TWI414963B - Both light keyboard devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A light-uniform type keyboard device is disclosed, which comprises an exterior housing and a keyboard part. The exterior housing comprises a top housing and a bottom housing which can be assembled to each other to form an interior accommodating space, wherein the surface of the top housing has an opening area connecting to the interior accommodating space. The keyboard part is installed in the interior accommodating space, and comprises a plurality of press members protruding from the opening area for being pressed to perform a displacement stroke, and a substrate used for bearing the press members. A light guide space is formed between the substrate and the bottom housing, and the light guide space is installed with a light emitting unit for providing light. The height of the light guide space is decreased with the distance to the light emitting unit. Therefore, in the present invention, the light emitted from the light emitting unit can be uniformly distributed in the bottom of the keyboard part so as to obtain light-uniform effect.

Description

Uniform light keyboard device

The invention relates to a keyboard device, in particular to a homogenous keyboard device.

The keyboard device is the most commonly configured command input device for computer systems. With the development of technology, computer systems are widely used in various industrial or living areas. Keyboard devices are designed to allow users to accurately input command signals in different environments. For example, in an environment where the computer system is used in low brightness or in the dark, although the user can obtain the operation information by the light of the display itself, the individual buttons on the keyboard device cannot be seen clearly. In order to allow the user to visually judge the position of different buttons in a general environment and then press the output command signal, a keyboard with luminous capability is developed.

For example, in US Pat. No. 5,936,554, US Pat. No. 7,278,750, the Republic of China No. 566612, No. 581961, etc., respectively disclose a plurality of keyboard devices having a light-emitting diode inside the button, and the light-emitting diodes disposed in the buttons The polar body provides a light source for a single button, allowing the user to clearly identify the individual buttons in the dark or in low light. Although such an illuminated keyboard device can solve the problem that the button cannot be clearly recognized in the dark, the current standard keyboard configuration has more than one hundred buttons, and if it is necessary to have a corresponding light-emitting diode in each button Will inevitably increase the number of overall keyboard components, which will not only increase manufacturing processes and costs, but also The product cannot be lightweight. In addition, a large number of light-emitting diodes will consume a considerable amount of power and generate a large amount of heat energy in operation.

In addition, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 20070131311, a keyboard having a backlight structure is disclosed, and a light source conduction space is defined between the bridge board and the bottom plate below, and the light source is disposed on the keyboard board corresponding to the light source. The light source conducting space is provided with at least one light guiding portion, and the light emitting portion that receives the light source entering the light conducting space of the light guiding portion is introduced into the keyboard portion to form a backlight structure of the keyboard. Compared with the above-mentioned illuminated keyboard with a light-emitting diode under each button, the invention effectively reduces the number of light-emitting diodes, simplifies the overall component structure, and has the effect of environmental protection and energy saving. However, in the light source conduction space, the lower the brightness obtained from the position farther from the light source, the problem that the brightness of the entire keyboard is uneven.

The main object of the present invention is to enable all of the keys on the illuminated keyboard to emit the same brightness. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a homo-optical keyboard device comprising an outer casing and a keyboard portion. The outer casing comprises a top case and a bottom case which are assembled to form a space for the content, and the top surface of the top case defines an opening area communicating with the space for the content. The keyboard portion is disposed in the content space, and includes a plurality of pressing members penetrating through the opening region to be pressed and displaced, and a substrate for carrying the pressing members, the substrate and the bottom case Forming a light guiding space under the pressing members, and having a light emitting unit in the light guiding space, the light guiding space having a first end and a second end corresponding to opposite edges of the substrate The height of the light guiding space is continuously decreased from the first end to the second end of the light guiding space along a direction away from the light emitting unit, and the pressing members are separated by the light guiding space The height change from one end to the second end is set.

The light emitting unit is disposed on the bottom case. The pressing member comprises a key cap, an interlocking mechanism coupled to the key cap, and an elastic body located in the linking mechanism for reciprocating the pressing member up and down relative to the substrate. The substrate has a fixing portion for fixing the interlocking mechanism. In addition, the substrate includes a support layer connected to the pressing member and a circuit layer for triggering a command signal according to the displacement stroke of the pressing member.

In addition, in order to enhance the light-emitting effect of the single pressing member, a shielding member is disposed between the pressing member and the light-emitting unit, and the shielding member includes a light-shielding region and a plurality of light-transmitting regions below the pressing member.

The following disclosure discloses that various embodiments enable the height of the light guiding space to decrease with distance from the lighting unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, a tilt angle is formed between the substrate and the bottom case.

In another embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the substrate is gradually increased with distance from the light emitting unit.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the bottom case is provided with a light reflecting portion on one side of the light guiding space, and the height of the light reflecting portion gradually increases with the distance from the light emitting unit.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the bottom case is provided with a reflective surface on one side of the light guiding space, and the thickness of the bottom case gradually increases with the distance from the light emitting unit.

In the foregoing embodiment, in order to prevent the position of the substrate from being displaced by the external force applied to the pressing member, in the present invention, the light guiding space has a carrier for supporting the substrate. The carrier includes a plurality of ribs connected to the bottom case, and a bearing plane located on the upper edge of the ribs and contacting the substrate. If you want to have uniformity The carrying surface of the supporting plane may be provided with a carrying plate, and the carrying plate is provided with a plurality of transparent holes corresponding to the position of the pressing member.

In the optical keyboard device of the present invention, the height of the light guiding space formed between the substrate and the bottom case is reduced with the distance from the light source, so that the pressing members at different positions are not separated by the distance from the light emitting unit. Affects the brightness of the light, and achieves the effect of homogenization.

10‧‧‧Outer casing

11‧‧‧ top shell

111‧‧‧Open area

12‧‧‧ bottom case

121‧‧‧Reflection Department

122‧‧‧reflective surface

13‧‧‧Content space

20‧‧‧ Keyboard Department

21‧‧‧Pressing parts

211‧‧‧Key Cap

212‧‧‧ linkage mechanism

213‧‧‧ Elastomers

22‧‧‧Substrate

221‧‧‧Support layer

222‧‧‧ circuit layer

223‧‧‧ fixed department

30‧‧‧Lighting space

31‧‧‧Lighting unit

33‧‧‧shading components

331‧‧‧ shading area

332‧‧‧Lighting area

34‧‧‧Bearings

341‧‧‧ Ribs

342‧‧‧bearing plane

343‧‧‧Loading board

344‧‧‧Light hole

A1‧‧‧ first end

A2‧‧‧ second end

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a preferred embodiment of the optical keyboard device of the present invention.

2 is a top plan view showing the appearance of a bottom case of a preferred embodiment of the light-imposed keyboard device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an embodiment of an additional light-emitting keyboard device according to the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an embodiment in which a light-reflecting keyboard device of the present invention is further provided with a reflecting portion on the bottom case.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an embodiment of a light-shielding device of the present invention.

The detailed description and technical contents of the present invention will now be described as follows:

Please refer to FIG. 1 for a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the present invention is a uniform optical keyboard device having an outer casing 10. The outer casing 10 is formed by assembling a top case 11 and a bottom case 12, and the top case 11 is assembled with the bottom case 12 to form a content space 13. An opening region 111 communicating with the content space 13 is defined in the surface of the top case 11. The keyboard device further includes a keyboard portion 20 disposed in the content space 13, the keyboard portion 20 includes a plurality of pressing members 21 penetrating the opening region 111, and a substrate 22 for carrying the pressing members 21. .

The pressing member 21 includes a keycap 211, an interlocking mechanism 212 coupled to the keycap 211, and an elastic body 213 located in the linking mechanism 212 for reciprocating the pressing member 21 up and down relative to the substrate 22. The user can apply a pressing stroke to the key cap 211 of the pressing member 21, so that the linking mechanism 212 determines the displacement stroke of the pressing member 21. The substrate 22 includes at least a support layer 221 connected to the pressing member 21 and a circuit layer 222 for triggering a command signal according to the displacement of the pressing member 21. The circuit layer 222 can be a hard printed circuit board or can be flexible. Printed circuit boards, etc. In order to fix the pressing member 21 to the substrate 22, a fixing portion 223 is disposed on one end of the supporting layer 221 corresponding to the pressing mechanism 21 of the pressing member 21. A light guiding space 30 is formed between the substrate 22 and the bottom case 12, and a light emitting unit 31 is disposed at a position of the bottom case 12 in the light guiding space 30. The light emitting unit 31 can be a light emitting diode or an electric body. A light source such as a luminescent panel is represented by a light-emitting diode in this embodiment. More specifically, the light guiding space 30 has a first end A1 and a second end A2 opposite to opposite ends of the substrate 22.

In order to enable the light output from the light-emitting unit 31 to be uniformly present in the light guiding space 30, it is not affected by the difference in the distance from the light-emitting unit 31. In the present invention, the height of the light guiding space 30 decreases with the distance from the light emitting unit 31. In the following, different embodiments are disclosed as follows: in FIG. 1 , the substrate 22 is a The structure of the same thickness forms an oblique angle with the bottom case 12, so that the height of the light guiding space 30 decreases with the distance from the light emitting unit 31, that is, the height of the light guiding space 30. It is continuously reduced from the first end A1 to the second end A2 of the light guiding space 30 along a direction of the light emitting unit 31. Since the light guiding space 30 of the present invention is not a space of a first height, when the light travels in the light guiding space 30, the light guiding space 30 at the distal end will increase the brightness due to the increase of the reflection effect due to the increase of the reflection effect. The problem is therefore that the effect of homogenizing within the light guiding space 30 can be maintained. The uniform light in the light guiding space 30 is supplied to the pressing member 21 through the substrate 22, and the pressing member 21 is also kept uniform. Furthermore, since the circuit layer 222 on the substrate 22 can be a thin film circuit board. In general, a thin film circuit board is a flexible plate material that is easily deformed by application of an external force. In this way, when the pressing member 21 is displaced by the force, the circuit layer 222 on the substrate 22 is interlocked, which may affect the sensitivity of the circuit layer 222 to generate the command signal. In this way, in order to prevent the position of the substrate 22 from being displaced by the external force, the displacement is in the light guiding space 30 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 . There is a carrier 34 for supporting the substrate 22. The carrier member 34 includes a plurality of ribs 341 connected to the bottom case 12, and a bearing plane 342 located on the upper edge of the ribs 341 and contacting the substrate 22.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a bearing plate 343 is added to the bearing plane 342 to provide a relatively uniform bearing effect of the substrate 22, as shown in FIG. The thickness of the carrier plate 343 gradually increases with the distance from the light emitting unit 31, so that the height of the light guiding space 30 can be from the first end A1 to the second end A2 according to the distance from the light emitting unit 31. The decrease in continuity causes the brightness in the light guiding space 30 to reach a uniform light effect. The carrier plate 343 can be a rigid plate that provides sufficient bearing capacity, such as a metal plate. Or acrylic plates, etc. If the carrier plate 343 is made of a non-transparent material, a plurality of light-transmissive holes 344 corresponding to the position of the pressing member 21 are disposed on the carrier plate 343, so that light in the light guiding space 30 is transmitted to the pressing member 21.

Referring to FIG. 4, in another embodiment of the present invention, a reflective portion 121 is disposed on a side of the bottom case 12 opposite to the light guiding space 30, and the height of the reflecting portion 121 is along with the light emitting unit 31. The distance is gradually increasing. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, a reflective surface 122 is disposed on one side of the bottom case 12 opposite to the light guiding space 30, and the thickness of the bottom case 12 gradually increases with the distance from the light emitting unit 31. In the foregoing two embodiments, the height of the light guiding space 30 can be reduced according to the distance from the light emitting unit 31, and the light outputted by the light emitting unit 31 can be evenly distributed in the light guiding space 30. .

In addition, in the present invention, a shielding member 33 may be disposed between the pressing member 21 and the light emitting unit 31. The shielding member 33 includes a light shielding region 331 and a plurality of transparent portions opposite to the pressing member 21 The light area 332, as shown in FIG. 6, allows the respective pressing members 21 to have a higher brightness contrast than the other light blocking areas 331, and the user can easily recognize the position of the different pressing members 21.

In summary, in the optical keyboard device of the present invention, the height of the light guiding space formed between the substrate and the bottom case is gradually decreased as the distance from the light emitting unit is gradually reduced, so that the light in the light guiding space is uniformly distributed. In addition, each of the pressing members located above the light guiding space can receive an equal amount of light, so that the keyboard device of the present invention has a uniform light effect. Therefore, the present invention is highly progressive and conforms to the requirements of the invention patent application, and the application is filed according to law, and the praying office grants the patent as soon as possible.

The present invention has been described in detail above, but the above is only one of the present inventions. The preferred embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. That is, the equivalent changes and modifications made by the scope of the present application should remain within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

<A1Ex>

10‧‧‧Outer casing

11‧‧‧ top shell

111‧‧‧Open area

12‧‧‧ bottom case

13‧‧‧Light guiding space

20‧‧‧ Keyboard Department

21‧‧‧Pressing parts

211‧‧‧Key Cap

212‧‧‧ linkage mechanism

213‧‧‧ Elastomers

22‧‧‧Substrate

221‧‧‧Support layer

222‧‧‧ circuit layer

223‧‧‧ fixed department

30‧‧‧Lighting space

31‧‧‧Lighting unit

34‧‧‧Bearings

341‧‧‧ Ribs

342‧‧‧bearing plane

Claims (12)

A uniform light keyboard device includes: an outer casing comprising a top case and a bottom case which are assembled to form a space for the content, the top surface of the top case defines an opening area communicating with the content space; and a keyboard part Provided in the content space, comprising a plurality of pressing members penetrating through the opening region to be pressed and displaced, and a substrate for carrying the pressing members, between the substrate and the bottom case Forming a light guiding space under the pressing members, and having a light emitting unit in the light guiding space, the light guiding space having a first end and a second end corresponding to opposite edges of the substrate, The height of the light guiding space is continuously decreased from the first end to the second end of the light guiding space along a direction away from the light emitting unit, and the pressing members are separated from the first end by the light guiding space The height change setting to the second end. The homo-optical keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the pressing member comprises a key cap, a linkage mechanism coupled to the keycap, and a linkage mechanism in the linkage mechanism to enable the pressing member to be opposite to the An elastic body in which the substrate reciprocates up and down. The uniform optical keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein the substrate has a fixing portion for fixing the interlocking mechanism. The uniform optical keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a support layer connected to the pressing member and a circuit layer for triggering a command signal according to the displacement stroke of the pressing member. The light-emitting keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting unit is disposed on the bottom case. The homo-optical keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the substrate and the bottom case form an oblique angle. The homo-optical keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the bottom case is provided with a light reflecting portion on one side of the light guiding space. The omnidirectional keyboard device of claim 1, wherein a shielding element is disposed between the pressing member and the illuminating unit, and the shielding member comprises a opaque region and a plurality of transparent regions below the pressing member. . The homo-optical keyboard device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the light guiding space has a carrier for supporting the substrate. The homo-optical keyboard device of claim 9, wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of ribs connected to the bottom case and a bearing plane at an upper edge of the ribs. The uniform optical keyboard device of claim 10, wherein the carrying plane has a carrier plate. The uniform-type keyboard device of claim 11, wherein the carrier plate is provided with a plurality of light-transmissive holes corresponding to the position of the pressing member.