TWI591671B - Keyswitch Structure And The Manufacturing Method Thereof - Google Patents

Description

Button structure and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention relates to the construction of a keyboard, and more particularly to a key structure and a method of manufacturing the same.

Common input devices around the computer include keyboards, mice, trackballs, etc. Among them, the keyboard can be directly input into words, symbols and numbers to the computer, and is highly valued by users and related manufacturers. In recent years, in addition to the enhancement of general input functions, the development of the keyboard has also begun to pursue visual enjoyment. Therefore, the keyboard that can be illuminated when in use has become the development direction of the industry.

Conventionally, the keyboard has a plurality of keys. Each button can have a plurality of patterns, and each pattern corresponds to a specific function. Therefore, the user can identify each of the specific functions corresponding to each button according to each pattern on each button, and can pass through Switching methods use one of several specific functions to which each button corresponds.

Although the conventional illuminated keyboard can be illuminated when in use, each of the buttons has only two modes: all bright and all non-bright, that is, multiple patterns on the same button will be in a bright state or a dark state together. However, it is impossible to make each of the patterns on the same button correspondingly appear bright or dark depending on different usage scenarios.

The invention provides a button structure and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein a plurality of patterns on a button can individually control a light or dark presentation state thereof.

In an embodiment, a button structure includes a display unit, a carrier, a light shielding layer, and a light transmissive keycap. The display unit has a display surface and a setting surface with respect to the display surface. The display unit includes a plurality of display areas and a plurality of bonding electrodes, and the plurality of bonding electrodes are located on the setting surface. The carrier is used to carry the display unit. The carrier has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The carrier contains a plurality of contacts. The plurality of contacts correspond to the plurality of bonding electrodes disposed on the first side and extending to the second side. The plurality of contacts are electrically connected to the plurality of bonding electrodes. The light shielding layer corresponds to a plurality of display area settings of the display unit. The light shielding layer includes a plurality of light transmissive patterns, and each of the light transmissive patterns respectively corresponds to each display area of the display unit. The light-transmitting keycap is disposed on the display unit.

In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a button structure includes forming a plurality of contacts on a carrier, wherein the carrier has a first face and a second face relative to the first face, and the plurality of contacts are disposed on the first face And extending to the second surface; the display unit is disposed on the carrier, wherein the display unit has a display surface and a setting surface relative to the display surface, the display unit includes a plurality of display areas and a plurality of bonding electrodes, and the plurality of bonding electrodes are located on the setting surface, and The plurality of bonding electrodes are electrically connected to the plurality of contacts; the light shielding layer having a plurality of transparent patterns is formed corresponding to the plurality of display regions, wherein the light transmission patterns of the light shielding layer respectively correspond to the display regions; and the light transmission key cap is disposed on the display unit .

In summary, the button structure and the manufacturing method thereof according to the embodiment of the present invention enable individual images on a single button through individual control of a plurality of display regions corresponding to the respective light-transmitting patterns. The case may be in a bright or dark state depending on the context of use.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the embodiments of the present invention. The objects and advantages associated with the present invention can be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

100‧‧‧Key structure

110‧‧‧Display unit

111-114‧‧‧Join electrode

120‧‧‧Carrier

121‧‧‧Loading Department

130‧‧‧Contacts

140‧‧‧Lighting layer

150‧‧‧Lighting keycap

160‧‧‧ dielectric layer

A1-A3‧‧‧ display area

C1-C4‧‧‧Control Area

P1-P3‧‧‧Light pattern

122‧‧‧stops

Step S1‧‧‧ forms a plurality of contacts on the carrier

Step S2‧‧‧Setting a plurality of bonding electrodes on the display unit

Step S3‧‧‧Set the display unit on the carrier

Step S4‧‧‧ forming a light shielding layer having a plurality of transparent patterns corresponding to each display area of the display unit

Step S41a‧‧‧ forming a light shielding layer to cover the display unit

Step S42a‧‧‧ forming a plurality of perforations of the plurality of transparent patterns on the light shielding layer

Step S41b‧‧‧ forming a light shielding layer to cover the light-transmitting keycap

Step S42b‧‧‧ forming a plurality of perforations of the plurality of transparent patterns on the light shielding layer

Step S5‧‧‧Set the dielectric layer on the display unit

Step S6‧‧‧Set the light-transmitting keycap on the display unit

1 is a perspective view showing a key structure of a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic exploded view of a key structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic exploded view of the key structure of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a key structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic exploded view showing an embodiment of a key structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic exploded view showing a key structure of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a light emitting state of a key structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a light emitting state of a key structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a schematic view showing a light emitting state of a key structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a method of manufacturing a key structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of step S4 in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flow chart of another embodiment of step S4 in FIG. 10.

1 is a perspective view of a button structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of a button structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view of a button structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a key structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded view of an embodiment of the key structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention; A schematic exploded view of the button structure of the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 , a button structure 100 includes a display unit 110 , a carrier 120 , a plurality of contacts 130 , a light shielding layer 140 , and a light transmission key cap 150 .

The carrier 120 has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A bearing portion 121 is formed on the first surface of the carrier 120. Here, the carrying portion 121 can be used to accommodate the display unit 110 so that the display unit 110 can be engaged with the carrier 120 without being loosened. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , the bearing portion 121 can be a groove on the first side of the carrier 120 . In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the carrying portion 121 may be an accommodating space between the plurality of stoppers (or the snap members) 122. Wherein, a plurality of stoppers (or fasteners) 122 may be disposed diagonally on the first side of the bottom plate of the carrier 120. In some embodiments, the carrier 120 can be an integrally formed plastic member, but the invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the carrier 120 can be substantially a rectangular plate.

The display unit 110 includes a plurality of display areas, and each of the display areas can respectively display a bright state or a dark state according to the corresponding control signal. Hereinafter, the description will be made by taking three display areas A1-A3 as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of display areas of the display unit may be determined depending on the use requirements and design.

In some embodiments, the display area of the display area A1 is substantially the same as the display area of the display area A2, and the display area of the display area A3 is substantially larger than the display area of the display area A1, but the invention is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the display unit 110 has a display surface and a setting surface with respect to the display surface. The display surface can be used to display a pattern, and the setup surface can be used to configure the control area and/or the bonding electrode. Here, corresponding to the configuration of the display area A1-A3, four control areas C1-C4 can be configured on the setting surface, but the number of the control areas is not limited thereto.

The control areas C1-C4 can receive the control signals and operate according to the corresponding control signals. In some embodiments, the control areas C1-C3 can receive a first control signal, and the control area C4 can receive a second control signal. The first control signal and the second control signal have opposite electrical properties. For example, when the first control signal is positively charged, the second control signal is negatively charged.

The control area C1 corresponds to the display area A1, the control area C2 corresponds to the display area A2, the control area C3 corresponds to the display area A3, and the position of the control area C4 can be arbitrarily set. For example, the control area C4 may correspond to the display area A3 having a larger display area. Here, the electrical properties between the control regions C1-C4 are not in communication with each other.

In some embodiments, each display area A1-A3 is controlled by a corresponding first control signal and a shared second control signal. For example, when the control area C1 receives the first control signal and the control area C4 receives the second control signal, the display area A1 can display the pattern (or the pattern illumination of the display area A1), as shown in FIG. When the control area C2 receives the first control signal, and the control area C4 receives the second control signal, the display area A2 can display a pattern (or display) The pattern of the area A2 is illuminated, as shown in FIG. Moreover, when the control area C3 receives the first control signal, and the control area C4 receives the second control signal, the display area A3 can display the pattern (or the pattern illumination of the display area A3), as shown in FIG.

The display unit 110 further includes a plurality of bonding electrodes, and the plurality of bonding electrodes are located on the setting surface of the display unit 110. Hereinafter, the description will be made by taking four bonding electrodes 111-114 as an example corresponding to the number of control regions C1-C4, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the bonding electrode 111 is electrically connected to the control region C1, and drives the control region C1 according to the first control signal; the bonding electrode 112 is electrically connected to the control region C2, and drives the control region according to the first control signal. C2; the bonding electrode 113 is electrically connected to the control region C3, and drives the control region C3 according to the first control signal; and the bonding electrode 114 is electrically connected to the control region C4, and drives the control region C4 according to the second control signal.

The plurality of contacts 130 are located on the carrier 120, and the plurality of contacts 130 are configured to receive the first control signal or the second control signal. The position of each of the contacts 130 corresponding to the bonding electrodes 111-114 is disposed on the carrying portion 121 of the carrier 120. When the display unit 110 is mounted on the carrying portion 121, the contacts 130 can be electrically connected to the corresponding bonding electrodes 111-114. The connection is made to the control areas C1-C4, and the display areas A1-A3 can be correspondingly actuated according to the driving of the control areas C1-C4.

In some embodiments, the plurality of contacts 130 can be a metal film attached to the carrier 120.

In addition, the plurality of contacts 130 can be extended to the second surface of the carrier 120 except for the first surface of the carrier 120, so that the front and back surfaces of the carrier 120 can pass through the plurality of contacts 130 and other components. Turn on.

The light shielding layer 140 can be used to block light to prevent light from escaping. The light shielding layer 140 includes a plurality of transparent patterns, and each of the transparent patterns may be respectively disposed corresponding to each display area of the display unit 110. In the following, the three transparent patterns P1-P3 are taken as an example for the number of the display areas A1-A3. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, the number of the transparent patterns may be larger than the number of the display areas. The plurality of light-transmissive patterns may be corresponding to the same display area. For example, when the two light-transmissive patterns correspond to the same display area, the two light-transmissive patterns may simultaneously exhibit a bright state or a dark state according to the brightness of the display area.

The light transmissive pattern P1 is disposed corresponding to the display area A1 to correspond to the light and dark state of the display area A1. The light transmissive pattern P2 is disposed corresponding to the display area P2 to correspond to the light and dark state of the display area A2. The light transmissive pattern P3 is disposed corresponding to the display area A3 to correspond to the light and dark state of the display area A3. In other words, the state in which each of the light-transmitting patterns P1 - P3 exhibits a light or dark state can be controlled by a state in which the corresponding display areas A1 - A3 are rendered bright or dark.

Here, each of the light-transmitting patterns P1-P3 may be a perforation on the light-shielding layer 140 to expose a portion of the corresponding display area A1-A3, so that the light emitted by the display areas A1-A3 may pass through the light-transmitting pattern P1- P3 is permeable, and thus each of the light-transmitting patterns P1 - P3 can have a light-emitting effect.

In some embodiments, the light shielding layer 140 can be a color or monochrome paint, such as black, formed by a painting process or the like. In addition, the light shielding layer 140 may have a single layer structure, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the light shielding layer 140 may have a multi-layer structure in order to obtain a better light shielding effect. Furthermore, the light-transmitting patterns P1 - P3 on the light-shielding layer 140 can be formed by laser engraving. In some embodiments, the light transmissive patterns P1-P3 can be words, symbols, letters or numbers, and the like.

Each display area A1-A3 of the display unit 110 may be in a bright state or In addition to the dark state, it can also be used to display a preset specific pattern (that is, the technical feature of the present invention: the specific pattern portion is in a bright state, the remaining portion is in a dark state), and the specific display area A1-A3 is displayed. The pattern corresponds to the light transmissive patterns P1-P3 of the light shielding layer 140. In other words, each of the light-transmitting patterns P1 - P3 can expose a specific pattern displayed by each of the display areas A1 - A3 such that each of the light-transmitting patterns P1 - P3 has a light-dark effect.

In some embodiments, the display unit 110 may be an LED display, an OLED display, or an electronic paper display, etc., but the invention is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the light shielding layer 140 can be directly disposed on the display unit 110, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. In another embodiment, the light shielding layer 140 is disposed on the light transmission key cap 150, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9.

The light-transmitting keycap 150 can be disposed on the carrier 120 to protect the display unit 110 from moisture, dust, and the like, and can prevent the user from scratching the display surface of the display unit 110. In some embodiments, the light transmissive keycap 150 can be a clear plastic shell, for example, made of polycarbonate (PC).

In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the light-transmitting keycap 150 is a cover, and the opening size of the transparent keycap 150 is slightly larger than the carrier 120, so that the transparent keycap 150 is coupled to the bearing. After the body 120, the carrier 120 can be accommodated therein, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, but the invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the light-transmitting keycap 150 is a plate body, and the size of the light-transmitting keycap 150 is substantially the same as the opening size of the bearing portion 121 of the carrier 120 to enable light transmission. The keycap 150 can be engaged with the display unit 110 in the opening of the carrying portion 121, as shown in FIG.

The button structure 100 can further include a dielectric layer 160. The dielectric layer 160 can be disposed between the transparent keycap 150 and the display unit 110, and the dielectric layer 160 can be used to increase the light guiding property and/or serve as the transparent keycap 150, the bonding medium between the display unit 110 and the carrier 120. . In some embodiments, the dielectric layer 160 can be a UV curable glue (UV glue).

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow chart of a method of manufacturing a button structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 10 , a method for manufacturing a button structure 100 includes forming a plurality of contacts 130 on a carrier 120 (step S1 ), setting a display unit 110 on the carrier 120 (step S3 ), and corresponding to each of the display units 110 . The display areas A1 - A3 form the light shielding layer 140 having the plurality of light transmission patterns P1 - P3 (step S4), and the light transmission key cap 150 is disposed on the display unit 110 (step S6).

In some embodiments, the method of fabricating the key structure 100 further includes providing a plurality of bonding electrodes 111-114 to the display unit 110 (step S2). Further, the order of step S1 and step S2 is interchangeable. In other words, the bonding electrodes 111-114 can be disposed on the carrying surface 121 of the carrier 120 corresponding to the positions of the bonding electrodes 111-114 after the bonding electrodes 111-114 are disposed on the mounting surface of the display unit 110. After performing step S3, the bonding electrodes 111-114 of the display unit 120 can be in contact with the corresponding contacts 130.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of step S4 in FIG. Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 , in an embodiment of step S4 , step S4 may include forming a light shielding layer 140 to cover the display unit 110 (step S41 a ), and forming a plurality of transparent light patterns P1 on the light shielding layer 140 respectively. - P3 multiplicative perforation (step S41b). In other words, at this time, the light shielding layer 140 is directly formed on the display surface of the display unit 110, and the display surface of the display unit 110 can be completely covered thereunder. Thereafter, the position corresponding to each display area A1-A3 of the display unit 110 is further applied to the light shielding layer 140. A plurality of perforations are opened to expose portions of the display areas A1-A3, and portions exposed by the display areas A1-A3 constitute the light-transmitting patterns P1-P3, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flow chart of another embodiment of step S4 in FIG. Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 12, in another embodiment of step S4, step S4 may include forming a light shielding layer 140 to cover the transparent keycap 150 (step S41a), and forming a plurality of transparent layers on the light shielding layer 140, respectively. The plurality of light patterns P1-P3 are perforated (step S41b). In other words, at this time, the light shielding layer 140 is formed on the light-transmitting keycap 150, and the light-transmitting keycap 150 can be completely covered thereunder. Then, corresponding to the position of each display area A1-A3 of the display unit 110, a plurality of perforations are formed on the light shielding layer 140 to expose a portion of the transparent keycap 150, and the exposed portion of the transparent keycap 150 constitutes a The light transmissive patterns P1-P3 are as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 10, in some embodiments, before the step S6 is performed, the manufacturing method of the button structure 100 further includes disposing the dielectric layer 160 on the display unit 110 (step S5), so that the dielectric layer 160 can be located at the display unit 110 and transparent. Between the light key caps 150. Here, the dielectric layer 160 may be used to increase light guiding properties and/or as an adhesive medium between the display unit 110 and the light-transmitting keycap 150.

In summary, according to the button structure and the manufacturing method thereof according to the embodiment of the present invention, each of the patterns on the single button can be respectively illuminated according to different usage scenarios through individual control corresponding to the plurality of display regions of the respective light-transmitting patterns. Or dark state.

The technical contents of the present invention have been disclosed in the preferred embodiments as described above, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications and refinements made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be The scope of the invention is therefore defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Step S1‧‧‧ forms a plurality of contacts on the carrier

Step S2‧‧‧Setting a plurality of bonding electrodes on the display unit

Step S3‧‧‧Set the display unit on the carrier

Step S4‧‧‧ forming a light shielding layer having a plurality of transparent patterns corresponding to each display area of the display unit

Step S5‧‧‧Set the dielectric layer on the display unit

Step S6‧‧‧Set the light-transmitting keycap on the display unit

Claims (15)

A button structure comprising: a display unit having a display surface and a setting surface relative to the display surface, the display unit comprising a plurality of display areas and a plurality of bonding electrodes on the setting surface; a carrier for carrying The display unit has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the carrier includes a plurality of contacts, and the plurality of contacts are disposed at the first position corresponding to the position of the plurality of bonding electrodes And extending to the second surface, the plurality of contacts are electrically connected to the plurality of bonding electrodes; a light shielding layer corresponding to the plurality of display regions, comprising a plurality of transparent patterns, each of the transparent patterns corresponding to each of the display regions And a light-transmitting keycap is disposed on the display unit. The button structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the button structure further comprises: a dielectric layer disposed between the transparent keycap and the display unit. The button structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light shielding layer is disposed on the display unit. The button structure of claim 1, wherein the light shielding layer is disposed on the light transmissive keycap. The button structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the display areas is correspondingly displayed according to a control signal received by the corresponding contact point. The button structure of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of bonding electrodes is disposed corresponding to each of the display regions, and each of the plurality of bonding electrodes is in contact with each of the plurality of contacts. The button structure of claim 1, wherein each of the light transmissive patterns is a perforation on the light shielding layer. A method for manufacturing a button structure, comprising: forming a plurality of contacts on a carrier, wherein the carrier has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the plurality of contacts being disposed on the first And extending to the second surface; a display unit is disposed on the carrier, wherein the display unit has a display surface and a setting surface relative to the display surface, the display unit includes a plurality of display areas and the setting surface a plurality of bonding electrodes, wherein the plurality of bonding electrodes are electrically connected to the plurality of contacts; corresponding to the plurality of display regions, forming a light shielding layer having a plurality of transparent patterns, wherein each of the light transmission patterns respectively correspond to each of the display regions; And providing a light-transmitting keycap on the display unit. The method for manufacturing a button structure according to claim 8, further comprising: providing a dielectric layer between the transparent keycap and the display unit. The method for manufacturing a button structure according to claim 8, further comprising: providing a plurality of bonding electrodes to the display unit corresponding to the plurality of display regions, such that the bonding electrodes respectively contact the respective plurality of contacts. The method for manufacturing a key structure according to claim 8, wherein the step of forming the light shielding layer having the plurality of transparent patterns corresponding to the plurality of display regions comprises: forming the light shielding layer to cover the display unit; A plurality of perforations of the plurality of transparent patterns are respectively formed on the light shielding layer. The method for manufacturing a key structure according to claim 8, wherein the step of forming the light shielding layer having the plurality of transparent patterns corresponding to the plurality of display regions comprises: forming the light shielding layer to cover the light transmission key cap; A plurality of perforations of the plurality of transparent patterns are formed on the light shielding layer. A button structure comprising: a display unit having a display surface and a setting surface relative to the display surface, the display unit comprising a plurality of display areas and a plurality of bonding electrodes on the setting surface; and a carrier for Carrying the display unit, the carrier has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the carrier includes a plurality of contacts, and the plurality of contacts are disposed at the position corresponding to the plurality of bonding electrodes And extending to the second surface, the plurality of contacts are electrically connected to the plurality of bonding electrodes. The button structure of claim 13, wherein the button structure further comprises: a light shielding layer corresponding to the plurality of display area settings, comprising a plurality of transparent patterns, each of the light transmission patterns respectively corresponding to each of the display areas; and A light-transmitting keycap is disposed on the display unit. The button structure of claim 14, wherein the light shielding layer is disposed on the light transmissive keycap or on the display surface.