Patent Publication Number: US-10325735-B2

Title: Key support mechanism and key module

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial no. 201710863746.9, filed on Sep. 22, 2017. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a key support mechanism and a key module, and in particular, to a key support mechanism and a key module applicable to a multiple unit key. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Currently, portable electronic devices (e.g., laptops) are generally being developed to thin down, and therefore, keyboards equipped on these thin laptops are also being developed to thin down. However, in a thin keyboard, space in a key is limited, and a thin keycap is prone to deformation. If a user only presses one of the edges of certain keys (e.g., a multiple unit key, which is longer than a general standard one unit key in a length direction, such as a space bar), it is possible that only this edge is pressed down and the opposite edge on this key is not moved downward jointly. As a result, a switch located right below the center of the key cannot be triggered. 
     How to move a key (e.g., a multiple unit key) downward in its entirety when only one of the edges of the key is pressed down and how to configure this key to be easy to assemble, incur low costs, and produce little noise when being pressed are one of the important issues that people skilled in the art seek to resolve. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a key support mechanism that causes a key to move downward in its entirety when one of edges of a keycap is pressed downward. The key support mechanism is structurally simple, incurs low costs, and produces little noise when being pressed. 
     The invention provides a key module including the foregoing key support mechanism. 
     A key support mechanism of the invention is adapted to be disposed between a base plate and a keycap. The key support mechanism includes two scissor structures. The two scissor structures include two first support frames, two second support frames, and a first connecting member. Each of the first support frames includes a first side and a second side opposite to each other, a first fixing part located on the first side, and a second fixing part located on the second side, wherein the two first fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the keycap, and the two second fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the base plate. The two second support frames are respectively pivotally connected to the two first support frames, and each of the second support frames includes a third side and a fourth side opposite to each other, a third fixing part located on the third side, and a fourth fixing part located on the fourth side, wherein the two third fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the keycap, and the two fourth fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the base plate. The first connecting member is fixed and connected to the two first support frames and is located close to the two first sides, such that the two first support frames of the two scissor structures are linked to each other. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, each of the first support frames includes a first slot, and each of the second support frames is adapted to be pivotally rotated into the first slot of the corresponding first support frame. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, each of the second support frames includes a second slot, and each of the first support frames is adapted to be pivotally rotated into the second slot of the corresponding second support frame. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the key support mechanism further includes a second connecting member connected to the two second support frames and located close to the two third sides, such that the two second support frames of the two scissor structures are linked to each other. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the two first support frames and the first connecting member are integrally formed by sintering from a powder sintering material, or the two first support frames and the first connecting member are an integral metal member. 
     A key module of the invention includes a base plate, a circuit membrane, an elastic member, a key support mechanism, and a keycap. The circuit membrane is disposed on the base plate and includes a switch. The elastic member is disposed on the switch. The key support mechanism is disposed on the circuit membrane. The key support mechanism includes two scissor structures, wherein the elastic member is located between the two scissor structures. The two scissor structures include two first support frames, two second support frames, and a first connecting member. Each of the first support frames includes a first side and a second side opposite to each other, a first fixing part located on the first side, and a second fixing part located on the second side, wherein the two second fixing parts are respectively fixed to the base plate. The two second support frames are respectively pivotally connected to the two first support frames, and each of the second support frames includes a third side and a fourth side opposite to each other, a third fixing part located on the third side, and a fourth fixing part located on the fourth side, wherein the two fourth fixing parts are respectively fixed to the base plate. The first connecting member is fixed and connected to the two first support frames and is located close to the two first sides, such that the two first support frames of the two scissor structures are linked to each other. The keycap covers the elastic member and the key support mechanism, wherein the two first fixing parts of the two first support frames and the two third fixing parts of the two second support frames are respectively fixed to the keycap. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, each of the first support frames includes a first slot, and each of the second support frames is adapted to be pivotally rotated into the first slot of the corresponding first support frame. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, each of the second support frames includes a second slot, and each of the first support frames is adapted to be pivotally rotated into the second slot of the corresponding second support frame. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the key support mechanism further includes a second connecting member connected to the two second support frames and located close to the two third sides, such that the two second support frames of the two scissor structures are linked to each other. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the two first support frames and the first connecting member are integrally formed by sintering from a powder sintering material, or the two first support frames and the first connecting member are an integral metal member. 
     In light of the above, the key support mechanism of the key module of the invention includes the two scissor structures. The key support mechanism connects the two first support frames of the two scissor structures through the first connecting member, and the first connecting member is close to the two first sides of the two first support frames, such that the two first sides of the two first support frames connected to the keycap are linked to each other. Accordingly, when one of the edges of the keycap is pressed downward, the first side of the first support frame below this edge is moved downward, which causes the first connecting member to move downward jointly and drives the first side of the first support frame below the other edge to move downward. Therefore, the two first support frames of the two scissor structures move downward together such that the keycap can move together in its entirety. As a result, the keycap can press downward the elastic member located between the two scissor structures and trigger the switch. The key support mechanism of the key module of the invention exhibits advantages of structural simplicity, low costs, and ease of assembly. Moreover, since the first connecting member is fixed to the two first support frames, the first connecting member does not move relatively to the two first support frames. When the key module is pressed, the first connecting member does not hit the keycap or the base plate due to unwanted shaking and cause noise, and a more comfortable use experience is created. 
     To provide a further understanding of the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the disclosure, exemplary embodiments, together with the reference drawings, are described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key module according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded schematic diagram illustrating the key module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating  FIG. 2  from another angle of view. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of the key module of  FIG. 1  with a keycap concealed. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded schematic diagram illustrating a key support mechanism of the key module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an assembly schematic diagram illustrating the key support mechanism of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating the key support mechanism of  FIG. 6  from another angle of view. 
         FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are respectively schematic diagrams illustrating pivotal rotation of second support frames relative to first support frames of the key support mechanism of  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key support mechanism according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram illustrating pivotal rotation of second support frames relative to first support frames of the key support mechanism of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key support mechanism according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram illustrating pivotal rotation of second support frames relative to first support frames of the key support mechanism of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key support mechanism according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram illustrating pivotal rotation of second support frames relative to first support frames of the key support mechanism of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key support mechanism according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram illustrating pivotal rotation of second support frames relative to first support frames of the key support mechanism of  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key module according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  first,  FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a key module  10  as one single key. In fact, the key module  10  may be one single key or one of the keys in a keyboard, e.g., a multiple unit key such as a space bar, of which a length is greater than a length of a standard one unit key. However, the type and the form of the key are not limited hereto. When one of edges of a keycap  50  of the key module  10  of the present embodiment is pressed down, the keycap  50  is moved downward in its entirety rather than being moved downward only at one single edge as in a form of a seesaw. Therefore, even if a user only presses one of the edges of the keycap  50 , a switch  32  (labeled in  FIG. 2 ) of the key module  10  can still be triggered. A detailed description in this regard will be provided below. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded schematic diagram illustrating the key module  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating  FIG. 2  from another angle of view.  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a top view of the key module  10  of  FIG. 1  with the keycap  50  concealed. It shall be noted that an elastic member  140  is not shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , but a reader shall still be able to learn a form and a position relation of the elastic member  140  from  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , the key module  10  of the present embodiment includes a base plate  20 , a circuit membrane  30 , the elastic member  140 , a key support mechanism  100 , and the keycap  50 . In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the base plate  20  includes a plurality of first base plate fixing parts  22  and a plurality of second base plate fixing parts  24 . The circuit membrane  30  is disposed on the base plate  20  and includes the switch  32 . The elastic member  140  is disposed on the switch  32 . The elastic member  140  may be a metal dome, a rubber dome, a magnetic suction actuator, or another actuator that allows a press touch. The key support mechanism  100  is disposed on the circuit membrane  30  and is located on two sides of the elastic member  140 . The keycap  50  covers the elastic member  140  and the key support mechanism  100 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , an inner bottom surface of the keycap  50  includes a plurality of first keycap fixing parts  52  and a plurality of second keycap fixing parts  54 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded schematic diagram illustrating the key support mechanism  100  of the key module  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is an assembly schematic diagram illustrating the key support mechanism  100  of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating the key support mechanism  100  of  FIG. 6  from another angle of view.  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are respectively schematic diagrams illustrating pivotal rotation of second support frames  120  relative to first support frames  110  of the key support mechanism  100  of  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 9 , in the present embodiment, as an example, the key module  10  is a multiple unit key. To provide excellent support, the key support mechanism  100  includes two scissor structures (see  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 ). It shall be noted that, in other embodiments, the key support mechanism  100  of the present embodiment may also be applied to a standard one unit key once its proportion is changed, and its application is not limited to the multiple unit key. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the two scissor structures include two first support frames  110 , two second support frames  120 , and a first connecting member  130  fixed and connected to the two first support frames  110 . The two second support frames  120  are respectively pivotally connected to the two first support frames  110 . More specifically, pivot shafts  126  of the second support frame  120  are pivotally connected to pivot holes  116  of the first support frame  110 , and the second support frame  120  may rotate relatively to the first support frame  110  to create a form of a scissor leg. Of course, in other embodiments, the pivot shafts  126  may also be located on the first support frame  110 , and the pivot holes  116  may also be located on the second support frame  120 , which are not limited hereto. 
     In the present embodiment, the first support frame  110  is, as an example, outer scissors of the scissor structure, and the second support frame  120  is, as an example, inner scissors of the scissor structure. However, the relationship between the first support frame  110  and the second support frame  120  is not limited hereto. The first support frame  110  includes a first slot  115 , and, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the corresponding second support frame  120  is adapted to be pivotally rotated into the first slot  115  of the first support frame  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the first support frames  110  includes a first side  111  and a second side  112  opposite to each other, a first fixing part  113  located on the first side  111 , and a second fixing part  114  located on the second side  112 . The first fixing part  113  of the first support frame  110  is fixed to the first keycap fixing part  52  of the keycap  50 , and the second fixing part  114  of the first support frame  110  is fixed to the first base plate fixing part  22  of the base plate  20 . In the present embodiment, the first fixing part  113  of the first support frame  110  and the first keycap fixing part  52  of the keycap  50  may be a combination of a hook and a tenon, and the second fixing part  114  of the first support frame  110  and the first base plate fixing part  22  of the base plate  20  may be a combination of a hook and a tenon, but they are not limited hereto. 
     Each of the second support frames  120  includes a third side  121  and a fourth side  122  opposite to each other, a third fixing part  123  located on the third side  121 , and a fourth fixing part  124  located on the fourth side  122 . The third fixing part  123  of the second support frame  120  is fixed to the second keycap fixing part  54  of the keycap  50 , and the fourth fixing part  124  of the second support frame  120  is fixed to the second base plate fixing part  24  of the base plate  20 . In the present embodiment, the third fixing part  123  of the second support frame  120  and the second keycap fixing part  54  of the keycap  50  may be a combination of a hook and a tenon, and the fourth fixing part  124  of the second support frame  120  and the second base plate fixing part  24  of the base plate  20  may be a combination of a hook and a tenon, but they are not limited hereto. 
     In the present embodiment, the first connecting member  130  is fixed to a portion of the two first support frames  110  close to the two first sides  111 , such that the two first support frames  110  of the two scissor structures are linked to each other. Accordingly, when an edge on the keycap  50  corresponding to the first side  111  of one of the first support frames  110  is pressed down, the first side  111  of the first support frame  110  below this edge is moved downward, which causes the first connecting member  130  to move downward jointly and drives the first side  111  of the first support frame  110  below the other edge to move downward. Therefore, the two first support frames  110  of the two scissor structures move together such that the keycap  50  can move together lengthwise. As a result, the keycap  50  can press downward the elastic member  140  located between the two scissor structures and trigger the switch  32 . 
     Even if the user presses a corner on the keycap  50  corresponding to the third side  121  of one of the second support frames  120 , since the width dimension of the key is small, the press is still linked to the opposite side (namely, the first side  111  of the first support frame  110 ), and similarly, the first support frame  110  can drive the first connecting member  130  and drive the other first support frame  110 , such that the keycap  50  is moved downward in its entirety and triggers the switch  32 . 
     It shall be mentioned that, in the present embodiment, in addition to linking the two first support frames  110  of the two scissor structures to each other through fixing the first connecting member  130  to the portion of the two first support frames  110  close to the two first sides  111 , it is also possible to create a better structural strength in the two first support frames  110  and the first connecting member  130  through selection of materials so as to provide a better rigidity and create a better linking effect. 
     For example, the two first support frames  110  and the first connecting member  130  may be integrally formed by sintering from a powder sintering material. The powder sintering material may be selected from a metallic powder sintering material and a ceramic powder sintering material. The metallic powder sintering material is, for example, formed of one single metallic material or formed by blending multiple metallic powder materials, such as tungsten carbide, titanium alloys, ferroalloy materials (e.g., iron-nickel alloy), stainless steel powders (e.g., 304L stainless steel, 306 stainless steel, 440C stainless steel, and 17-4PH stainless steel), various alloy steels (e.g., SKD11 die steel and powder high-speed steel), and copper alloy powder materials, among other metallic powder sintering materials. The ceramic powder sintering material is, for example, zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ), yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ), aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), silicon carbide (SiC), boron nitride (BN), etc. However, the type of material and the manufacturing method of the two first support frames  110  and the first connecting member  130  are not limited hereto. In other embodiments, the two first support frames  110  and the first connecting member  130  may also be an integrally formed metal member or plastic member. 
     The key support mechanism  100  of the key module  10  of the present embodiment is structurally simple, incurs low costs, and is easy to assemble. Moreover, since the first connecting member  130  is fixed to the two first support frames  110 , the first connecting member  130  does not move relatively to the two first support frames  110 . When the key module  10  is pressed, the first connecting member  130  does not hit the keycap  50  or the base plate  20  due to unwanted shaking and cause noise, and a more comfortable use experience is created. 
     In the text below, key support mechanisms  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c ,  100   d  of other embodiments are described. It shall be noted that, in the embodiments below, components identical or similar to the previous embodiment will be labeled by the same or similar numerals and will not be repeatedly described. Descriptions will be made only for the differences among the different embodiments. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key support mechanism  100   a  according to another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram illustrating pivotal rotation of second support frames  120   a  relative to first support frames  110   a  of the key support mechanism  100   a  of  FIG. 10 . Referring to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , a main difference between the embodiment of  FIG. 10  and the previous embodiment ( FIG. 7 ) lies in that, in the previous embodiment, the first support frame  110  is, as an example, the outer scissors of the scissor structure, and the second support frame  120  is, as an example, the inner scissors of the scissor structure. In other words, the first connecting member  130  is connected to the two outer scissors. In the present embodiment, the first support frame  110   a  is, as an example, inner scissors of the scissor structure, and the second support frame  120   a  is, as an example, outer scissors of the scissor structure. In other words, the first connecting member  130   a  is connected to the two inner scissors. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second support frame  120   a  functioning as the outer scissors includes a second slot  125   a , and the first support frame  110   a  functioning as the inner scissors is pivotally rotated into the second slot  125   a  of the corresponding second support frame  120   a.    
     In the present embodiment, the first connecting member  130   a  is connected to a first side  111   a  of the first support frame  110   a  functioning as the inner scissors. Similarly, when an edge on the first side  111   a  of one of the first support frames  110   a  is pressed down, the first connecting member  130   a  is caused to move downward jointly and drive the first side  111   a  of the other first support frame  110   a  to move downward. Therefore, the two first support frames  110   a  of the two scissor structures move together such that the keycap  50  (labeled in  FIG. 2 ) can move downward in its entirety and trigger the switch  32  (labeled in  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key support mechanism  100   b  according to another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram illustrating pivotal rotation of second support frames  120   b  relative to first support frames  110   b  of the key support mechanism  100   b  of  FIG. 12 . Referring to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , a main difference between the embodiment of  FIG. 12  and the embodiment of  FIG. 10  lies in the positions at which the first connecting members  130   a ,  130   b  are connected to the first support frames  110   a ,  110   b . In  FIG. 10 , the first connecting member  130   a  is connected to the first side  111   a  of the first support frame  110   a  functioning as the inner scissors. In the present embodiment, the first connecting member  130   b  is connected to an upper surface of the first support frame  110   b  functioning as the inner scissors. 
     It shall be mentioned that since the first connecting member  130   b  is connected to the upper surface of the first support frame  110   b , a corresponding portion on a lower surface of the keycap  50  (not illustrated) may be relatively indented to receive the first connecting member  130   b.    
       FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key support mechanism  100   c  according to another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram illustrating pivotal rotation of second support frames  120   c  relative to first support frames  110   c  of the key support mechanism  100   c  of  FIG. 14 . Referring to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , a main difference between the embodiment of  FIG. 14  and the embodiment of  FIG. 10  lies in that a first connecting member  130   c  is connected to an inner side  117   c  of the first support frame  110   c  functioning as the inner scissors. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the second support frame  120   c  functioning as the outer scissors has a corresponding recess  127   c  at a portion where the first connecting member  130   c  passes to allow space for the first connecting member  130   c  to pass through. 
     It shall be mentioned that the foregoing embodiments illustrate that the first connecting members  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c  may be connected to different positions of the first support frames  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  functioning as the inner scissors. Similarly, if the first connecting member is connected to the first support frames functioning as the outer scissors, it may also be connected to positions other than that shown in  FIG. 7  and may still achieve the linking effect, which shall not be repeatedly described here. 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic diagram illustrating a key support mechanism  100   d  according to another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram illustrating pivotal rotation of the second support frames  120  relative to the first support frames  110  of the key support mechanism  100   d  of  FIG. 16 . Referring to  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , a main difference between the embodiment of  FIG. 16  and the embodiment of  FIG. 7  lies in that, in the present embodiment, the key support mechanism  100   d  further includes a second connecting member  135   d . The second connecting member  135   d  is connected to the two second support frames  120  functioning as the inner scissors, and the second connecting member  135   d  is close to the two third sides  121  of the two second support frames  120  to link the two third sides  121  of the two second support frames  120  to each other. In other words, in the present embodiment, the key support mechanism  100   d  not only connects the two first support frames  110  through the first connecting member  130 , but also connects the two second support frames  120  through the second connecting member  135   d  so as to provide a better linking effect. 
     In summary of the above, the key support mechanism of the key module of the invention includes the two scissor structures. The key support mechanism connects the two first support frames of the two scissor structures through the first connecting member, and the first connecting member is close to the two first sides of the two first support frames, such that the two first sides of the two first support frames connected to the keycap are linked to each other. Accordingly, when one of the edges of the keycap is pressed down, the first side of the first support frame below this edge is moved downward, which causes the first connecting member to move downward jointly and drives the first side of the first support frame below the other edge to move downward. Therefore, the two first support frames of the two scissor structures move together such that the keycap can move together in its entirety. As a result, the keycap can effectively press downward the elastic member located between the two scissor structures and trigger the switch. The key support mechanism of the key module of the invention exhibits advantages of structural simplicity, low costs, and ease of assembly. Moreover, since the first connecting member is fixed to the two first support frames, the first connecting member does not move relatively to the two first support frames. When the key module is pressed, the first connecting member does not hit the keycap or the base plate due to unwanted shaking and cause noise, and a more comfortable use experience is created. 
     Although the invention is disclosed as the embodiments above, the embodiments are not meant to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art may make slight modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the invention shall be defined by the claims attached below.