BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to a key structure and a keyboard using the same, and more particularly to a simplified key structure having an optical switch.

Description of the Related Art

Generally speaking, the keyboard has become an indispensable input device to the computer, and it has become a prominent task for the keyboard manufacturers to provide a key structure, which is thin, light and durable, particularly to a portable, thin and lightweight computer with a keyboard featured by long lifespan. Due to the structure being too complicated and the total height requirement of the key structure being too high, the conventional optical axis keyboard cannot meet the thinness requirement. Therefore, the user cannot use the optimized optical axis keyboard on the ultra-thin computer, and this problem needs to be resolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a key structure and a computer input device using the same to reduce the height of the conventional optical axis keyboard to improve the strength and reliability thereof. The computer input device is such as a keyboard.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a key structure and a computer input device using the same are provided. The key structure includes a keycap, a scissor component, an elastomer, an optical switch, a shading portion, and a circuit board. The scissor component is formed of a first supporter and a second supporter pivotally connected to the first supporter. The circuit board has a first limiting unit and a second limiting unit disposed thereon. The keycap has a third limiting unit and a fourth limiting unit. The first supporter of the scissor component is rotatably or slidably connected to the first limiting unit disposed on the circuit board and the third limiting unit disposed on the key cap. The second supporter of the scissor component is rotatably or slidably connected to the second limiting unit disposed on the circuit board and the fourth limiting unit disposed on the keycap. Thus, the keycap is connected to and disposed on the circuit board through the scissor component, and the elastomer is interposed between the circuit board and the keycap. The optical switch is disposed on the circuit board, and includes an emitter and a receiver. The shading portion is disposed on the first supporter or the second supporter to block a light signal transmitted between the emitter and the receiver, such that an on/off signal can be controlled by the key structure.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first limiting unit and the second limiting unit can be disposed on a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board, a polyester film (such as Mylar) or other structure, and does not have to be disposed on the circuit board with the optical switch.

Through the design of disposing the first limiting unit and the second limiting unit on the circuit board or the Mylar film, the key structure of the invention can dispense with the conventional metal bottom plate, not only reducing the overall height of the key structure but also simplifying the manufacturing process and decreasing the cost.

The above and other aspects of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiment(s). The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

