magnet15is received in the first receiving space12. It is understood that, in another embodiment, a number of the first receiving spaces12are defined in a matrix manner communicating with each other. A number of the first positive contacts13arranged in a matrix manner corresponding to the first receiving spaces12are connected to each other. And a number of first magnets15arranged in a matrix manner corresponding to the first receiving spaces12are integrally formed.

Referring toFIGS. 2-4, the input key20includes a top wall21, a bottom wall22, a signal transmitter23, a first signal lamp24, a second signal lamp25, a trigger switch26, a second magnet27, a second positive contact28, and a second complex contact29.

The top wall21is made of elastic material, and includes a character symbol portion211formed thereon. Either of the character symbol portion211or the other portion of the top wall21is made of transparent material. In the present embodiment, the character symbol portion211is made of transparent material, and the other portion of the top wall21is made of opaque material.

The bottom wall22includes a bottom surface221facing the panel10, and defines a second receiving space222on the bottom surface221.

The second magnet27is received in the second receiving space222for attracting the first magnet15, therefore, the input key20can be fixed on the panel10. The input key20can be easily removed from the panel10by applying a pulling force on the input key20that is greater than the attractive force between the second magnet27and the first magnet15.

The second positive contact28and the second complex contact29are disposed at opposite sides of the second receiving space222correspondingly. The second positive contact28is configured for connecting to the first positive contact13. The second complex contact29is configured for connecting to the first complex contact14. The second positive contact28and the second complex contact29are made of metal. The second complex contact29includes a second signal contact291and a second negative contact292corresponding to the first signal contact141and the first negative contact142respectively. The second signal contact291is ring-shaped, and the second negative contact292is located in the center of the second signal contact291.

The signal transmitter23, the first signal lamp24, the second signal lamp25, and the trigger switch26are disposed between the top wall21and the bottom wall22. The trigger switch26is disposed on the center of a surface of the bottom wall22facing the top wall21. The signal transmitter23can emit a signal reflecting the function of the input key20. Because the signal transmitter23is received in the input key20, the function of the input key20is determined by the signal transmitter23received in the input key20, and not dependent on the position of the input key20assembled on the panel10. Therefore, the input key20with a predetermined function can be assembled at any position of the panel10as required. That is the keyboard100is rearrangeable. The color of the first signal lamp24and the second signal lamp25are different. In the present embodiment, the first signal lamp24is a green light-emitting diode, the second signal lamp25is a red light-emitting diode. The trigger switch26is used for controlling the first signal lamp24and the second signal lamp25on or off, and controlling the signal transmitter23to emit signal or not.

The first signal lamp24is used for prompting whether the input key20is properly assembled on the panel10, and the second signal lamp25is used for prompting whether the input key20is pressed or not. When the input key20is properly assembled on the panel10, the first signal lamp24is on. When the input key20is pressed after being properly assembled, the first signal lamp24will be off, and the second signal lamp25will be on, and the signal transmitter23will emit a signal reflecting the function of the input key20.

Further referring toFIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the trigger switch26includes a first switch261, a second switch262, a third switch263and an insulating sheet264which can be moved upwards and downwards by releasing or pressing the top wall21correspondingly. The insulating sheet264includes a first surface264aand an opposite second surface264b. The first surface264afaces the top wall21of the input key20. The second surface264bfaces to the bottom wall22of the input key20. The first switch261is disposed on a side of the first surface264a. The second switch262and the third switch263are parallelly disposed on a side of the second surface264b. A first wire264cis mounted on the first surface264aand configured for conducting the first switch261. A second wire264dand a third wire264eare parallelly mounted on the second surface264band configured for conducting the second switch262and the third switch263respectively.

The first signal lamp24and the first switch261are electrically connected in series between the second positive contact28and the second negative contact292. The second signal lamp25and the second switch262are electrically connected in series between the second positive contact28and the second negative contact292. The signal transmitter23includes three contact points. Two contact points are electrically connected to the second positive contact28and the second negative contact292correspondingly. The other contact point is electrically connected to the second signal contact291via the third switch263.

When the input key20is properly assembled and not pressed, the insulating sheet264is contacted with the first switch261to make the first switch261conduct, and the first signal lamp24is on. When the input key20is pressed after properly assembled, the insulating sheet264moves downwards to separate from the first switch261and contacts with the second switch262and the third switch263, the first signal lamp24will be off, the second signal lamp25is on, and the signal transmitter23will emit a signal corresponding to the function of the input key20.

Referring toFIG. 6andFIG. 7, a keyboard200according to a second exemplary embodiment is shown. The keyboard200includes a panel30and a number of input keys40. Each input key40defines a second receiving space422, and includes a second positive contact48, and a second complex contact49. The distance from the second positive contact48to the center of the second receiving space422is larger than the distance from the second complex contact49to the center of the second receiving space422. The second complex contact49includes a second signal contact491and a second negative contact492. Corresponding to each input key40, the panel30defines a first receiving space32, and includes two first positive contacts33and two first complex contacts34. The first complex contact34includes a first signal contact341and a first negative contact342. The two first positive contacts33are symmetrically located at opposite sides of the first receiving space32correspondingly, and the two first complex contacts34are also symmetrically located at opposite sides of the first receiving space32correspondingly and aligned with the two first positive contacts33. The distance between the two first positive contacts33is larger than the distance between the two first complex contacts34. Such that, the two first positive contacts33and the two first complex contacts34form two pairs of contacts assembly. Each pair of contacts assembly includes a first positive contact33and a first complex contact34positioned on opposite sides of the first receiving space32correspondingly.

In use, the second positive contact48and the second complex contact49can connect to one pair of contacts assembly. Also, the second positive contact48and the second complex contact49can connect to another pair of contacts assembly. Therefore, when the input key40is mistakenly disposed on the panel30or positioned upside down or one pair of contacts are damaged, the keyboard200can still work normally.

While certain embodiments have been described and exemplified above, various other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. The present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described and exemplified, and the embodiments are capable of considerable variation and modification without departure from the scope of the appended claims.