A keyboard device includes a substrate, a keycap, and a link member. The keycap is disposed on the substrate and provided with a limiting member including a top wall, a bottom wall, and a slide groove. In the slide groove, the top wall has a first guide bevel and the bottom wall has a second guide bevel. The link member is disposed between the substrate and the keycap and includes a slide connection portion and a pivot connection portion. The slide connection portion is slidably disposed in the slide groove, and the pivot connection portion is pivotally connected to the substrate. When the keycap is pressed to move downwardly toward the substrate, the pivot connection portion of the link member is rotated with respect to the substrate, and the slide connection portion slides along the first guide bevel and the second guide bevel.

A keyboard device includes a circuit substrate, a control unit and plural touch key structures. The control unit is installed on the circuit substrate. Each touch key structure includes a base plate, a keycap, a connecting element and a touch-sensitive circuit layer. The base plate is detachably installed on the circuit substrate. The keycap is located over the base plate. The connecting element is arranged between the base plate and the keycap. The keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the base plate through the connecting element. The touch-sensitive circuit layer is arranged between the base plate and the keycap, and electrically connected with the control unit. After a touch signal is received by the touch-sensitive circuit layer, the touch signal is transmitted to the control unit, and the touch signal is converted into an input signal by the control unit.

Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can include a key height activation engine and a keyboard. The keyboard can include a plurality of keys and one or more of the plurality of keys can include a key height mechanism. The key height mechanism includes a shape memory material and when the key height mechanism is activated by the key height activation engine, the shape memory material raises the one or more of the plurality of keys that includes the key height mechanism from a first height to a second height.

A key switch is provided, which includes a base, a cap, a first linkage rod, a second linkage rod, an elastic contraction element, at least one activate member and a thin film circuit unit. The base includes a plurality of first connection portions and a plurality of second connection portions. The first linkage rod is movably connected to the first connection portions and the cap. The second linkage rod is movably connected to the second connection portions and the cap. One end of the elastic contraction element is connected to the first linkage rod, and the other end thereof is connected to the second linkage rod. The activate member is disposed on one of the first linkage rod, the second linkage rod and the cap. The thin film circuit unit includes an activate portion.

A key structure includes a keycap, a scissors-type connecting element, a first knocking part, a resilience element and a second knocking part. The scissors-type connecting element is coupled to a bottom surface of the keycap. The scissors-type connecting element includes an inner frame and an outer frame. The first knocking part is disposed within a space surrounded by the inner frame. The resilience element is located under the first knocking part. The second knocking part is coupled to the bottom surface of the keycap and faces the first knocking part. While the keycap is pressed down, the second knocking part knocks on the first knocking part, and the first knocking part is moved downwardly. When the keycap is not pressed down, the first knocking part is moved upwardly and returned to an original position in response to an elastic force of the resilience element.

A keyswitch structure includes a keycap, a base, and two supports that are pivotally connected to each other and connected to and between the keycap and the base. The keycap can move up and down relative to the base through the two supports. In an embodiment, the two supports are pivotally connected through an engagement of a shaft with a C-shaped shaft hole. In another embodiment, each support is provided in a form of an n-shaped structure and includes a semi-shaft hole and a shaft portion at two ends of the n-shaped structure respectively. The two supports are pivotally connected by the shaft portions rotatably abutting the corresponding semi-shaft holes.

A key structure includes a keycap, a base plate and a supporting element. The supporting element includes a first frame and a second frame. The supporting element is connected with the keycap and the base plate. Consequently, the keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the base plate. When the first frame and a second frame are combined together, a first span and a second span are formed sequentially. The second span is smaller than the first frame.

A keyboard device includes plural key structures. Each key structure includes a keycap, a membrane circuit board, a key frame, an elastic conduction element and a connecting member. The membrane circuit board is located under the keycap. The key frame is arranged between the keycap and the membrane circuit board. The key frame includes a frame body and a bottom plate. The bottom plate is arranged between the key frame and the membrane circuit board. The bottom plate includes a perforation. The elastic conduction element is arranged between the keycap and the bottom plate of the key frame. The perforation is covered by the elastic conduction element. The connecting member is arranged between the keycap and the bottom plate of the key frame. The keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the bottom plate of the key frame through the connecting member.

An electronic device includes an enclosure and a keyboard positioned within the enclosure. The keyboard includes a substrate and a key mechanism. The key mechanism includes a keycap support mechanism, a keycap supported by the keycap support mechanism and movable relative to the substrate, a ferromagnetic component attached to the keycap support mechanism, and a selectively magnetizable magnet. The selectively magnetizable magnet system may include a magnetizable material and a coil configured to selectively magnetize and demagnetize the magnetizable material. The key mechanism may include a collapsible dome biasing the keycap toward the extended position.

A key device for a keyboard includes a circuit board, a keycap located over the circuit board, a supporting plate disposed under the circuit board, a first stabilizing member, a second stabilizing member and two supporting members. The supporting plate includes two first mounting seats cooperatively defining a rotating axis extending in a first direction. Each of the first stabilizing member and the second stabilizing member is made of a plastic material, slidably engages the keycap, and is rotatably mounted to the first mounting seats. When the keycap is pressed toward the supporting plate, the first stabilizing member and the second stabilizing member rotate relative to the supporting plate about the rotating axis.