TWI791374B - Transparent keycap manufacturing method and transparent keycap thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A transparent keycap manufacturing method includes adhering an opaque base to a fixing film, performing a laser engraving process or an etching process on a bottom surface of the opaque base to generate a continuous hollow pattern region and a pattern component surrounded by the continuous hollow pattern region, coating transparent glue on the bottom surface of the opaque base to fill the continuous hollow pattern region with the transparent glue, adhering a transparent base to the bottom surface of the opaque base, and removing the fixing film from the opaque base.

Description

Manufacturing method of light-transmitting keycap and light-transmitting keycap thereof

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a light-transmitting keycap and the light-transmitting keycap, in particular to a method for manufacturing a light-transmitting keycap in which a pattern member is fixed in a continuous pattern hollow area by using a fixing sheet and the light-transmitting keycap.

As far as current personal computer usage habits are concerned, the keyboard is one of the indispensable input devices for inputting characters, symbols or numbers. Not only that, but all consumer electronic products in daily life or large-scale processing equipment used in the industry need to be equipped with a key structure as an input device for users to perform operations such as character input.

In the current common keyboard key applications on the market, if you want to make the key caps on the keyboard have a hard material luster and a patterned light effect, most of the key caps are made of metal or ceramic materials, and then laser engraving is used to engrave the key caps. Hollow patterns (such as characters or symbols, etc.) are formed on the keycaps, so that the light can be emitted through the backlight device arranged under the keycaps, and the light is emitted from the hollow patterns to achieve the purpose of the keycap pattern emitting light. However, the above-mentioned design has the restriction that the non-transparent areas on the keycap must be connected to each other and cannot be completely cut off by the pattern hollow area, thus greatly limiting the design flexibility and molding quality of the light-transmitting keycap.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a light-transmitting keycap and the light-transmitting keycap that use a fixing sheet to fix a pattern member in a continuous pattern hollow area, so as to solve the above-mentioned problems.

According to an embodiment, the manufacturing method of the light-transmitting keycap of the present invention includes providing an opaque base and a fixed sheet, sticking the opaque base on the fixed sheet, performing a laser engraving process or an etching process on a bottom surface of the opaque base to produce a continuous pattern hollow area and surrounded by the continuous pattern hollow area A pattern member, coating a light-transmitting glue on the bottom surface of the opaque base and filling the hollow area of the continuous pattern with the light-transmitting glue, providing a light-transmitting base, and pasting the light-transmitting base on the opaque base The bottom surface, and the fixing sheet is removed from the light-tight base. The light-transmitting base has a plurality of connecting components for connecting a scissors lifting mechanism.

According to another embodiment, the light-transmitting keycap of the present invention includes an opaque base, a light-transmitting adhesive, and a light-transmitting base. A fixing sheet is attached to the opaque base, and a continuous pattern hollow area and a pattern member are produced by performing a laser engraving process or an etching process on a bottom surface of the opaque base, wherein The pattern member is surrounded by the continuous pattern hollow area. The transparent adhesive is coated on the bottom surface of the opaque base and fills the hollow area of the continuous pattern. The light-transmitting base is pasted on the bottom surface of the light-proof base and has a plurality of connecting components for connecting a scissors lifting mechanism. After the fixing sheet is removed from the light-proof base, the pattern component is fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area via the light-transmitting glue.

To sum up, the present invention uses the fixing sheet to fix the pattern member in the continuous pattern hollow area, and uses light-transmitting glue to fill the continuous pattern hollow area, so that the pattern member can be removed after the fixing sheet is removed from the light-proof base. It can still be fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area through the light-transmitting glue. Through the above design, even if the pattern member has been cut off by the continuous pattern hollow area and separated from the opaque base, the pattern member can still be manufactured on the light-transmitting keycap. During the process, it is fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area, so as to achieve the effect of accurately forming a complete and correct pattern on the opaque base. In this way, the present invention can effectively solve the problem of keycaps mentioned in the prior art. The non-light-transmitting areas must be connected to each other and cannot be completely cut off by the pattern hollow area, thereby greatly improving the pattern design flexibility and molding quality of the light-transmitting keycap.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be obtained from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings Better understanding of.

1: keyboard

3: button

5: Bottom plate

7: Scissor lift mechanism

9: Backlight module

10, 10': Transparent keycap

12: Opaque base

13: bottom surface

14:Fixer

15, 19: side skirts

16: Translucent glue

17, 21: Bottom

18: Translucent base

20: Continuous pattern hollow area

22:Pattern component

24: Connecting components

26: overflow tank

28: Stop structure

30: Ladder-like structure

32: Positioning structure

34: The first pattern hollow area

36: Second pattern hollow area

38: The case of the first picture

40: The case of the second picture

42: The first pattern color glue

44:Second pattern color glue

46: Adhesive glue

S10, S12, S14, S16, S18: steps

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a light-transmitting keycap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the manufacturing process in conjunction with Figure 1 .

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light-transmitting keycap proposed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the manufacturing process of a light-transmitting keycap manufacturing method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a keyboard proposed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the button in Fig. 5 along the section line X-X.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 . FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a light-transmitting keycap according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the manufacturing process in conjunction with FIG. 1 . For the convenience of explanation, Fig. 2 (A) to (E) are presented in a sectional view supplemented with a bottom view.

First, step S10 is performed to provide the light-tight base 12 and the fixing sheet 14 , and stick the light-tight base 12 to the fixing sheet 14 , as shown in FIG. 2 (A). In this embodiment, the light-transmitting keycap 10 includes a light-proof base 12, a light-transmitting glue 16, and a light-transmitting base 18, wherein the light-proof base 12 can preferably be made of a metal material (but not subject to this limitation). limited, it can also be changed to other hard materials, such as ceramics) so that the light-transmitting keycap 10 can have a hard material luster, and the fixed piece 14 can preferably be a UV photolytic adhesive film or a release film (but not subject to limit) for the subsequent removal of the diaphragm.

Next, step S12 is executed to carry out a laser engraving process on the bottom surface 13 of the opaque base 12 (but not limited thereto, it can also adopt other hollow pattern forming processes, such as etching process), so as to produce the continuous pattern hollow area 20 and Pattern member 22, pattern member 22 is surrounded by continuous pattern hollow area 20, at this moment, as shown in Fig. 2 (B), even if pattern member 22 is cut off by continuous pattern hollow area 20 and The transparent base 12 is separated from the space, and the pattern member 22 can still be fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area 20 via the fixing sheet 14 .

Next, step S14 is executed to apply the light-transmitting glue 16 on the bottom surface 13 of the opaque base 12 for subsequent bonding and fixing of the base. 2 as shown in Figure (C).

Next, step S16 is performed to provide a transparent base 18 (which is preferably made of transparent plastic material, but not limited thereto), and stick the transparent base 18 to the non-transparent base through the transparent glue 16 12 on the bottom surface 13, wherein, as shown in Fig. 2 (D), the light-transmitting base 18 can have a plurality of connecting members 24 for connecting to the scissors lifting mechanism (but not limited thereto, it can also adopt other It can be applied to the supporting lifting mechanism of keyboard keys, such as butterfly wing lifting mechanism, magnetic lifting mechanism, etc.), for subsequent keycap pressing applications.

Finally, step S18 is executed to remove the fixing sheet 14 from the light-tight base 12, as shown in FIG. After removal, it is fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area 20 through the light-transmitting glue 16. As for the related description of the fixing sheet removal method (such as UV photolytic glue removal or release film tearing, etc.), it is common in the prior art , which will not be repeated here.

It should be noted that the present invention can adopt an anti-splash design. For example, please refer to FIG. 3, which is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light-transmitting keycap 10' according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3 Components with the same labels as those shown in Fig. 2 have roughly the same working principles, and will not be repeated here. As shown in Fig. 3, at least one recessed overflow groove 26 (showing two in Fig. 3, but not limited thereto) can be formed on the light-transmitting base 18, and the recessed overflow groove 26 can be communicated with continuous The patterned hollow area 20 is used to provide overflow material accommodation space to prevent the translucent glue 16 from overflowing, and at least one stop structure 28 can be protruded on the side skirt 19 of the translucent base 18 (shown in Figure 3 as two 1, but not limited thereto) to abut against the opaque base 12 upwards, so as to prevent the translucent glue 16 from overflowing from the side skirt 19 of the translucent base 18. In addition, in this embodiment, it is also preferable to form a stepped structure 30 on the periphery of the continuous pattern hollow area 20 to facilitate the processing of the light-transmitting keycap 10'.

In addition, the present invention can also adopt the base positioning design. As can be seen from FIG. Two are shown in Figure 3, but not limited thereto) to engage with the side skirt 15 of the opaque base 12 (for example, by structural interference engagement or concave-convex fit, etc.), so as to make the translucent base 18 more stable It is positioned under the light-proof base 12, thereby effectively improving the assembly quality of the light-transmitting keycap 10'. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom 21 of the side skirt 19 of the transparent base 18 can be preferably higher than the bottom 17 of the side skirt 15 of the opaque base 12, so as to ensure that the transparent base 18 will not be exposed. Further, the overall appearance quality of the light-transmitting keycap 10' is improved.

It is worth mentioning that the pattern design of the light-transmitting keycap of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Please refer to Figure 4, which is a manufacturing method of a light-transmitting keycap according to another embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram of the manufacturing process, for the convenience of explanation, Figure 4 (A) to (F) are presented in the form of a cross-sectional view supplemented by a bottom view. The main difference between this embodiment (as shown in Figure 4) and the above-mentioned embodiment (as shown in Figure 2) is the filling method of the light-transmitting glue. More specifically, as shown in Figure 4 (F), this implementation For example, the continuous pattern hollow area can include a first pattern hollow area 34 and a second pattern hollow area 36, the pattern member can include a first pattern case 38 and a second pattern case 40, and the first pattern hollow area 34 surrounds the first pattern case 38 , the second pattern hollow area 36 surrounds the second pattern case 40, and the light-transmitting glue can include the first pattern color glue 42, the second pattern color glue 44 and the adhesive glue 46, wherein the color of the first pattern color glue 42 is different from that of the second pattern color glue. 2. The color of the pattern color glue 44. In the light-transmitting glue filling process, the first pattern color glue 42 at least partially fills the first pattern hollow area 34 and the second pattern color glue 44 at least partially fills the second pattern hollow area 36 (as shown in FIG. 4 (C), But not limited thereto), next, the adhesive 46 can be adhered between the bottom surface 13 of the opaque base 12 and the transparent base 18 and bonded to the first pattern color glue 42 and the second pattern color glue 44 (As shown in Figure 4 (D) and Figure 4 (E)). In this way, the user can see that the first pattern hollow area 34 and the second pattern hollow area 36 on the light-transmitting keycap exhibit different light-transmitting colors, thereby creating the effect that the light-transmitting keycap presents a two-color light-transmitting pattern. It should be noted that the steps in Fig. 4 are substantially the same as those in Fig. 2 , and the elements with the same numbers in Fig. 4 and Fig. 2 have roughly the same working principles, and will not be repeated here.

In the actual keyboard application, please refer to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the keyboard 1 proposed according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is the key 3 in Fig. 5 along the section line X-X sectional schematic diagram. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , the keyboard 1 includes a plurality of keys 3 and a bottom plate 5 , and the keys 3 are arranged on the bottom plate 5 for the user to press to perform the function that the user wants to input. In more detail, the key 3 may include a light-transmitting keycap 10 , a scissor lift mechanism 7 and a backlight module 9 . The backlight module 9 is disposed under the bottom plate 5 for emitting light to the light-transmitting keycap 10 . The scissor lift mechanism 7 is disposed between the light-transmitting keycap 10 and the bottom plate 5 and connected to the connecting member 24 of the light-transmitting keycap 10 . Thereby, when the light-transmitting keycap 10 is pressed, the light-transmitting keycap 10 can move downward along with the scissor lift mechanism 7 , and then execute the function desired by the user. In addition, when the backlight module 9 provides light, the light will pass through the light-transmitting base 18 and the light-transmitting adhesive 16 in order to emit from the continuous pattern hollow area 20, so that the light-transmitting keycap 10 with hard material luster presents a pattern glow effect.

It should be noted that the light-transmitting keycap 10 can be manufactured using the manufacturing method in FIG. 1 (but not limited thereto, it can also be manufactured using the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 4 to produce a different-color light-transmitting pattern effect) . In other words, the transparent keycap 10 can utilize the steps S10 , S12 , S14 , S16 and S18 in FIG. 1 to complete the pattern forming process. The relevant manufacturing principles are as described above and will not be repeated here.

To sum up, the present invention uses the fixing sheet to fix the pattern member in the continuous pattern hollow area, and uses light-transmitting glue to fill the continuous pattern hollow area, so that the pattern member can be removed after the fixing sheet is removed from the light-proof base. It can still be fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area through light-transmitting glue. Through the above design, even if the pattern member has been cut off by the continuous pattern hollow area and separated from the opaque base, the pattern member can still be fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area during the manufacturing process of the light-transmitting keycap, so as to achieve The effect of accurately forming a complete and correct pattern on the opaque base, so that the present invention can effectively solve the problem mentioned in the prior art that the non-transparent areas on the keycap must be connected to each other and cannot be hollowed out by the pattern The completely truncated pattern forming limitation problem greatly improves the pattern design flexibility and molding quality of the light-transmitting keycap.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

10: Transparent keycap

12: Opaque base

13: bottom surface

14:Fixer

16: Translucent glue

18: Translucent base

20: Continuous pattern hollow area

22:Pattern component

24: Connecting components

Claims (21)

A method for manufacturing a light-transmitting keycap, comprising: providing an opaque base and a fixing sheet; adhering the opaque base to the fixing sheet; performing laser engraving or etching on a bottom surface of the opaque base Manufacturing process, to produce a continuous pattern hollow area and a pattern member, wherein the pattern member is surrounded by the continuous pattern hollow area; coating a light-transmitting glue on the bottom surface of the opaque base, and the light-transmitting glue fills the continuous Pattern hollow area; provide a light-transmitting base, the light-transmitting base has a plurality of connecting members for connecting a scissors lifting mechanism; paste the light-transmitting base on the bottom surface of the opaque base; and the fixing piece Remove from this light-tight base. The manufacturing method of the translucent keycap according to claim 1, wherein the opaque base is made of metal or ceramic material. The manufacturing method of the light-transmitting keycap according to Claim 1, wherein the fixing sheet is a UV photolytic adhesive film or a release film. The method for manufacturing a light-transmitting keycap according to claim 1, wherein the continuous pattern hollow area includes a first pattern hollow area and a second pattern hollow area, and the pattern member includes a first pattern and a second pattern , the first pattern hollow area surrounds the first pattern case, the second pattern hollow area surrounds the second pattern case, the light-transmitting glue includes a first pattern color glue, a second pattern Color glue, and an adhesive glue, the first pattern color glue at least partially fills the first pattern hollow area, the second pattern color glue at least partially fills the second pattern hollow area, and the adhesive glue is adhered to the opaque base The bottom surface and the transparent base are bonded to the first pattern color glue and the second pattern color glue, the color of the first pattern color glue is different from the color of the second pattern color glue. The manufacturing method of the transparent keycap according to claim 1, further comprising: forming at least one recessed overflow groove on the transparent base, and the at least one recessed overflow groove communicates with the continuous pattern hollow area to prevent the transparent Glue spilled. The manufacturing method of the light-transmitting keycap according to Claim 1, further comprising: at least one stop structure protruding from one side skirt of the light-transmitting base to abut against the opaque base to prevent the light-transmitting Glue overflows from the side skirt of the transparent base. The manufacturing method of the translucent keycap according to claim 1, further comprising: forming at least one positioning structure at a position where one side skirt of the translucent base corresponds to a side skirt of the opaque base, so as to be engaged with the non-transparent base. The side skirt of the light-transmitting base is used to position the light-transmitting base under the light-proof base. The manufacturing method of the luminous key according to Claim 1, wherein the bottom of the side skirt of the transparent base is higher than the bottom of the side skirt of the opaque base. The manufacturing method of the luminous key according to claim 1, further comprising: forming a stepped structure on a periphery of the continuous pattern hollow area. A light-transmitting keycap, which includes: an opaque base, on which a fixing sheet is attached, and the opaque base is produced by performing a laser engraving process or an etching process on a bottom surface of the opaque base. A continuous pattern hollow area and a pattern member, wherein the pattern member is surrounded by the continuous pattern hollow area; a light-transmitting glue, which is coated on the bottom surface of the opaque base and fills the continuous pattern hollow area; and a transparent A light base, which is pasted on the bottom surface of the opaque base and has a plurality of connecting members for connecting a scissor lifting mechanism, the light-transmitting base is formed with at least one concave overflow groove, and the at least one concave overflow groove communicated with the continuous pattern hollow area to prevent the light-transmitting glue from overflowing; wherein, the pattern component is fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area through the light-transmitting glue after the fixing piece is removed from the light-proof base. The translucent keycap according to claim 10, wherein the opaque base is made of metal or ceramic material. The light-transmitting keycap according to claim 10, wherein the fixing sheet is a UV photolytic adhesive film or a release film. The light-transmitting keycap according to claim 10, wherein the continuous pattern hollow area includes at least one first pattern hollow area and at least one second pattern hollow area, and the pattern member includes a first pattern piece and a second pattern piece , the first pattern hollow area surrounds the first pattern case, the second pattern hollow area surrounds the second pattern case, the light-transmitting glue includes a first pattern color glue, a second pattern color glue, and an adhesive glue , the first pattern color glue at least partially fills the first pattern hollow area, the second pattern color glue at least partially fills the at least one second pattern hollow area, and the adhesive is adhered to The bottom surface of the opaque base and the transparent base are bonded to the first pattern color glue and the second pattern color glue, the color of the first pattern color glue is different from that of the second pattern color glue color. The light-transmitting keycap according to claim 10, wherein at least one stopper structure protrudes from a position corresponding to a side skirt of the light-transmitting base and abuts against the opaque base upwards to prevent the light-transmitting Glue overflows from the side skirt of the transparent base. The light-transmitting keycap according to claim 10, wherein at least one positioning structure is formed at a position where one side skirt of the light-transmitting base corresponds to the side skirt of the light-proof base, and the at least one positioning structure is engaged with the light-transmitting base. The side skirt of the light-transmitting base is used to position the light-transmitting base under the light-proof base. The translucent keycap according to claim 10, wherein a bottom of the side skirt of the translucent base is higher than a bottom of the side skirt of the opaque base. The light-transmitting keycap according to claim 10, wherein a stepped structure is formed on a periphery of the continuous pattern hollow area. A light-transmitting keycap, which includes: an opaque base, on which a fixing sheet is attached, and the opaque base is produced by performing a laser engraving process or an etching process on a bottom surface of the opaque base. A continuous pattern hollow area and a pattern member, wherein the pattern member is surrounded by the continuous pattern hollow area; a light-transmitting glue, which is coated on the bottom surface of the opaque base and fills the continuous pattern hollow area; and a transparent a light base, which is pasted on the bottom surface of the light-proof base and has a plurality of connecting members, For connecting a scissors lifting mechanism, at least one stopper structure protrudes from a position corresponding to one side skirt of the transparent base and abuts against the opaque base upwards, so as to prevent the transparent adhesive from passing through the transparent base. The side skirt of the base overflows; wherein, the pattern component is fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area through the light-transmitting glue after the fixing sheet is removed from the light-proof base. A light-transmitting keycap, which includes: an opaque base, on which a fixing sheet is attached, and the opaque base is produced by performing a laser engraving process or an etching process on a bottom surface of the opaque base. A continuous pattern hollow area and a pattern member, wherein the pattern member is surrounded by the continuous pattern hollow area; a light-transmitting glue, which is coated on the bottom surface of the opaque base and fills the continuous pattern hollow area; and a transparent A light base, which is pasted on the bottom surface of the opaque base and has a plurality of connecting members for connecting a scissor lift mechanism, one side skirt of the light-transmitting base corresponds to the position of the side skirt of the opaque base At least one positioning structure is formed, and the at least one positioning structure is engaged with the side skirt of the opaque base to position the translucent base under the opaque base; After being removed from the light-proof base, it is fixed in the hollow area of the continuous pattern through the light-transmitting glue. A light-transmitting keycap, which includes: an opaque base, on which a fixing sheet is attached, and the opaque base is produced by performing a laser engraving process or an etching process on a bottom surface of the opaque base. A continuous pattern hollow area and a pattern member, wherein the pattern member is surrounded by the continuous pattern hollow area; a light-transmitting glue, which is coated on the bottom surface of the light-proof base and fills the continuous pattern hollow area; And a light-transmitting base, which is pasted on the bottom surface of the light-proof base and has a plurality of connecting members for connecting a scissor lifting mechanism, a bottom of a side skirt of the light-transmitting base is higher than the light-proof base A bottom of one of the side skirts of the base; wherein, the pattern component is fixed in the continuous pattern hollow area through the light-transmitting glue after the fixing sheet is removed from the light-proof base. A light-transmitting keycap, which includes: an opaque base, on which a fixing sheet is attached, and the opaque base is produced by performing a laser engraving process or an etching process on a bottom surface of the opaque base. A continuous pattern hollow area and a pattern member, wherein the pattern member is surrounded by the continuous pattern hollow area, a step-like structure is formed on one periphery of the continuous pattern hollow area; a light-transmitting glue, which is coated on the light-proof base and fill the hollow area of the continuous pattern; and a light-transmitting base, which is pasted on the bottom surface of the opaque base and has a plurality of connecting members for connecting a scissors lifting mechanism; wherein, the pattern member is in After the fixing sheet is removed from the opaque base, it is fixed in the hollow area of the continuous pattern through the light-transmitting glue.

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