DE102017106283A1 - Key module for a keyboard and method for producing a key module for a keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a key module (100) for a keyboard. The key module (100) comprises a housing (102) having a housing opening (108), a key tappet (110) having a coupling portion (112) for mechanically coupling the key tappet (110) to a key top and at least one spring member (114) for urging the key tappet (110) Key tappet (110) with a restoring force. The key tappet (110) is slidably disposed or arrangeable in the housing opening (108) between a rest position and an operating position. The coupling portion (112) is configured cup-shaped and at least in the rest position outside of the housing (102). The spring element (114) is at least partially disposed within the coupling portion (112) or can be arranged.

Description

The present invention relates to a key module for a keyboard and a method for producing a key module for a keyboard.

Mechanical keyboards may have key modules with key tappets as part of the key switches of the individual keys. For example, compression springs made of metal can be used as return means in mechanical key modules.

Against this background, the present invention provides an improved key module and a method and apparatus for producing such a key module according to the main claims. Advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description below.

• ein Gehäuse mit einer Gehäuseöffnung;
• einen Tastenstößel mit einem Kopplungsabschnitt zum mechanischen Koppeln des Tastenstößels mit einem Tastenkopf, wobei der Tastenstößel in der Gehäuseöffnung zwischen einer Ruhestellung und einer Betätigungsstellung verschiebbar angeordnet oder anordenbar ist, wobei der Kopplungsabschnitt becherförmig ausgestaltet ist und zumindest in der Ruhestellung außerhalb des Gehäuses angeordnet ist; und
• zumindest ein Federelement zum Beaufschlagen des Tastenstößels mit einer Rückstellkraft, wobei das Federelement zumindest abschnittsweise innerhalb des Kopplungsabschnitts angeordnet oder anordenbar ist.

A key module for a keyboard is presented, wherein the key module has the following features:

• a housing having a housing opening;
• a key tappet having a coupling portion for mechanically coupling the key tappet to a key top, the key tappet being slidably disposed within the housing opening between a rest position and an actuated position, the coupler portion being cup-shaped and located outside the housing at least in the rest position; and
• at least one spring element for acting on the key tappet with a restoring force, wherein the spring element is at least partially disposed within the coupling portion or can be arranged.

The keyboard may have at least one key, wherein the key module may be provided per key. The key top may represent a portion of the key that is visible and depressible by an operator. The key module may comprise the housing, the key tappet, the spring element and optionally other means. The key module, the key, or the keyboard may optionally include other features, such as at least one key switch, electrical contactors, or the like. The key tappet may extend through the housing opening into an interior of the housing. The key module may be, for example, a so-called MX module or the like offered by the company Cherry. The coupling portion of the key tappet and the key top may be mechanically coupled to each other. In particular, the coupling portion and the key top, for example, can be locked together. The coupling portion may further be formed with a special outer contour for the rotationally secure mounting of the key top on the key module, in particular approximately a four- or octagonal outer contour. In the assembled state of the key module, the coupling portion may protrude beyond an edge of the housing or the housing opening. The key module can also be referred to as a mechanical button. The keyboard may be provided, for example, for a computer or the like. The housing may be formed in one piece or in several parts.

The approach presented here offers the advantage of a particularly smooth and yet stable leadership of the key tappet.

According to one embodiment, the coupling portion may have an angular, in particular octagonal outer contour. As a result, the key head can be secured against rotation on the key tappet.

According to a further embodiment, the housing may have a base opposite the housing opening for guiding the key tappet. The base can act as a stop for the spring element. The base may for example have a guide channel for receiving the key tappet. The spring element can thus be clamped between the base and the coupling portion, in particular a bottom surface of the cup shape of the coupling portion. As a result, the key module can be realized particularly compact and stable.

According to a further embodiment, the key tappet may comprise a guide pin and the socket a pin receptacle for receiving the guide pin. This allows a stable, space-saving and smooth running of the key tappet in the key module.

In this case, the guide pin protrude beyond the housing, at least in the rest position. Thus, the length of the guide can be increased without additional extension of the key tappet.

According to a further embodiment, at least a portion of the guide pin may be arranged in the coupling portion. In particular, the guide pin can be connected to a bottom surface of the coupling section. Also by this embodiment, the stability of the guide can be increased.

Advantageously, the pin holder, the guide pin and the spring element can be arranged concentrically with each other. This can tilt the key tappet when pressed down be avoided. In addition, the key module can be made very easy.

According to one embodiment, the spring element can be realized as a helical spring. As a result, the spring element can be integrated into the key module with very little design effort.

• Bereitstellen des Gehäuses, des Tastenstößels und des Federelements; und
• Montieren des Tastenmoduls, wobei der Tastenstößel in der Gehäuseöffnung zwischen der Ruhestellung und der Betätigungsstellung verschiebbar angeordnet wird, sodass sich der Kopplungsabschnitt zumindest in der Ruhestellung außerhalb des Gehäuses befindet, und wobei das Federelement zumindest abschnittsweise in dem Kopplungsabschnitt angeordnet wird.

The approach presented here also provides a method for producing a key module according to one of the preceding embodiments, the method comprising the following steps:

• Providing the housing, the key tappet and the spring element; and
• Mounting the key module, wherein the key plunger is slidably disposed in the housing opening between the rest position and the actuating position, so that the coupling portion is at least in the rest position outside of the housing, and wherein the spring element is at least partially disposed in the coupling portion.

According to one embodiment, in the step of providing, the housing and / or the key plunger and / or the spring element may be provided by fabrication in an injection molding process. This allows a particularly cost-effective and precise production of the key module in large quantities.

The approach presented here also creates a device that is designed to perform the steps of a variant of a method presented here in appropriate facilities to drive or implement. Also by this embodiment of the invention in the form of a device, the object underlying the invention can be solved quickly and efficiently.

A device may, for example, be understood as an electrical device which processes sensor signals and outputs control and / or data signals in dependence thereon. The device may have an interface, which may be formed in hardware and / or software. In the case of a hardware-based embodiment, the interfaces can be part of a so-called system ASIC, for example, which contains a wide variety of functions of the device. However, it is also possible that the interfaces are their own integrated circuits or at least partially consist of discrete components. In a software training, the interfaces may be software modules that are present, for example, on a microcontroller in addition to other software modules.

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and similarly acting, wherein a repeated description of these elements is omitted.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Tastenmoduls gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel in Schnittansicht;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Tastenmoduls aus 1 in perspektivischer Ansicht;
• 3 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a key module according to an embodiment in sectional view;
• 2 a schematic representation of a button module 1 in perspective view;
• 3 a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment; and
• 4 a schematic representation of a device according to an embodiment.

1 shows a schematic representation of a key module 100 according to an embodiment in sectional view. The key module 100 for a keyboard key, such as a computer keyboard, includes a housing 102 , here a two-part housing with an upper housing part 104 and a lower housing part 106. The housing 102 has an example, centrally arranged housing opening 108, in which a key tappet 110 is slidably disposed between a rest and actuation position. The key tappet 110 includes a coupling section 112 for mechanically coupling the key module 100 to a key top. In the in 1 shown rest position of the key tappet 110 is the coupling section 112 completely outside the case 102 , The coupling section 112 is cup-shaped to a spring element 114 , here for example one in the housing opening 108 arranged coil spring, for applying the key tappet 110 to record with a restoring force. For example, the key tappet 110 in the rest position biased by the restoring force. In the assembled state of the button module 100 is the spring element 114 partly outside, partly inside the housing 102 like this 1 is apparent.

According to this embodiment, the key tappet 110 formed with a guide pin 116 which is centrally connected to a bottom surface of the cup-shaped coupling portion 112 and thus on the one hand through the housing opening 108 via the edge of the housing 102 protrudes. On the other hand, the guide pin protrudes 116 in a pen recording 118 one of the housing opening 108 opposite base 120 in the case 102 in and is movable in it. This will provide a stable guidance of the key tappet 110 when moving between resting and operating position allows. The base 120 also serves as a stop for the spring element 114 , This is between the stop of the pedestal 120 and the coupling section 112 clamped.

According to one embodiment, the guide pin 116 and the pen recording 118 by the spring element 114 passed. The spring element 114 , the guide pin 116 and the pin holder 118 are arranged in this sense concentric with each other, which is a particularly compact design and smooth operation of the key module 100 allows.

The key tappet 110 with the coupling section 112 and the guide pin 116 is for example produced in one piece in an injection molding process. Likewise, for example, the housing 102 manufactured as an injection molded part.

The guide between key tappet and socket in a conventional MX module in the unactuated state can be relatively short. One way to extend the guidance, according to the approach presented here, is to use the upper area of the key tappet. As a result, the guide in which touch pedestal and key tappet, much longer. According to one embodiment, the coupling portion 112 is formed as an octagon instead of a cross-receiving portion for receiving the key top, also called KeyCap, as shown in FIG 2 is apparent. As a result, the design can be significantly smaller or flatter without the stability of the guide is lost, because only a long guide can work in this structure without entanglement. The coupling section 112 is thus both clamping for the KeyCap and space for the leadership.

The key module 100 For example, it is designed as a mechanical key module.

Depending on the embodiment, the spring element 114 made of metal or plastic. The spring element 114 is formed either as a separate component, with the key tappet 110 integrally formed or cohesively connected or with at least a portion of the housing 102 integrally formed or materially connected.

2 shows a schematic representation of a key module 100 out 1 in perspective view. Evident here is the octagonal outer contour of the coupling portion 112 for the rotationally secure mounting of the key top. The coupling portion 112 may also be formed with any other outer contour for positive or non-positive, in particular torsion-resistant recording of the key head.

3 shows a flowchart of a method 300 according to an embodiment. The procedure 300 For example, for the preparation of a preceding on the basis of 1 and 2 described button module are executed. It will be in one step 310 the housing, the key tappet and the spring element provided. In particular, the provision takes place, for example, in an injection molding process. In a further step 320 the assembly of the key module takes place. In this case, the key tappet is slidably disposed in the housing opening between the rest position and the actuating position, so that the coupling portion is at least in the rest position outside of the housing. Furthermore, the spring element is arranged at least in sections in the coupling section.

4 shows a schematic representation of a device 400 according to an embodiment. The device 400 can be formed, for example, to the above with reference to 3 to initiate, execute or implement the described method. This includes the device 400 a deployment unit 410 for providing housing, key tappet and spring element. For example, the deployment unit 410 designed to control an injection molding machine in a suitable manner. An assembly unit 420 The device 400 is used to control a mounting device for mounting the key module.

If an exemplary embodiment comprises a "and / or" link between a first feature and a second feature, this can be read so that the embodiment according to one embodiment, both the first feature and the second feature and according to another embodiment, either only the first Feature or only the second feature.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

key module

102

casing

104

Upper housing part

106

lower housing part

108

housing opening

110

key plunger

112

coupling portion

114

spring element

116

guide pin

118

pin receptacle

120

base

300

Method for producing a key module

310

Step of providing

320

Step of mounting

400

Device for producing a key module

410

Providing unit

420

assembly unit

Claims (11)

A key module (100) for a keyboard, the key module (100) comprising: a housing (102) having a housing opening (108); a key tappet (110) having a coupling portion (112) for mechanically coupling the key tappet (110) to a key top, the key tappet (110) being slidably disposed within the housing opening (108) between a rest position and an actuated position, the coupler portion (112) cup-shaped and at least in the rest position outside of the housing (102) is arranged; and at least one spring element (114) for acting on the key tappet (110) with a restoring force, wherein the spring element (114) at least in sections within the coupling portion (112) is arranged or can be arranged. Button module (100) according to Claim 1 in which the coupling portion (112) has an angular, in particular octagonal outer contour. Button module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the housing (102) has a base (120) opposite the housing opening (108) for guiding the key tappet (110), wherein the base (120) acts as a stop for the spring element (114 ) acts. The key module (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the key tappet (110) includes a guide pin (116) and the socket (120) includes a pin receptacle (118) for receiving the guide pin (116). Button module (100) according to Claim 4 in which the guide pin (116) projects beyond the housing (102) at least in the rest position. Button module (100) according to Claim 4 or 5 in that at least a portion of the guide pin (116) is disposed in the coupling portion (112), in particular, wherein the guide pin (116) is connected to a bottom surface of the coupling portion (112). Button module (100) according to one of Claims 4 to 6 in which the pin receptacle (118), the guide pin (116) and the spring element (114) are arranged concentrically with one another. Button module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the spring element (114) is realized as a helical spring. Method (300) for producing a key module (100) according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th wherein the method (300) comprises the steps of: providing (310) the housing (102), the key tappet (110) and the spring member (114); and mounting (320) the key module (100), wherein the key plunger (110) in the housing opening (108) is slidably disposed between the rest position and the actuated position, so that the coupling portion (112) at least in the rest position outside the housing (102). is located, and wherein the spring element (114) at least partially in the coupling portion (112) is arranged. Method (300) according to Claim 9 in which, in the step of providing (310), the housing (102) and / or the key plunger (110) and / or the spring element (114) are provided by fabrication in an injection molding process. Apparatus (400) comprising units (410, 420) adapted to perform the method (300) according to Claim 9 or 10 execute and / or control and / or implement.

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