US 11,862,410 B2 · Key structure and keyboard

Abstract

A key structure including a base, a light sensing module, a carrier, a magnetic member, a cap, and a scissor structure are provided. The light sensing module is disposed at the base. The carrier is located above the base. The magnetic member is disposed on the carrier. The cap is adapted to be assembled to the carrier via a magnetic attracting force of the magnetic member or adapted to be detached from the carrier via overcoming the magnetic attracting force of the magnetic member. The scissor structure is connected between the base and the carrier. The carrier and the cap disposed thereon move up and down relative to the base via the scissor structure. An orthogonal projection of the magnetic member on the base is not overlapped with an orthogonal projection of the light sensing module on the base. A keyboard is also provided.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A key structure, comprising:

a base;
a light sensing module, disposed at the base;
a carrier, located above the base;
a magnetic member, disposed on the carrier;
and
a cap, adapted to be assembled to the carrier via a magnetic attracting force of the magnetic member or adapted to be detached from the carrier via overcoming the magnetic attracting force of the magnetic member,
wherein the carrier and the cap move up and down relative to the base,
wherein an orthogonal projection of the magnetic member on the base is not overlapped with an orthogonal projection of the light sensing module on the base.

5 more elements

A keyboard, comprising:

a base, having a thin film circuit;
a light sensing module, disposed at the base;
a carrier, located above the base;
a magnetic member, disposed on the carrier;
a cap;
and
a control unit, electrically connected to the thin film circuit and the light sensing module,
wherein the carrier and the cap move up and down relative to the base,
wherein after the light sensing module projects light to the cap, the cap projects reflected light to the light sensing module,
wherein the cap is adapted to be assembled to the carrier via a magnetic attracting force of the magnetic member or adapted to be detached from the carrier via overcoming the magnetic attracting force of the magnetic member, so that the key structure is suitable for allowing replacement of different caps, and the control unit determines the cap according to the reflected light generated by the cap and received by the light sensing module.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/071,586Filed 29 Nov 2022 · continuation

Priority

TW 10814120513 Nov 2019

Published

US 2023/0109039 A16 Apr 2023

Granted

2 Jan 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H01H 3/122
Push-buttons: with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
H01H 13/14
Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon: operating parts, e.g. push-button
H01H 13/70
Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch:…
H01H 13/705
With contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches: characterised by construction, mounting or…

Family

Application16/823,339Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Mar 2020

US 2023/0109039 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Apr 2023

US 11,551,887 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2021/0142964 A1Published application

US 11,862,410 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Key structure and keyboard

Life of this patent

Key structure and keyboard

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20