The disclosure provides a key structure, including a first electrode, a key cap, and a restoration member. The key cap is disposed on the first electrode. The restoration member is disposed between the key cap and the first electrode. The key cap or the restoration member has a second electrode. A sensing signal is generated by the second electrode with the key cap or the restoration member moving relative to the first electrode.

A thin keyboard apparatus includes a base plate and a supporting unit. The base plate has a plate body which is formed with four retaining openings and four retaining members. Each retaining opening is bordered by a peripheral edge which has first and second edge sections extending along two different and intersecting directions. Each retaining member has an upper wall, a first connecting wall interconnecting the upper wall and the first edge section, a second connecting wall interconnecting the upper wall and the second edge section, and a broken hole dividing the first edge section from the second edge section. The supporting unit is slidably pivoted to the retaining members.

Key assemblies having a foldable stabilizer are disclosed. The stabilizer can be positioned under a keycap to help guide the keycap and limit rotation or movement when the key is pressed. The stabilizer can have a pointed-star shape with multiple folding axes and can have multiple points of connection or linkage to the keycap or other surrounding components. The stabilizer can unfold or flatten as the keycap is pressed and can fold as the keycap is raised.

An electro-permanent magnet key assembly may comprise an electro-permanent magnet generating a magnetic field when a direction of current applied to an electrically conductive wire coiled around a low-coercivity magnet, and a pair of scissor plates operably connected to the electropermanent magnet, such that the scissor plates rotate away from one another in the presence of downward force on a key cap situated atop the scissor plates. The top surface of the key cap may lie flush with adjacent keys of a keyboard when the key cap is in a neutral position. The electro-permanent magnet key assembly may further comprise a ferromagnetic flange operably connected to one of the scissor plates having angled overlap protrusions situated adjacent to the electropermanent magnet when the key cap is not in the neutral position, such that the angled overlap protrusions are attracted toward the magnetic field to return the key cap to the neutral position.

What is presented is a key module (120) for a keyboard. The key module (120) comprises a guide (230) for guiding a movement of the key module (120) upon actuation, at least one spring element (240) for providing a reset force upon actuation of the key module (120), a support element (250) for supporting the guide (230) and a switch unit. The switch unit comprises a housing (270) and a contact device (280) at least partially arranged in the housing (270) for establishing electric contact upon actuation of the key module (120). The contact device (280) comprises a fixed contact piece with a first contact and a contactor with a first spring clip carrying a second contact and/or a second spring clip for producing an actuation sound and/or at least one actuation portion. The contactor is integrally formed.

A key structure includes a keycap, a base plate, a first scissors-type connecting element, a second scissors-type connecting element and a reinforced connecting rod. The first and second scissors-type connecting elements are arranged between the keycap and the base plate. The first scissors-type connecting element includes a first inner frame and a first outer frame. The second scissors-type connecting element includes a second inner frame and a second outer frame. The keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the base plate along a specified path with the assistance of the first and second scissors-type connecting elements. The reinforced connecting rod includes a hollow rectangular main body. The first outer frame has a first extension structure. The second outer frame has a second extension structure. Moreover, two opposite sides of the hollow rectangular main body are respectively received within the first extension structure and the second extension structure.

A key structure including a base plate, a keycap disposed above the base plate, a scissor structure disposed between the base plate and the keycap, a first sleeve connected to the keycap, a second sleeve rotatably inserted into the first sleeve and a trigger member is provided. The first sleeve is located between the base plate and the keycap and has a guiding chute. The first sleeve is slidably sleeved on the second sleeve. The second sleeve has a guiding protrusion slidably disposed in the guiding chute and a notch opposite to the guiding protrusion, and the notch faces the base plate. The second sleeve is slidably sleeved on the trigger member. The trigger member has a trigger protrusion contacting the base plate, and the trigger protrusion is located between the base plate and the second sleeve.

A keyboard device includes a base plate, a plurality of key structures, a floating frame and a cover layer. The key structures are disposed over the base plate, and each of the key structures has a keycap. The floating frame is disposed over and separated from the base plate. The floating frame has a plurality of openings, and the key structures are disposed in the openings, respectively. The cover layer covers the keycaps of the key structures and the floating frame and is in direct or indirect contact with an upper surface of the keycap of each of the key structures and an upper surface of the floating frame. When the keycap of one of the key structures and the cover layer thereover are pressed to bottom, the floating frame surrounding the one of the key structures is pulled by the cover layer and shifted.

A keyswitch structure includes a base plate, a keycap, a scissors support connecting the keycap and the base plate, a linking support rotatably disposed on the base plate, a movable part movably disposed relative to the base plate, and a magnetic part on the movable part. The linking support includes a magnetic portion and a driving portion. The magnetic part and the magnetic portion produce a magnetic attraction force therebetween. When the movable part is located at a first position, the magnetic part is located under the magnetic portion, and the magnetic attraction force drives the keycap through the linking support to move away relative to the base plate. When the movable part moves from the first position to a second position, the magnetic part moves away relative to the magnetic portion, so that the magnetic attraction force decreases so as to make the keycap move toward the base plate.

An illuminated keyswitch structure includes a base plate, a keycap, and a light-emitting die package. The keycap is movably disposed above the base plate in a vertical direction. The light-emitting die package is disposed under the keycap and includes a plurality of light-emitting dies. The plurality of light-emitting dies are monochromatic light-emitting dies. Therein, among the plurality of light-emitting dies, three light-emitting dies that are adjacently arranged in an arrangement direction perpendicular to the vertical direction emit light of three different colors. The arrangement direction is respectively parallel to along side of each of the three adjacent light-emitting dies.