Key structure

This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 097120433, filed on Jun. 2, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to a key structure and in particular to a key structure with a metal link.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1 , a conventional key structure primarily comprises a substrate B, a key cap C, an elastic dome D, a first link L 1 , and a second link L 2 , wherein the first and second links L 1 and L 2 are pivotally connected to each other.

When the key cover C is depressed by an external force, the elastic dome D exerts a recovery force on the key cap C. When the external force is released, the key cover C can return to the initial position by the recovery force, as the arrows indicate in FIG. 1 . However, since the first and second links L 1 and L 2 are usually made of plastic, robust structural strength and miniaturization of key structures are difficult to achieve.

The invention provides a key structure including a substrate, a key cap, a first link, and a second link pivotally connected to the first link. The first and second links movably connect the key cap with the base. The key cap comprises a first surface and a guiding portion extended along a first direction, wherein the guiding portion has a second surface. The first link is made of metal and has a sliding end forming a first curved portion and a second curved portion. The first and second curved portions are respectively adjacent to the first and second surfaces and slidable along the guiding portion.

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a conventional key structure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded diagram of a key structure according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a key structure according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a large view of the first link and the guiding portion in FIG. 3 ; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a key structure according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 , an embodiment of key structure primarily comprises a key cap 10 , a first link 21 , a second link 22 , a circuit board 30 , and a substrate 40 . The first link 21 is made of metal, and the second link 22 is made of metal or plastic. The first link 21 comprises a pair of pivots P rotatably received in the holes H of the second link 22 , such that the first and second links 21 and 22 are pivotally connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the first and second links 21 and 22 extend through the openings 31 of the circuit board 30 and movably connect the key cap 10 with the substrate 40 . Here, a sliding end 211 of the first link 21 is movably connected to a guiding portion 11 of the key cap 10 , and a connection end 221 of the second link 22 is pivotally connected to a recess 12 of the key cap 10 . Additionally, the connection ends portions 212 and 222 of the first and second links 21 and 22 are movably connected to the connection portions 41 and 42 , so that the key cap 10 is vertically movable via the first and second links 21 and 22 .

When the key cap 10 is depressed from a first position to a second position by an external force, a contact portion 213 of the first link 21 descends and contacts a switch W on the circuit board 30 ( FIG. 2 ). The key structure may further comprise an elastic member E disposed on the circuit board 30 , such as a rubber dome or spring, which provides a recovery force to return the key cap 10 to the first position when the external force is released.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sliding end 211 of the first link 21 is bent to form a first curved portion R 1 and a second curved portion R 2 . The first and second curved portions R 1 and R 2 are respectively adjacent to a first surface S 1 of the key cap 10 and a second surface S 2 of the guiding portion 11 . When the key cap 10 vertically moves along a Z axis, the first and second curved portions R 1 and R 2 slide along the guiding portion 11 , as the arrows indicate in FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, the first and second curved portions R 1 and R 2 can facilitate smooth contact when sliding along the guiding portion 11 .

Referring to FIG. 4 , the guiding portion 11 is extended substantially along a first direction (X axis). Specifically, the first and second curved portions R 1 and R 2 have a first curved surface R 1 ′ and a second curved surface R 2 ′, wherein the first curved surface R 1 ′ defines a first curvature center C 1 , and the second curved surface R 2 ′ defines a second curvature center C 2 . In this embodiment, the first curvature center C 1 substantially coincides with the second curvature center C 2 . As shown in FIG. 4 , the first and second surfaces S 1 and S 2 are spaced apart a distance h, substantially equal to a maximum width of the first and second curved portions R 1 and R 2 , such that the sliding end 211 can stably slide along the guiding portion 11 .

Referring in FIG. 5 , another embodiment of the sliding end 211 of the first link 21 is bent to form a Z-shaped configuration, wherein the first and second curved portions R 1 and R 2 constitute the angled structures of the Z-shaped sliding end 211 . As shown in FIG. 5 , the first and second curved surfaces R 1 ′ and R 2 ′ are respectively adjacent to the first and second surfaces S 1 and S 2 . In this embodiment, the first and second curvature centers C 1 and C 2 are separated from each other, and a straight normal line connecting the first and second curvature centers C 1 and C 2 is substantially perpendicular to the X axis. However, positions of the first and second curvature centers C 1 and C 2 can be adjusted depending on design considerations.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first link 21 comprises two flattened fringes 214 and 215 , and the second link 22 comprises two stoppers 216 and 217 corresponding to the fringes 214 and 215 . When the key cap 10 returns to the first position, the fringes 214 and 215 respectively abut the stoppers 216 and 217 , so as to prohibit rotation between the first and second links 21 and 22 . Thus, the key cap 10 can be restricted in the first position.

The invention provides a key structure comprising a first link movably connecting a substrate with a key cap, wherein the first link is made of metal. Compared with conventional key structures, the metal first link can provide better structural strength and facilitate miniaturization of the key structure. A sliding end of the first link is bent to form two curved portions for smooth sliding and rotation with respect to a guiding portion on an inner side of a key cap, such that the key cap is vertically movable relative to the substrate.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.