TWI585799B - Illuminated Keyboard - Google Patents

Description

Illuminated keyboard

The present invention relates to an illuminated keyboard, and more particularly to an illuminated keyboard having an illuminated button having a dedicated light source.

Press, most of the illuminated keyboards are used as light sources through the backlight module. Generally, the backlight module has a light source and a light guide, and the light guide plate can receive the light emitted by the light source and conduct the light to the illuminated keyboard. Light transmission key cap. However, the setting of the backlight module may result in an inability to reduce the overall thickness of the illuminated keyboard.

In addition, since the backlight module of the illuminated keyboard is provided with a light guide plate, each light-transmitting keycap does not have a dedicated light source, so that the light-transmitting keycap closer to the light source is lighter than the light-transmitting key farther from the light source. The cap is also bright, so that there is often a problem of brightness difference between the light-emitting keycaps of the illuminated keyboard.

Therefore, how to improve the structure of the illuminated keyboard to solve the above-mentioned problems arising from the backlight module has become a technical issue of current concern in the industry.

In view of the above disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides a light-emitting button comprising: a light-transmitting keycap, a bottom plate, a linking member, a switch circuit board, and a light source circuit board. The bottom plate is set to transmit light Below the keycap. The upper end of the interlocking member is movably coupled to the light transmissive keycap. The switch circuit board is disposed on the bottom plate, the switch circuit board has a switch portion, a first hollow portion, a first connecting member and an outer frame portion; wherein the first hollow portion is located between the switch portion and the outer frame portion, and the interlocking member is The lower end is movably coupled to the bottom plate through the first hollow portion, so that the transparent key cap can move up and down relative to the bottom plate, thereby triggering the switch portion; the outer frame portion has a light entrance hole, and the light entrance hole has a light entrance sidewall, the first link a first side of the switch portion extends toward the outer frame portion in a direction approaching the light entrance sidewall, such that the first side of the switch portion is coupled to the outer frame portion; the light source circuit board has a light source that provides a light surface, and the light exit surface enters In the light hole, the first light is emitted from the sidewall of the light entering the light; wherein the first light is conducted along the first straight line avoiding the first hollow portion, sequentially passing through the outer frame portion and the first connecting member, and the self-lighting sidewall Conducted in the direction of the switch portion to provide light to the light-transmissive keycap.

Compared with the prior art, the luminous button of the invention has a dedicated light source and a switch circuit board. The switch circuit board has a light entrance hole and a connecting member, wherein the light input hole is for receiving the light emitted by the light source, and the connecting member is transmitted to the light received by the light hole, thereby providing light to the light-transmitting key cap of the light-emitting button. Therefore, the light-emitting keyboard to which the present invention is applied does not need to be provided with a light guide plate, and the volume can be reduced, and the light-transmitting key caps of the plurality of light-emitting keys receive light, and the brightness between the light-transmitting key caps of the light-emitting keyboard tends to be Consistent.

1‧‧‧Lighting button

11‧‧‧Lighting keycap

12‧‧‧floor

121‧‧‧Lighting keycap projection area

122‧‧‧Linking member projection area

123‧‧‧Into the light hole projection area

13‧‧‧ linkage components

14‧‧‧Frame

141‧‧‧Framework hollowing out

15‧‧‧Switch circuit board

151‧‧‧Switch Department

152‧‧‧ first hollow department

1531‧‧‧First link

1532‧‧‧Second link

1533‧‧‧Extensions

154‧‧‧Outer frame

1541‧‧‧Into the aperture

15411‧‧‧Incoming light side wall

16‧‧‧Light source circuit board

161‧‧‧Light source

1611‧‧‧Glossy surface

162‧‧‧ Second Shortage Department

163‧‧‧Board support

17‧‧‧scatter point

VL‧‧‧ normal

R1‧‧‧first light

L1‧‧‧ first straight line

L2‧‧‧Second straight line

D1‧‧‧First distance

D2‧‧‧Second distance

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an illuminated keyboard using the illuminated button of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the light-emitting button of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the components of the switch circuit board and the light source circuit board of the light-emitting button shown in FIG. 2.

4 is a side view of the components of the switch circuit board and the light source circuit board of the light-emitting button shown in FIG. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view showing that the switch circuit board of the light-emitting button of the present invention is provided with a plurality of scattering points non-equidistantly.

Fig. 6 is a view showing a state of light conduction of a switch circuit board of a light-emitting button according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of an illuminated keyboard using the illuminated button of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a light-emitting button of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the components of the switch circuit board and the light source circuit board of the light-emitting button shown in FIG. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view showing a state of light conduction of a switch circuit board of a light-emitting button according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a schematic view showing a first configuration example of a switch circuit board of the light-emitting button of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a view showing a second structural example of a switch circuit board of the light-emitting button of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a view showing a third structural example of a switch circuit board of the light-emitting button of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a view showing a fourth structural example of a switch circuit board of the light-emitting button of the present invention.

The other aspects of the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from this disclosure. The invention may also be embodied or applied by other different embodiments. The details in this specification can also be based on different viewpoints and applications, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Modifications and changes. In particular, the relative relationship and relative positions of the various elements in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not representative of actual implementation of the invention.

The invention solves the problem of different brightness between the light-emitting key caps of the conventional illuminated keyboard. For the structural features of the illuminated keyboard using the light-emitting keys of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 together. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 , each of the light-transmitting keycaps 11 in the illuminated keyboard is provided with a dedicated light source 161, so that each light-transmitting keycap 11 in the illuminated keyboard receives uniform light, and can be solved. Knowing the problem of brightness difference between the light-emitting keycaps of the illuminated keyboard.

In the following embodiments, the same or similar functional elements will be described with the same reference numerals, and the description of the same or equivalent features will be omitted.

First embodiment

For the description of the implementation features of the illuminated button of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 6 together. As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 6 , the light-emitting button 1 of the present embodiment includes a light-transmitting keycap 11, a frame 14, a linking member 13, a light source circuit board 16, a switch circuit board 15, and a bottom plate 12. The frame 14 has a frame hollow portion 141, and the light-transmitting keycap 11 is disposed in the frame hollow portion 141. The frame 14 can reduce the degree of light leakage at the periphery of the light-transmitting keycap 11 and conform to the aesthetics.

The switch circuit board 15 has a switch portion 151, a first hollow portion 152, a first link 1531, a second link 1532, and an outer frame portion 154. The light source circuit board 16 has a second hollow portion 162. The first hollow portion 152 is located below the second hollow portion 162 and at a position between the switch portion 151 and the outer frame portion 154.

The upper end of the linking member 13 is movably coupled to the light-transmitting keycap 11, and the lower end of the linking member 13 passes through the second hollow portion 162 through the light source circuit board 16, and then passes through the first hollow portion 152 through the switch circuit board 15, so that The lower end of the interlocking member 13 is movably coupled to the bottom plate 12, so that the light-transmitting keycap 11 can reciprocate up and down with respect to the bottom plate 12, thereby triggering the switch portion 151.

In this embodiment, the light source circuit board 16 is located above the switch circuit board 15. The light source circuit board 16 has a light source 161 that can enter the light entrance hole 1541. The light source 161 extends the light exit surface. 1611. The first light ray R1 is emitted by the light incident sidewalls 15411 of the light entrance holes 1541. The first light ray R1 is conducted along the first straight line L1 avoiding the first hollow portion 152, and sequentially passes through the outer frame portion 154 and the first connecting member 1531, and is conducted from the light incident side wall 15411 toward the switch portion 151, and further The light transmissive keycap 11 provides light. Moreover, after the first light ray R1 is transmitted to the switch portion 151, it can also be conducted along the second straight line L2 to the second link member 1532 to provide light to a wide area of the light-transmitting keycap 11.

The outer frame portion 154 has a light entrance aperture 1541 that provides a light entrance sidewall 15411. The first connecting member 1531 and the second connecting member 1532 respectively connect the switch portion 151 and the outer frame portion 154. In the embodiment, the first connecting member 1531 is from the first side of the switch portion 151 toward the light incident side wall 15411. The direction extends to the outer frame portion 154 such that the first side of the switch portion 151 is coupled to the outer frame portion 154, and the second link member 1532 extends from the second side of the switch portion 151 away from the light incident side wall 15411 to the outer frame. The portion 154 is such that the second side of the switch portion 151 is coupled to the outer frame portion 154. As shown in FIG. 14, the switch circuit board 15 further includes an extension member 1533 extending from the second side of the switch portion 151 away from the light incident side wall 15411 but not connected to the outer frame portion 154. Thus, After the light ray R1 is transmitted to the switch portion 151, it is also conducted along the second straight line L2 to the extension member 1533 to provide light to the light-transmitting keycap 11.

In the present embodiment, the projection of the light-transmitting keycap 11 on the bottom plate 12 forms a light-transmissive keycap projection area 121. The projection of the interlocking member 13 on the bottom plate 12 forms the interlocking member projection area 122. The projection of the light entrance hole 1541 on the bottom plate 12 is formed into the light hole projection area 123. The interlocking member projection area 122 is in the light-transmitting keycap projection area 121, and the light-injecting-hole projection area 123 is outside the light-transmitting keycap projection area 121. In this way, there is sufficient space under the interlocking member 13 to prevent the interlocking member 13 from interfering with the light source 161 when the light-transmitting keycap 11 moves up and down relative to the bottom plate 12, thereby ensuring that the keycap 11 maintains a sufficient up and down movement stroke, and At the same time, it can reduce the height of the overall keyboard.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the angle θ1 between the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 is between 0 and 30 degrees. The angle θ2 between the first straight line L1 and the normal VL perpendicular to the light incident sidewall 15411 is between 0 and 45 degrees. In addition, the first light R1 conducts a path from the light incident side wall 1541 The length transmitted to the switch portion 151 is greater than a quarter of the length of the long side of the light-transmitting keycap 11 to provide light to a wide area of the light-transmitting keycap 11.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the first light ray R1 is transmitted to the second connecting member 1532 or the extending member 1533 after passing through the first connecting member 1531, since the first light ray R1 is at the first connecting member 1531 and the second connecting member. The transmission on the 1532 or the extension 1533 attenuates the energy, and thus the energy of the first ray R1 on the second link 1532 or the extension 1533 is less than the energy on the first link 1531. The switch board 15 of the example has a plurality of scattering points 17 disposed on the surface of the second connecting member 1532 or the extending member 1533. When a portion of the first light R1 contacts any of the scattering points 17, the portion of the first light R1 can The second connecting member 1532 or the extending member 1533 is detached and travels upward to the light-transmitting keycap 11, thereby improving the light-emitting strength of the light-transmitting keycap 11 at a distance from the light source 161, and improving the uniformity of the overall light-emitting effect of the keycap.

Moreover, the arrangement pitch or the layout area of the plurality of scattering points 17 on the surface of the second connecting member 1532 or the extending member 1533 can be adjusted according to the distance from the light source 161. In detail, the plurality of scattering points 17 are close to each other. The distance between adjacent ones of the light sources 161 is greater than the distance separating the adjacent ones of the plurality of scattering points 17 away from the light source 161, and the arrangement area of the plurality of scattering points 17 close to the light source 161 is less than a plurality of The layout area of the scattering point 17 away from the light source 161, that is, the farther away from the light source 161 on the surface of the second connecting member 1532, is to scatter the scattering point 17 which is denser or larger in area. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the second connecting member 1532 has a plurality of scattering points 17, (1) being closer to the light source 161, and the adjacent two scattering points 17 are spaced apart from each other by a first distance D1; (2) the distance The light source 161 is far away, and the two adjacent scattering points 17 are spaced apart from each other by a second distance D2. The first distance D1 is greater than the second distance D2, that is, the surface of the second connecting member 1532 can be non-equally disposed. The scattering point 17 is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the second connecting member 1532 may also be provided with a plurality of scattering points 17 equidistantly to conform to the light-emitting effect required by the light-transmitting keycap 11.

Second embodiment

For the description of the implementation features of the illuminating button of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 7 to FIG. 10 together. As shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, the main difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the light source circuit board 16 is located below the switch circuit board 15, and the light source 161 is protruded upward from the light source circuit board 16 to make the light source 161. The light-emitting surface 1611 enters the light-receiving hole 1541 of the switch circuit board 15. The frame 14 extends above the light source 161 to provide shielding for the light source 161, so that the user cannot see the upper surface of the light source 161 and reduce the user's The light scattered by the light source 161 can be observed, which further increases the overall aesthetics of the keyboard.

In addition, the light source circuit board 16 further has a circuit board supporting portion 163, and the circuit board supporting portion 163 is located between the switch portion 151 and the bottom plate 12 to eliminate the gap between the bottom plate 12 and the switch portion 151, and stably support the switch portion 151. It is ensured that the light-transmitting keycap 11 can smoothly trigger the switch portion 151. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the board support portion 163 also extends between the first link member 1531 and the bottom plate 12, and between the second link member 1532 and the bottom plate 12, so as to support the first one more firmly. The coupling member 1531 and the second coupling member 1532 also ensure that the light-transmitting keycap 11 can smoothly trigger the switch portion 151.

In summary, the light-emitting button of the present invention has a dedicated light source, and the light source transmits light through the switch circuit board of the light-emitting button to provide light to the light-transmitting key cap of the light-emitting button, so that the light-guiding plate of the conventional light-emitting button can be omitted. The setting reduces the overall volume. Since the illuminating button of the present invention has a dedicated light source, the light-transmitting key caps of the plurality of illuminating buttons in the illuminating keyboard of the present invention receive similar light, and can effectively solve the problem of different brightness between the light-emitting key caps in the illuminating keyboard. .

The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Modifications and variations of the above-described embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be as defined in the scope of the invention.

1‧‧‧Lighting button

11‧‧‧Lighting keycap

12‧‧‧floor

121‧‧‧Lighting keycap projection area

122‧‧‧Linking member projection area

123‧‧‧Into the light hole projection area

13‧‧‧ linkage components

14‧‧‧Frame

141‧‧‧Framework hollowing out

15‧‧‧Switch circuit board

151‧‧‧Switch Department

152‧‧‧ first hollow department

1531‧‧‧First link

1532‧‧‧Second link

154‧‧‧Outer frame

1541‧‧‧Into the aperture

16‧‧‧Light source circuit board

161‧‧‧Light source

162‧‧‧ Second Shortage Department

17‧‧‧scatter point

Claims (15)

An illuminated keyboard includes: a bottom plate; a light source circuit board; a switch circuit board, the switch circuit board is disposed on the bottom plate; and a plurality of light-emitting buttons, each of the light-emitting buttons has: a light-transmitting key cap, The light-transmitting keycap is disposed above the bottom plate and the light source circuit board; and an interlocking member is movably coupled to the light-transmitting keycap; wherein the switch circuit board is for each of the light-transmitting keys The cap is respectively provided with a switch portion, a first hollow portion, a first connecting member and an outer frame portion; the first hollow portion is located between the switch portion and the outer frame portion, and the lower end of the linking member passes through the The first hollow portion is movably coupled to the bottom plate, so that the light-transmitting key cap can move up and down relative to the bottom plate to trigger the switch portion; the outer frame portion has a light-incident hole, and the light-incident hole has an entrance a light side wall extending from a first side of the switch portion toward the light entrance sidewall to the outer frame portion such that the first side of the switch portion is coupled to the outer frame portion; The light source circuit board is Each of the key caps is provided with a light source, the light source has a light emitting surface, and the light source enters the light entrance hole, and the light emitting surface emits a first light, and the first light enters the light incident sidewall and is conducted in the switch circuit board; The first light ray is conducted along a first straight line avoiding the first hollow portion, and the first straight line sequentially passes through the outer frame portion and the first connecting member, and the light incident side wall faces the switch portion The direction is conducted to provide light to the light transmissive keycap. The illuminating keyboard of claim 1, wherein the angle between the first straight line and a normal line perpendicular to the light incident side wall is between 0 degrees and 45 degrees, and the first light conducting path is from The length of the light entrance sidewall to the switch portion is greater than a quarter of the length of the long side of the light transmissive keycap. The illuminating keyboard of claim 1, wherein the projection of the light-transmitting keycap on the bottom plate forms a light-emitting keycap projection area, and the projection of the linking member on the bottom plate forms a projection area of the linking member The projection of the light entrance hole on the bottom plate forms an entrance area of the light entrance hole, and the projection area of the linkage member is in the projection area of the light transmission key cap, and the projection area of the light entrance hole is in the projection area of the light transmission keycap outer. The illuminating keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a frame, the frame having a frame hollow portion, the light-transmissive keycap being disposed in the frame hollow portion, the frame extending above the light source The upper surface of the light source cannot be observed. The illuminating keyboard of claim 1, wherein the switch circuit board further comprises a second connecting member, the second connecting member is from a second side of the switch portion away from the light incident sidewall Extending to the outer frame portion, the second side of the switch portion is coupled to the outer frame portion, wherein the first light is transmitted to the switch portion and further transmitted to the second link member along a second straight line To provide light to the light-transmitting keycap. The illuminating keyboard of claim 5, wherein the angle between the first straight line and the second straight line is between 0 degrees and 30 degrees. The illuminating keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of scattering points, the plurality of scattering points being disposed on the switch circuit board, the plurality of scattering points causing the first light to detach from the switch circuit board Travel to the light-transmissive keycap. The illuminating keyboard of claim 7, wherein the plurality of scattering points are spaced apart from a first surface or a second surface of the second connecting member, the plurality of scattering points making the first Light exits the second link and travels up to the light transmissive keycap. The illuminating keyboard of claim 8, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of scattering points are adjacent to each other by a first distance, and adjacent ones of the plurality of scattering points away from the light source are mutually Separating a second distance, the first distance is greater than the second distance. The illuminating keyboard of claim 8, wherein a layout area of the plurality of scattering points close to the light source is smaller than a layout area of the plurality of scattering points away from the light source. The illuminating keyboard of claim 1, wherein the light source circuit board is located above the switch circuit board, and the light source protrudes downward from the light source circuit board to allow the light emitting surface to enter the light entrance hole. The light source circuit board further has a second hollow portion, and the lower end of the linking member is movably coupled to the bottom plate through the second hollow portion. The illuminating keyboard of claim 1, wherein the light source circuit board is located below the switch circuit board, and the light source protrudes upward from the light source circuit board to allow the light emitting surface to enter the light entrance hole. The light source circuit board further has a second hollow portion and a circuit board supporting portion. The lower end of the linking member is movably coupled to the bottom plate through the second hollow portion. The circuit board supporting portion is located on the switch circuit board. Between the bottom plate and the bottom plate, support is provided for the switch circuit board. The illuminating keyboard of claim 12, wherein the circuit board supporting portion is located between the switch portion and the bottom plate to provide support for the switch portion. The illuminated keyboard of claim 12, wherein the circuit board support portion is located between the first connecting member and the bottom plate to provide support for the first connecting member. The illuminating keyboard of claim 1, wherein the switch circuit board further comprises an extension member extending from a second side of the switch portion away from the light incident sidewall, wherein After the first light is transmitted to the switch portion, it is also conducted along a second straight line to the extension member to provide light to the light-transmitting keycap.