Luminescent keyswitch module and keyboard thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9018554-B2
Application number	US-201213645718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2012
Priority date	Aug 31, 2012
Publication date	Apr 28, 2015
Grant date	Apr 28, 2015

Abstract

A luminescent keyswitch module includes a base plate, a keyswitch, a light guide plate, a light source, a diffusion structure, and a reflector. The keyswitch is disposed on the base plate. The light guide plate, disposed under the base plate, has an accommodating space communicated with a through hole of the base plate. The light source passes through the through hole, is accommodated in the accommodating space, and emits light having a first divergence angle. The diffusion structure is accommodated in the accommodating space and located between the light source and the light guide plate. The light passes through the diffusion structure. The light leaving the second light exit surface has a second divergence angle larger than the first divergence angle. The reflector is disposed under the light guide plate, so as to reflect the light to pass through the light guide plate and the base plate to the keyswitch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A luminescent keyswitch module comprising:
a base plate having a through hole;
a keyswitch disposed on the base plate;
a light guide plate disposed under the base plate and having an accommodating space, wherein the accommodating space is communicated with the through hole;
a light source passing through the through hole and accommodated in the accommodating space, the light source having a first light exit surface and emitting light from the first light exit surface, and the light leaving the first light exit surface having a first divergence angle;
a diffusion structure accommodated in the accommodating space and located between the light source and the light guide plate, the diffusion structure having a light entrance surface and a second light exit surface, the light leaving the first light exit surface then entering the diffusion structure from the light entrance surface and leaving the diffusion structure from the second light exit surface, wherein the light leaving the second light exit surface has a second divergence angle, and the second divergence angle is larger than the first divergence angle, wherein the shape of the diffusion structure substantially matches the accommodating space, and the light source is sleevedly disposed in the diffusion structure; and
a reflector disposed under the light guide plate, so as to reflect the light to sequentially pass through the light guide plate and the base plate to the keyswitch.

2. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , wherein the radius of curvature of the second light exit surface is smaller than the radius of curvature of the light entrance surface.

3. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 2 , wherein the light entrance surface is a planar surface, and the second light exit surface is a curved surface.

4. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , wherein the second divergence angle is smaller than or equal to 160 degrees.

5. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is flatly attached to the bottom of the light guide plate and mounted to the bottom of the light source.

6. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board disposed on the base plate and covering the through hole for electrically connecting the light source.

7. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 6 , wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board.

8. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board disposed on the base plate and covering the through hole for generating a trigger signal according to a trigger action of the keyswitch and supplying power to the light source.

9. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 8 , wherein the circuit board is a membrane circuit board.

10. A keyboard comprising:
a base plate having a through hole;
a plurality of keyswitches disposed on the base plate;
a light guide plate disposed under the base plate and having an accommodating space, wherein the accommodating space is communicated with the through hole;
a light source passing through the through hole and accommodated in the accommodating space, the light source having a first light exit surface and emitting light from the first light exit surface, and the light leaving the first light exit surface having a first divergence angle;
a diffusion structure accommodated in the accommodating space and located between the light source and the light guide plate, the diffusion structure having a light entrance surface and a second light exit surface, the light leaving the first light exit surface then entering the diffusion structure from the light entrance surface and leaving the diffusion structure from the second light exit surface, wherein the light leaving the second light exit surface has a second divergence angle, and the second divergence angle is larger than the first divergence angle, wherein the shape of the diffusion structure substantially matches the accommodating space, and the light source is sleevedly disposed in the diffusion structure; and
a reflector disposed under the light guide plate, so as to reflect the light to sequentially pass through the light guide plate and the base plate to the keyswitches.

11. The keyboard of claim 10 , wherein the radius of curvature of the second light exit surface is smaller than the radius of curvature of the light entrance surface.

12. The keyboard of claim 11 , wherein the light entrance surface is a planar surface, and the second light exit surface is a curved surface.

13. The keyboard of claim 10 , wherein the second divergence angle is smaller than or equal to 160 degrees.

14. The keyboard of claim 10 , further comprising a circuit board disposed on the base plate and covering the through hole for electrically connecting the light source.

15. The keyboard of claim 14 , wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board.

16. The keyboard of claim 10 , wherein the base plate has at least one extension portion outside of the peripheral edge of the light guide plate, and the reflector is flatly attached to the light guide plate and mounted to the extension portion.

17. The keyboard of claim 10 , further comprising a circuit board disposed on the base plate and covering the through hole for generating a trigger signal according to a trigger action of the keyswitch and supplying power to the light source.

18. The keyboard of claim 17 , wherein the circuit board is a membrane circuit board.

Assignees

• Chicony Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Chien-Shuo

Classifications

• H01H2219/056

  Diffuser; Uneven surface · CPC title

• H01H2219/062

  Light conductor · CPC title

• H01H2219/014

  LED · CPC title

• H01H13/83 Primary

  characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements · CPC title

• H01H3/125

  using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser · CPC title