Illuminated keyboard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9384918-B2
Application number	US-201313760779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2013
Priority date	Nov 21, 2012
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

An illuminated keyboard includes a key structure and a backlight membrane switch board. The backlight membrane switch board includes a light source, a light guide plate, a wiring plate, and a partition plate. The light guide plate includes a first circuit layer. The wiring plate includes a second circuit layer and a light source circuit layer. The electrical connection between the first circuit layer and the second circuit layer results in a key signal. The light source circuit layer is used for driving the light source. Since the first circuit layer is disposed on the light guide plate, less amount of substrates is required and the illuminated keyboard is slim. Moreover, since the second circuit layer and the light source circuit layer have a shared pin, the ease of assembling the backlight membrane switch board is enhanced.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illuminated keyboard, comprising:
a key structure, wherein when said key structure is depressed, a key signal is correspondingly triggered; and
a backlight membrane switch board for generating said key signal and emitting a light beam to said key structure, wherein said backlight membrane switch board comprises:
a light source for emitting said light beam;
a light guide plate for transferring said light beam, wherein said light guide plate comprises a first circuit layer;
a wiring plate comprising a second circuit layer and a light source circuit layer, wherein said light source circuit layer is electrically connected with said light source for driving said light source; and
a partition plate arranged between said light guide plate and said wiring plate, wherein as said key structure is depressed, said first circuit layer of said light guide plate and said second circuit layer of said wiring plate are contacted with each other to generate said key signal.

2. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said light guide plate, said wiring plate and said partition plate are made of light-transmissible material.

3. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

4. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said light source is located at a side of said light guide plate.

5. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said light guide plate further comprises a slot, wherein said light source is inserted into said slot of said light guide plate.

6. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said light guide plate is disposed over said wiring plate.

7. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said light guide plate is disposed under said wiring plate.

8. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said first circuit layer, said second circuit layer and said light source circuit layer are formed by a printing process, a spraying process or an electroplating process.

9. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said first circuit layer, said second circuit layer and said light source circuit layer are made of light-transmissible and electrically-conductive material.

10. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said partition plate comprises plural perforations.

11. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said wiring plate comprises a pin, wherein said pin is electrically connected with said second circuit layer and said light source circuit layer.

12. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said key structure comprises:
a keycap comprising a pressing part and a plunger;
a key base for placing said plunger of said keycap thereon; and
an elastic element disposed under said plunger for contacting with said backlight membrane switch board and allowing said keycap to be returned to an original position.

13. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said key structure comprises:
a keycap;
a scissors-type supporting structure connected with said keycap and said backlight membrane switch board; and
an elastic element disposed under said keycap for contacting with said backlight membrane switch board and allowing said keycap to be returned to an original position.

14. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said illuminated keyboard further comprises a base plate, wherein said base plate is disposed under said backlight membrane switch board for supporting said backlight membrane switch board.

15. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said illuminated keyboard further comprises a reflective plate, wherein said reflective plate is disposed under said backlight membrane switch board for reflecting said light beam.

16. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein said key structure further comprises a light-outputting region for outputting said light beam.

Assignees

• Primax Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Chung-Yuan

Classifications

• H01H13/83

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

• H01H2219/036

  Light emitting elements · CPC title

• H01H2201/018

  transparent · CPC title

• H01H3/125

  using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser · CPC title

• H01H13/704 Primary

  characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure (H01H13/703 takes precedence) · CPC title