Luminous keyboard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9502191-B1
Application number	US-201514831425-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 20, 2015
Priority date	Jul 3, 2015
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A luminous keyboard includes a keypad module, plural light-emitting elements, an illumination circuit board and a light guide plate. The illumination circuit board has a light amount control structure. When the light beams from the light-emitting elements are transmitted through the illumination circuit board, portions of the light beams are absorbed by the light amount control structure on the illumination circuit board. Consequently, the light amount of the light beams transmitted through the illumination circuit board is reduced. The luminous keyboard can effectively overcome the light leakage problem.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A luminous keyboard, comprising:
a keypad module exposed to a top surface of the luminous keyboard;
at least one light-emitting element disposed under the keypad module, and emitting at least one light beam;
an illumination circuit board disposed under the keypad module, and supporting the at least one light-emitting element; and
a light guide plate disposed under the keypad module, wherein the at least one light beam is subjected to total internal reflection within the light guide plate and guided to the keypad module by the light guide plate,
wherein the illumination circuit board has a light amount control structure, and the light amount control structure is disposed on a bottom surface of the illumination circuit board, wherein when the at least one light beam is transmitted through the illumination circuit board, a light amount of the at least one light beam transmitted through the illumination circuit board is reduced by the light amount control structure, wherein the light amount control structure is made of a light absorption material, and the light amount control structure is attached, printed, transfer-printed or deposited on a bottom surface of the circuit board main body.

2. The luminous keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the illumination circuit board further comprises:
a circuit board main body electrically connected with the at least one light-emitting element, wherein the at least one light-emitting element is supported on the circuit board main body; and
a protective layer disposed on a top surface of the circuit board main body to protect the circuit board main body.

3. The luminous keyboard according to claim 2 , wherein the illumination circuit board further comprises an additional light amount control structure, and the additional light amount control structure is formed on the top surface of the circuit board main body, wherein the additional light amount control structure is arranged between the circuit board main body and the light guide plate, and exposed to a region between the at least one light-emitting element and the light guide plate, wherein the additional light amount control structure absorbs a portion of the at least one light beam, so that the light amount of the at least one light beam transmitted through the illumination circuit board is reduced, wherein the additional light amount control structure is made of a light absorption material, and the additional light amount control structure is attached, printed, transfer-printed or deposited on the top surface of the circuit board main body.

4. A luminous keyboard, comprising:
a keypad module exposed to a top surface of the luminous keyboard;
at least one light-emitting element disposed under the keypad module, and emitting at least one light beam;
an illumination circuit board disposed under the keypad module, and supporting the at least one light-emitting element; and
a light guide plate disposed under the keypad module, wherein the at least one light beam is subjected to total internal reflection within the light guide plate and guided to the keypad module by the light guide plate,
wherein the illumination circuit board has a light amount control structure, and the light amount control structure is disposed on a bottom surface of the illumination circuit board wherein when the at least one light beam is transmitted through the illumination circuit board, a light amount of the at least one light beam is transmitted through the illumination circuit board is reduced by the light amount control structure, wherein the illumination circuit board further comprises:
a circuit board main body electrically connected with the at least one light-emitting element, wherein the at least one light-emitting element is supported on the circuit board main body; and
an additional light amount control structure disposed on a top surface of the circuit board main body, wherein the circuit board main body is protected by the additional light amount control structure, and the light amount of the at least one light beam transmitted through the illumination circuit board is reduced by the additional light amount control structure.

5. The luminous keyboard according to claim 4 , wherein the light amount control structure is made of a light absorption material, and the light amount control structure is attached, printed, transfer-printed or deposited on a bottom surface of the circuit board main body.

6. The luminous keyboard according to claim 4 , wherein the additional light amount control structure is arranged between the circuit board main body and the light guide plate, and exposed to a region between the at least one light-emitting element and the light guide plate, wherein the additional light amount control structure absorbs a portion of the at least one light beam, so that the light amount of the at least one light beam transmitted through the illumination circuit board is reduced, wherein the additional light amount control structure is made of a light absorption material, and the additional light amount control structure is attached, printed, transfer-printed or deposited on the top surface of the circuit board main body.

7. The luminous keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light-emitting element and the illumination circuit board are upright, wherein the illumination circuit board is disposed under the light guide plate, and the at least one light-emitting element is inserted into a lower portion of the light guide plate.

8. The luminous keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the luminous keyboard further comprises a supporting plate under the keypad module, and the keypad module is supported on the supporting plate, wherein the keypad module comprises:
plural keys exposed to the top surface of the luminous keyboard, wherein each of the plural keys comprises:
a keycap exposed to the top surface of the luminous keyboard, wherein the keycap comprises a light-outputting zone, wherein after the at least one light beam is guided by the light guide plate, the at least one light beam is transmitted through the light-outputting zone;
a connecting element arranged between the supporting plate and the keycap, wherein by the connecting element, the supporting plate and the keycap are connected with each other, and the keycap is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the supporting plate; and
an elastic element disposed under the keycap, and providing an elastic force to the keycap, wherein the keycap is returned to an original position in response to the elastic force; and

a switch circuit member disposed under the plural keys, wherein when the switch circuit member is triggered by the plural keys, the switch circuit member generates corresponding key signals.

9. The luminous keyboard according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one light-emitting element and the illumination circuit board are upright, wherein the illumination circuit board is disposed under the light guide plate, and the at least one light-emitting element is inserted into a lower portion of the light guide plate.

10. The luminous keyboard according to claim 4 , wherein the luminous keyboard further comprises a supporting plate under the keypad module, and the keypad module is supported on the supporting plate, wherein the keypad module comprises:
plural keys exposed to the top surface of the luminous keyboard, wherein each of the plural keys comprises:
a keycap exposed to the top surface of the luminous keyboard, wherein the keycap comprises a light-outputting zone, wherein after the at least one light beam is guided by the light guide plate, the at least one light beam is transmitted through the light-outputting zone;
a c

Assignees

• Primax Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Chung-Yuan

Classifications

• H01H13/7065

  characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards · CPC title

• H01H13/83 Primary

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

• H01H2219/06

  Reflector · CPC title

• H01H2205/002

  fixed to operating part · CPC title

• H01H2219/036

  Light emitting elements · CPC title