Capacitive sensitive key structure

• US 9,813,059 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ching-Hsiung Chu
• Original Assignee: Ching-Hsiung Chu
• Inventors: Chu, Ching-Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, CURTIS J
• Application Number:
  US15/391,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20170111044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/803 characterised by the switching function thereof, e.g. normally closed contacts or consecutive operation of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/028 embedded in layer material
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/036 Light emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/004 U-shaped openings surrounding keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96046 Key-pad combined with display, back-lit

Abstract

A capacitive sensitive key structure includes a key, support component, fixing pad, substrate and conductive portion. The key includes a key body and a connection wall which encloses a receiving space. The support component is disposed in the receiving space and includes a body, conical wall, buffering space, and extending pad connected to the conical wall. The body abuts against the key body. The conductive portion is disposed at the bottom of the body and inside the buffering space. The substrate is connected to the fixing pad and has thereon a circuit unit and a sensing layer. The substrate is coated with an insulating layer which covers the sensing layer. When the key body is pressed to press against the support component, electrostatic changes occur because of changes in the distance between the conductive portion and the sensing layer; hence, the circuit unit sends electrical signals for driving electronic apparatuses.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensitive key structure, comprising:

at least a key comprising a key body and a connection wall connected to the key body and adapted to deform when pressed against by the key body, thereby enabling the key body to move;

a fixing pad connected to the connection wall, wherein a through hole is disposed at the fixing pad, corresponds in position to the key body and penetrates the fixing pad;

a substrate connected to a side of the fixing pad, wherein a circuit unit and a sensing layer coupled to the circuit unit are disposed at the substrate and correspond in position to the through hole; and

a conductive portion disposed between a bottom of the key body and the substrate and corresponding in position to the sensing layer from above, wherein, when the key body is pressed and moved to drive the conductive portion to move and separate from the sensing layer by a predetermined distance, electrostatic changes occur between the conductive portion and the sensing layer such that the circuit unit sends an electrical signal for driving a function of an electronic apparatus;

wherein the connection wall encloses and defines a receiving space and is integrally formed with the fixing pad, the fixing pad sealingly attached to the substrate to avoid external moisture intruding into the receiving space, and the key further comprising a support component sealingly disposed in the receiving space, the support component comprising a body, a conical wall extending from the body, a buffering space disposed inside of the conical wall, and an extending pad disposed at an end of the conical wall and attached to the substrate, wherein a top surface of the body abuts against the bottom of the key body, and the conductive portion is disposed on a bottom surface of the body and inside the buffering space.

2. The capacitive sensitive key structure of claim 1, wherein the substrate is coated with an insulating paint layer which at least covers the sensing layer.

3. The capacitive sensitive key structure of claim 1, wherein a height of the connection wall is less than a height of the conical wall such that the conical wall deforms as soon as the key body presses against the support component, thereby enabling the body to move toward the substrate.

4. The capacitive sensitive key structure of claim 1, wherein a positioning recess is disposed at the bottom of the key body such that an end of a body of the support component is inserted into and fixed to the positioning recess, wherein the conical wall extends radially from the body toward the substrate.

5. The capacitive sensitive key structure of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the fixing pad is flush with a bottom surface of the extending pad of the conical wall.

6. The capacitive sensitive key structure of claim 1, further comprising at least a light-emitting component electrically connected to the substrate and disposed inside the buffering space of the support component, wherein light rays emitted from the at least a light-emitting component penetrate the key body and the support component and thus are visible from outside.

7. The capacitive sensitive key structure of claim 6, wherein a recess is disposed at a bottom of a body of the support component and corresponds in position to the at least a light-emitting component to thereby receive and conceal the at least a light-emitting component while the body is moving.

8. The capacitive sensitive key structure of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance by which the conductive portion and the sensing layer are separated is less than 0.5 mm.

9. The capacitive sensitive key structure of claim 1, wherein at least two opposing sides of the key body have platforms;

respectively, extending outward from opposite corners of the side of the key body to thereby form a curved surface for preventing the key body from moving because of uncoordinated angular changes of the key body which occur as soon as the key body is pressed.

10. The capacitive sensitive key structure of claim 1, wherein at least a limiting element is disposed at a periphery of the bottom of the key body and of a smaller thickness than the conductive portion such that, when a margin of the key body is pressed continuously, the limiting element abuts against the substrate to thereby prevent the key body from being overly pressed and thus overly deformed.