Key structure
AssigneePrimax Electronics Ltd.
InventorsChuang-Shu Jhuang, Zhi-Hui Zeng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A key structure includes a base plate, a structural plate, a sound generation assembly and a keycap. The structural plate is installed on the base plate. The sound generation assembly includes a shaft body and a cantilever element. The cantilever element is protruded from a side of the shaft body. The structural plate is covered by the keycap. The keycap includes a first protrusion post and a second protrusion post. A first space and a second space are formed between the first protrusion post and the second protrusion post. The first space and the second space are not aligned with each other. The cantilever element is movable within the first space and the second space. Consequently, the feedback of a click sound is generated.
Claims13
A key structure, comprising:
- a base plate;
- a structural plate installed on the base plate, and comprising a slot;
- a sound generation assembly comprising a shaft body, a cantilever element and an elastic element, wherein an end of the shaft body is connected with the base plate, a side of the shaft body is penetrated through the slot, the cantilever element is protruded from another side of the shaft body, and a first end of the elastic element is connected with the shaft body;
- a keycap aligned with the structural plate, wherein a second end of the elastic element is away from the shaft body and connected with the keycap, a first protrusion post and a second protrusion post are disposed on a bottom surface of the keycap, the first protrusion post and the second protrusion post are penetrated through the slot, a first space is formed between a lower end of the first protrusion post and a lower end of the second protrusion post, a second space is formed between an upper end of the first protrusion post and an upper end of the second protrusion post near the keycap, the second space is in communication with the first space, and the first space and the second space are not aligned with each other, wherein the cantilever element is received within the first space and movable within the first space and the second space;
- and
- an elastic mechanism arranged between the keycap and the structural plate, wherein a first side and a second side of the elastic mechanism are connected with the structural plate and the keycap, respectively,
- wherein while the keycap is moved upwardly, a bottom surface of the first protrusion post presses the cantilever element and provides a downward force to the cantilever element, wherein in response to the downward force, the cantilever element is moved along the bottom surface of the first protrusion post and moved from the first space to the second space, wherein when the cantilever element is just moved into the second space, the cantilever element rocks and knocks on the second protrusion post to generate a click sound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.