A key structure includes a key cap, a bridge assembly, a first supporting part, a second supporting part, an attractable element and a magnet. The bridge assembly includes first and second hinge parts. The first hinge part has a first pivot coupling portion and a first connecting portion. The second hinge part has a second pivot coupling portion and a second connecting portion, wherein the first and second connecting portions are connected on an axis, and the first and second hinge parts rotate with respect to the axis. The first and second supporting parts are coupled to two ends of the first and second pivot coupling portions, respectively. The attractable element is disposed on the second hinge part. The magnet is correspondingly located under the attractable element for providing a magnetic force, so that the attractable element is attracted and positioned by the magnetic force.

A keyboard and a notebook computer with the keyboard are provided. The keyboard includes a membrane circuit board and plural keys. Each key includes a keycap, a bulge and a key frame. The bulge is connected with the keycap. The key frame has a guiding groove corresponding to the bulge. When the keyboard is in a usage status, the bulge is not pushed by the guiding groove and thus the keycap is at a higher position. Since the keycap is at the higher position, the movable distance of the keycap is increased and the tactile feel of depressing the keycap is enhanced. While a top cover of the notebook computer is closed to cover the keyboard, the key frame is moved horizontally. As the bulge is pushed by the guiding surface of the guiding groove, the height of the keycap is lowered.

A key structure includes a supporting plate, a movable plate, a keycap and a limiting structure. The supporting plate has supporting plate opening. The movable plate has a movable plate opening. The supporting plate is disposed over the movable plate. The keycap is disposed over the supporting plate. The limiting structure is disposed on the keycap and inserted in the supporting plate opening. When the movable plate is moved to a disabled position, the limiting structure is not aligned with the movable plate opening and the limiting structure in the supporting plate opening is stopped by the movable plate. Consequently, the keycap is not allowed to be moved.

A keyswitch includes a base plate, a cap having a longitudinal axis, a returning device, a support mechanism, and a lifting mechanism including first and second support plates. The first support plate has first and second edges parallel to the longitudinal axis for respectively abutting against the base plate and the cap. The second support plate has third and fourth edges parallel to the longitudinal axis for respectively abutting against the base plate and the cap. The base plate is disposed through openings of the first and second support plates to make the first and second support plates movably connected to the base plate. The returning device drives the cap to a non-pressed position with rotation of the first and second support plates. The support mechanism has first and second support members pivoted to each other to be movably connected to the cap and the base plate.

A key assembly to be installed on a keyboard is provided. The key assembly includes a base plate including a snap-fit hook, a scissor member including a pivot shaft, and a keycap. The keycap is disposed on the scissor member and connected thereto. The scissor member is disposed on the base plate and connected thereto. A bending portion of the snap-fit hook has a chamfer structure to which the pivot shaft is pivotally connected in such a manner that the vertical gap between the snap-fit hook and the pivot shaft is reduced.

A keyboard includes a base plate, plural keycaps, plural scissors-type connecting elements and a sliding plate. Each scissors-type connecting element has a bulge. The gliding plate has plural position-limiting structures. The keyboard is installed on a notebook computer and connected with a top cover of the notebook computer. For operating the keyboard, the bulge is received in a first step part of the position-limiting structure. Consequently, the keycap is at a higher height. Since the keycap is at a higher height, the movable distance of the keycap is large enough to provide better tactile feel. For storing the keyboard, the bulge of the scissors-type connecting element is moved to the second step part of the position-limiting structure. Consequently, the height of the keycap is reduced, and the keyboard has a slim appearance.

Embodiments describing a method of forming a multi-layered keycap structure are disclosed herein. The method includes forming a first polymer layer on a second polymer layer, wherein the first polymer layer includes a first color and the second polymer layer includes a second color, and coupling the first polymer layer and second polymer layer to a substrate layer such that the first polymer layer is closer to the substrate than the second polymer layer. The method may further include forming a third polymer layer on the second polymer layer; and etching the multi-layered keycap structure to form an opening having a bottom surface that exposes at least one of the first or second color.

A keycap, an illuminating keyswitch and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The illuminating keyswitch comprises a base plate, a printed circuit board, a light emitting element, a keycap and a lifting support structure. The printed circuit board is disposed on the base plate. The light emitting element electrically is connected to the printed circuit board. The keycap is disposed on the light emitting element. The lifting support structure is disposed between the base plate and the keycap. The keycap comprises a first injection layer and a second injection layer. The second injection layer covers the first injection layer. The light emitting element is configured to correspond to the first injection layer or the second injection layer. The keyswitch of the present invention covers the first injection layer through the second injection layer, so that the surface of the key cap is flat, thereby facilitating subsequent processing.

A keyboard includes a base plate, a keycap, and a link bar. The base plate includes a plate body and a linkage structure. The linkage structure is connected to and bended relative to the plate body. A through hole is formed at a connecting edge between the plate body and the linkage structure. The keycap is located over the base plate. The link bar includes a first rod body, a second rod body, and an engaging block. The first rod body is engaged with the keycap. The second rod body is connected to the first rod body and passes through the through hole. The engaging block is connected to an end of the second rod body and blocked by the linkage structure.

Proposed is a key switch haying a collapsible balance frame, comprising: a base, a movable plate, a balance frame, a transmission member and a key cap, wherein the movable plate is installed on the base and moves left and right along the base, wherein the balance frame is provided over the movable plate, wherein the balance frame comprises a first bracket and a second bracket arranged on a first side and a second side of the balance frame, respectively, wherein a lower end of the first bracket is connected to the movable plate, and a lower end of the second bracket is connected to the base, wherein a return spring is arranged horizontally, first and second ends of the return spring are (i) respectively connected to the first and the second brackets or (ii) respectively connected to the key cap and any one of the first bracket and the second bracket.