A key includes a substrate, a keycap, a connection component, and protruding structures. The connection component includes a first connection member and a second connection member, and the first connection member and the second connection member are between the substrate and the keycap. The protruding structures are disposed on the upper surface of the first connection member and disposed on the upper surface of the second connection member. When the keycap is pressed to a pressed position, the protruding structures on the first connection member and on the second connection member abut against the bottom surface of the keycap, so that a gap is formed between the keycap and the connection component. Therefore, the bottom surface of the keycap does not contact the upper surface of the first connection member and the upper surface of the second connection member so as to prevent from generating keystroke noises.

An illuminated keyswitch structure is provided. A base plate includes plural openings and plural rib portions separating the openings. A drive circuit board is disposed under the base plate. A spacer having a through hole is disposed underneath the base plate and above the drive circuit board. A light-emitting part with low illuminance is disposed on the drive circuit board and in the through hole, and the light-emitting part vertically corresponding to one of the openings of the base plate. A light-permeable covering structure includes a first covering layer and a second covering layer. The second covering layer vertically corresponds to the light-emitting part and said corresponding opening of the base plate. The second covering layer blocks at least partial light of the light-emitting part toward said corresponding opening to reduce illuminating intensity provided there through.

A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.

A button assembly includes a bottom plate, a cap, an elastic member, a link member, and an interference member. The cap is disposed on the bottom plate, and the cap has a button surface and an inner surface relative to each other. The elastic member is disposed under the cap. The link member has two parallel portions parallel to each other and a horizontal portion connected with the two parallel portions, wherein the two parallel portions are disposed to the bottom plate and the horizontal portion is disposed to the inner surface. The interference member is disposed between the inner surface and the link member.

A keyswitch assembly includes a switch module, a support mechanism, and a blocking mechanism. The switch module includes a substrate, a signal generator, and a signal sensor. The signal generator provides a sensing signal. The signal sensor receives the sensing signal to obtain a sensing intensity. The support mechanism is disposed on the substrate. A top portion of the support mechanism moves in response to a pressing force. The blocking mechanism includes a pivoting portion rotatably disposed on the substrate, a connecting piece extending from the pivoting portion and movably connected to the support mechanism to be driven by the top portion to swivel relative to the substrate, and a blocking piece extending from the pivoting portion and driven by the connecting piece to be inserted into or escape from the gap between the signal generator and the signal sensor to change the magnitude of the sensing intensity.

A key structure, including a keycap, a scissor component, an elastomer, an optical switch, a shading portion, and a circuit board, is provided. The scissor component is formed of a first and a second supporter. The circuit board has two first and two second limiting units. The keycap has two third and two fourth limiting units. The first supporter is rotatably or slidably connected to the first and the third limiting units. The second supporter is rotatably or slidably connected to the second and the fourth limiting units. The keycap is disposed on the circuit board through the scissor component. The elastomer is interposed between the circuit board and the keycap. The optical switch includes an emitter and a receiver. The shading portion is disposed on the first or the second supporter to block a light signal transmitted between the emitter and the receiver.

The invention relates to a device for detecting a key press of a keyboard, comprising a key module, a circuit substrate, a planar coil arranged on or in the circuit substrate, and at least one damping element, wherein the at least one damping element for damping the planar coil is movably arranged in the key module between a rest position and an actuation position, wherein the damping element executes a first actuating movement during the movement in the direction of the actuation position and executes a second actuating movement) during the movement towards the rest position, and wherein the device (10) outputs at least one electrical signal when carrying out the first actuating movement and/or the second actuating movement.

The invention also relates to a keyboard comprising one or more such devices and to a method for detecting a key press of a key module with such a device.

A keyboard includes a backlight module, a base plate, a membrane circuit disposed on the base plate, and a plurality of key structures disposed on the membrane circuit. The backlight module includes a light source, a reflective layer, a light guide layer, and a shielding layer. The light source is disposed corresponding to the light guide layer. The light guide layer is located between the shielding layer and the reflective layer. The light guide layer has a through-hole. The shielding layer and the reflective layer are in contact with each other in the through-hole of the light guide layer. The base plate is disposed on the shielding layer. The base plate has a positioning portion disposed corresponding to the through-hole of the light guide layer, which protrudes toward the reflective layer or the membrane circuit.

An optical keyswitch includes a keycap, a support mechanism, and a switch module. The support mechanism is disposed below the keycap and configured to support the keycap moving upward and downward, the support mechanism comprising a first frame and a second frame, the first frame having a sliding end. The switch module includes a circuit board, an emitter, and a receiver, the emitter and the receiver are electrically connected to the circuit board, and the emitter emitting an optical signal to the receiver. When the keycap is pressed, the first frame is driven by the keycap to slide substantially parallel to the circuit board and block the optical signal with the sliding end, so the switch module is triggered to generate a triggering signal.

A key structure, which includes a bottom plate, a keycap, an elastic element, a first bracket, and a second bracket. The keycap is disposed on the bottom plate and has multiple first pivoting portions. The elastic element is disposed under the keycap. The first bracket is disposed between the keycap and the bottom plate, and the first bracket is pivotally connected to the first pivoting portions. The second bracket is disposed between the keycap and the bottom plate, the second bracket is rotatably pivoted to the first bracket, and the number of the first pivoting portions is greater than two.