Optical switch keyboard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9846492-B2
Application number	US-201615131842-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2016
Priority date	Oct 22, 2015
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

An optical switch keyboard includes a circuit board and plural keys. The circuit board includes plural light emitters and plural light receivers. Each key is aligned with the corresponding light emitter and the corresponding light receiver. Moreover, each key includes a triggering element, a first reflective element and a second reflective element. When the triggering element is triggered by the user, a sensing light emitted by the light emitter is reflected to the second reflective element by the first reflective element. The sensing light is further reflected to the light receiver by the second reflective element. Consequently, the circuit board generates a key switch signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical switch keyboard, comprising:
a circuit board comprising plural light emitters and plural light receivers, wherein each light emitter emits a sensing light, and each light receiver generates an electronic signal when the sensing light from the corresponding light emitter is received by the light receiver; and
plural keys located over the circuit board, wherein each key is aligned with the corresponding light emitter and the corresponding light receiver, and each key comprises:
a keycap;
a housing located under the keycap;
a first reflective element disposed within the housing and located over the light emitter, wherein the sensing light is reflected by the first reflective element; and
a triggering post connected with the keycap and inserted into housing, wherein a second reflective element is connected with the triggering post and located over the light receiver, wherein when the triggering post is in a first position, the sensing light from the first reflective element is not received by the second reflective element, wherein when the triggering post is in a second position, the sensing light from the first reflective element is received by the second reflective element and the sensing light is reflected to the light receiver by the second reflective element, so that the circuit board generates a key switch signal according to the electronic signal.

2. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein when the triggering post is in the second position, the second reflective element is in an optical path of the sensing light, and the sensing light is reflected to the light receiver by the second reflective element.

3. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are located at an outside of the housing, so that the sensing light is introduced into the housing from the outside of the housing and the sensing light is reflected to the outside of the housing.

4. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 3 , wherein the key further comprises a filter, wherein the filter is disposed on the housing and arranged between the second reflective element and the light receiver for filtering the sensing light.

5. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 3 , wherein a light-inputting opening and a light-outputting opening are formed in a bottom surface of the housing, wherein the light-inputting opening is located over the light emitter, and the sensing light is introduced into the housing through the light-inputting opening, wherein the light-outputting opening is located over the light receiver, and the sensing light is outputted from the housing through the light-outputting opening.

6. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 5 , wherein the key further comprises a filter, and the filter is disposed on the bottom surface of the housing and aligned with the light-outputting opening.

7. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the first reflective element has a first reflective slant surface, and the second reflective element has a second reflective slant surface.

8. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the first reflective element and the second reflective element are prisms.

9. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed on the circuit board.

10. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the sensing light is an invisible light.

11. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the sensing light is an infrared light.

12. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the key further comprises a light emitting diode and a light guide element, wherein the light emitting diode is disposed on a surface of the circuit board, and the light guide element is disposed within the housing, wherein the light emitting diode emits a light beam, and the light beam is guided by the light guide element so as to be outputted from the keycap.

13. An optical switch keyboard, comprising:
a circuit board comprising plural light emitters and plural light receivers, wherein each light emitter emits a sensing light, and each light receiver generates an electronic signal when the sensing light from the corresponding light emitter is received by the light receiver; and
plural keys located over the circuit board, wherein each key is aligned with the corresponding light emitter and the corresponding light receiver, and each key comprises:
a keycap;
a housing located under the keycap;
a triggering post disposed within the housing and connected with the keycap, wherein a first reflective element is connected with the triggering post and located over the light emitter, and the sensing light is reflected by the first reflective element; and
a second reflective element connected with the housing and located over the light receiver, wherein when the triggering post is in a first position, the sensing light from the first reflective element is not reflected to the second reflective element, wherein when the triggering post is in the second position, the sensing light from the first reflective element is reflected to the second reflective element and the sensing light is reflected to the light receiver by the second reflective element, so that the circuit board generates a key switch signal according to the electronic signal.

14. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 13 , wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are located at an outside of the housing, so that the sensing light is introduced into the housing from the outside of the housing and the sensing light is reflected to the outside of the housing.

15. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 13 , wherein a light-inputting opening and a light-outputting opening are formed in a bottom surface of the housing, wherein the light-inputting opening is located over the light emitter, and the sensing light is introduced into the housing through the light-inputting opening, wherein the light-outputting opening is located over the light receiver, and the sensing light is outputted from the housing through the light-outputting opening.

16. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 15 , wherein the second reflective element is partially embedded in the light-outputting opening for filtering the sensing light.

17. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 13 , wherein the first reflective element and the second reflective element are prisms.

18. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 13 , wherein the second reflective element is an infrared filter prism for reflecting and filtering the sensing light.

19. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 13 , wherein the first reflective element has a first reflective slant surface, and the second reflective element has a second reflective slant surface.

20. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 13 , wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are disposed on the circuit board.

21. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 13 , wherein the sensing light is an invisible light.

22. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 13 , wherein the sensing light is an infrared light.

23. The optical switch keyboard according to claim 13 , wherein the key further comprises a light emitting diode and a light guide element, wherein the light emitting diode is disposed on a surface of the circuit board,

Assignees

• Primax Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Chung-Yuan
• Chan Wei-Ping

Classifications

• G06F3/0202

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title

• G06F3/0304 Primary

  Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042) · CPC title

• H01H13/83 Primary

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

• H03K17/969

  having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard · CPC title

• H01H2219/062

  Light conductor · CPC title