TWI614784B - Light guide plate and illuminated keyboard - Google Patents

Description

Light guide plate and illuminated keyboard

The invention relates to a keyboard, in particular to an illuminated keyboard.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a light guide plate 9 of an illuminated keyboard is developed by the applicant of the present invention and has been proposed as the Republic of China Certificate No. M525536. The light guide plate 9 is composed of a plurality of light guide blocks 91, each of which is composed of a plurality of light guide blocks 91. The light guiding block 91 has a plurality of light guiding blocking spaces 912 that separate themselves from the plurality of light guiding portions 911, and a plurality of light source setting spaces 913 respectively corresponding to the light guiding portions 911 and provided with a light source (not shown). The light guiding portions 911 are respectively corresponding to the numeric keys (not shown) of the illuminated keyboard, and the light guiding blocking spaces 912 are used to effectively limit the light emitted by the light sources to the light guiding portions 911. Therefore, the light-emitting brightness of each light guiding portion 911 is controlled by a single light source, and is not affected by the remaining light sources, so that the light-emitting brightness of the light guiding portions 911 is uniform and close to the light-emitting brightness of each light source, thereby making The light-emitting luminance of the light-transmitting portions of the word keys is uniform.

However, the light guide blocking spaces 912 of the light guide plate 9 can only prevent the light emitted by the light sources from being transmitted to the non-corresponding light guiding portion 911, and the light sources are emitted by the light sources. The light is still leaked from the peripheral side of the corresponding light guiding block 91, so that the brightness of the light emitted by each light guiding portion 911 for each word key is weakened, thereby reducing the light utilization efficiency of each light source. In addition, although the light guide plate 9 can be connected to the six rows of light guide blocks 91 through an outer frame member (not shown), the light guide blocks 91 still have gaps therebetween, and each light guide block 91 has such light guide blocks. The space 912 is such that the overall structural strength of the light guide plate 9 is insufficient, that is, the light guide blocks 91 are easily bent by an external force, causing the light guide plate 9 to be warped as a whole, thereby affecting the assembly with other components of the illuminated keyboard. The degree of cooperation, therefore, the disadvantages of the above light guide plate 9 need to be improved.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an illuminated keyboard that overcomes at least the disadvantages of the prior art.

Thus, the illuminated keyboard of the present invention comprises a keyboard module and a backlight module.

The keyboard module includes a bottom plate and a plurality of word keys respectively disposed on the bottom plate for moving up and down. The bottom plate has a plurality of through holes respectively corresponding to the word keys. The word keys are respectively located above the through holes, and each of the word keys has at least one light transmitting portion opposite to each of the through holes.

The backlight module is disposed on a bottom side of the bottom plate and includes a light guide plate and a light emitting unit. The light guide plate has a light shielding plate body, a light guide plate body, and a plurality of light Source setting space. The visor body has a peripheral frame, a plurality of transverse strips disposed in the peripheral frame, a plurality of longitudinal spacers disposed in the peripheral frame, and a plurality of peripheral frames, the transverse spacers and the longitudinal spacers Match the separated light guide area. The light guiding areas respectively correspond to word keys. The light guide plate body has a plurality of light guiding blocks respectively embedded in the light guiding regions. The light source setting spaces respectively correspond to the light guiding blocks. The light emitting unit has a plurality of light sources respectively disposed in the light source setting spaces of the light guide plate.

The effect of the invention is that the light guide plate surrounds the peripheral surface of the light guide plate body through the peripheral frame of the light shielding plate body, thereby solving the problem that the light emitted by the light source of the existing light-emitting keyboard is leaked from the circumferential side of the light guide plate, and The light-emitting efficiency and the light uniformity are improved, and the light-shielding plate is designed to surround the peripheral surface of the light-guiding plate body through the light-shielding plate body, thereby effectively improving the structural strength of the light-guide plate as a whole, and the backlight module is integrally formed. The thickness can be effectively reduced, which is advantageous for the combined configuration of the illuminated keyboard elements of the present invention.

100‧‧‧ keyboard module

1‧‧‧floor

11‧‧‧ top surface

12‧‧‧ bottom

13‧‧‧through hole

2‧‧‧ word key

21‧‧‧Transmission Department

22‧‧‧Scissor foot support mechanism

23‧‧‧Flexible parts

3‧‧‧Transparent circuit film

531‧‧‧Chain strip

532‧‧‧mediat strip

533‧‧‧Lighting space

5331‧‧‧Light Guide Area

534‧‧‧Left frame

535‧‧‧Right frame

536‧‧‧Top frame

537‧‧‧ Lower frame

538‧‧‧Connected end

539‧‧‧Free end

200‧‧‧Backlight module

4‧‧ ‧ shading film

41‧‧‧ top surface

42‧‧‧ bottom

43‧‧‧Transparent area

5‧‧‧Light guide plate

51‧‧‧ top surface

52‧‧‧ bottom

53‧‧‧ visor body

530‧‧‧ peripheral border

54‧‧‧Light guide plate body

541‧‧‧Light guide block

542‧‧‧Connecting Department

55‧‧‧Light source setting space

6‧‧‧Reflecting parts

61‧‧‧Light source perforation

7‧‧‧Lighting unit

71‧‧‧Circuit board

72‧‧‧Light source

Other features and effects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view of a light guide plate of a conventional illuminated keyboard, illustrating the structural aspect of the light guide plate; A top view of an embodiment of the illuminated keyboard of the present invention; 3 is a partially exploded top plan view showing the component combination relationship of the embodiment; FIG. 4 is an incomplete top view illustrating the component combination relationship of the embodiment; FIG. 5 is an incomplete cross-sectional view illustrating the FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a structural view of a light guide plate of the embodiment; and FIG. 7 is an incomplete cross-sectional view showing a light shielding plate body of the light guide plate of the embodiment. The structural aspect of the engagement surface with both of the light guide plates.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, an embodiment of the illuminated keyboard of the present invention comprises a keyboard module 100 and a backlight module 200.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the keyboard module 100 includes a bottom plate 1, a plurality of numeric keys 2, and a transparent circuit film 3. The bottom plate 1 includes a top surface 11 , a bottom surface 12 opposite to the top surface 11 , and a plurality of through holes 13 spaced apart from the top surface 11 and the bottom surface 12 .

The word keys 2 are disposed on the top surface 11 of the bottom plate 1 and correspond to the through holes 13 respectively. Each of the word keys 2 has at least one light transmitting portion 21 opposed to each of the through holes 13. The light transmitting portion 21 of each of the word keys 2 is an alphabetic symbol to be displayed for each word key 2. The transparent circuit film 3 is disposed on the top surface 11 of the bottom plate 1 and below the word keys 2. In this embodiment, each of the word keys 2 is movable up and down through a scissor foot supporting mechanism 22 and an elastic member 23. The ground plate 1 is movably disposed, and a trigger signal is generated by the elastic member 23 contacting the transparent circuit film 3. However, the component composition and the component structure of the keyboard module 100 are not described herein, and are not limited to the disclosure of the present invention.

The backlight module 200 is disposed on the bottom surface 12 of the bottom plate 1 and covers the through holes 13 and is located below the word keys 2 for projecting light for the word keys 2 . The backlight module 200 includes a light shielding sheet 4 , a light guide plate 5 , a light reflecting member 6 , and a light emitting unit 7 .

The visor 4 is disposed on the bottom surface 12 of the bottom plate 1 and includes a top surface 41 opposite to the bottom surface 12 of the bottom plate 1, a bottom surface 42 opposite to the top surface 41, and a plurality of corresponding through holes 13 respectively. Light transmissive area 43.

Referring to FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , the light guide plate 5 is disposed on the bottom surface 42 of the light shielding sheet 4 and has a top surface 51 opposite to the bottom surface 42 of the light shielding plate 4 and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface 51 . 52. A light shielding plate body 53, a light guide plate body 54, and a plurality of light source setting spaces 55.

The visor body 53 is made of an opaque material, such as a black acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), and includes a peripheral frame 530 and a plurality of spacers disposed in the peripheral frame 530. A strip 531, a plurality of longitudinal strips 532 disposed in the peripheral frame 530, and a plurality of light guiding spaces 533 separated by the peripheral frame 530 and the transverse strips 531.

The peripheral frame 530 has a left frame strip 534 and a right frame strip 535 disposed at right and left intervals, and an upper frame strip 536 and a lower frame strip 537 which are spaced apart from each other. The two ends of the upper frame strip 536 are respectively connected to the left frame. The strip 534 and the right frame strip 535 are respectively connected to the left frame strip 534 and the right frame strip 535. Both ends of each of the horizontal strips 531 are respectively connected to the peripheral frame 530. The longitudinal strips 532 extend into the light guiding spaces 533 from one of the upper frame strip 536, the lower frame strip 537, and the transverse strips 531, respectively. Each of the longitudinal strips 532 has a connecting end 538 connected to one of the upper frame strip 536, the lower frame strip 537 and the transverse strips 531, and a free end 539 opposite to the connecting end 538.

Each of the columns of light guiding spaces 533 has a plurality of the longitudinal spacers 532 therein, and the plurality of light guiding regions 5331 are separated by the longitudinal spacers 532. The light guiding areas 5331 correspond to the word keys 2, respectively.

In this embodiment, the two ends of the horizontal strip 531 adjacent to the lower frame strip 537 are respectively connected to the right frame strip 535 and the lower frame strip 537, and the other ones of the cross strips 531 are different. The two ends are respectively connected to the left frame 534 and the right frame 535. However, the connection relationship between the spacers 531 and the peripheral frame 530 may be configured according to the configuration of the word keys 2 The two ends of the spacer strips 531 are respectively connected to the left frame strip 534 and the right frame strip 535.

The light guide plate body 54 is made of a light transmissive material, such as a light transmissive polycarbonate (PC), and includes a plurality of light guiding blocks 541 respectively embedded in the light guiding regions 5331, and The plurality of connecting portions 542 are respectively connected between the two adjacent light guiding blocks 541. Each connecting portion 542 is embedded in the free end 539 of the corresponding longitudinal strip 532. The thickness of the light guide plate body 54 is not higher than the thickness of the light shielding plate body 53. Both the light guide plate body 54 and the light shielding plate body 53 can be manufactured by a process such as bi-injection molding or embedded injection molding. In this embodiment, the thickness of the light guide plate body 54 and the light shielding plate body 53 are the same, and the top surfaces of the two are flush and the bottom surface is flush, but not limited thereto, when the light guide plate body 54 is When the thickness is smaller than the thickness of the visor body 53, at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the light guide plate body 54 is recessed in the corresponding light guiding region 5331.

The light source setting spaces 55 correspond to the light guiding blocks 541, respectively. In this embodiment, the light source setting spaces 55 are formed on the horizontal spacers 531 and are adjacent to the light guiding blocks 541 and adjacent to the free ends 539 of the longitudinal spacers 532, but not limited thereto. The light source setting spaces 55 may also be formed in the light guiding blocks 541, respectively.

It is to be noted that the free ends 539 of the longitudinal spacers 532 of the visor body 53 can also be respectively connected to the upper frame strip 536, the lower frame strip 537 and one of the transverse strips 531, and the guide The light guide body 54 has only the light guide blocks 541 respectively embedded in the light guide regions 5331. The position of the light source installation spaces 55 is not limited to the above, and may be disposed on the peripheral frame 530. For a part, it is sufficient to correspond to the light guiding block 541.

In addition, in order to improve the adhesion between the light shielding plate body 53 and the light guide plate body 54 without being separated from each other, the engagement surface of the light shielding plate body 53 and the light guide plate body 54 has A non-smooth surface such as a concave-convex structure, or a mating surface of the two is a bevel, rather than a vertical surface extending in parallel with the thickness direction, or a non-smooth bevel (see Fig. 7).

The reflector 6 covers the bottom surface 52 of the light guide plate 5 and has a plurality of light source through holes 61 respectively corresponding to the light source installation spaces 55. In this embodiment, the reflector 6 is a retroreflective sheeting, but not limited thereto, and may be a reflective film layer attached to the bottom surface 52 of the light guiding plate 5.

The light-emitting unit 7 includes a circuit board 71 disposed on the bottom side of the reflector 6 and a plurality of light sources 72 disposed on the circuit board 71. The light sources 72 are respectively disposed in the light source through holes 61 of the light reflecting member 6 and are respectively disposed in the light source setting spaces 55 of the light guide plate 32. The light emitted by each of the light sources 72 is confined in the respective light guiding blocks 541 by the light shielding plate body 53. In this embodiment, each of the light sources 72 is a light-emitting diode (LED) that emits light sideways and has an illumination angle of less than 180 degrees.

Wherein, after the illumination angle of each light source 72 has been determined, the extension of the longitudinal spacer 532 of the light shielding plate body 53 and the relative installation position with each light source 42 are obtained by calculation, so that the light shielding plate body 53 is not In order to enclose the respective light guiding blocks 541, the light emitted by each light source 42 can be restricted from being conducted in the respective light guiding blocks 541 without passing through the connecting portion 542 between the two adjacent light guiding blocks 541. Export outward.

As can be seen from the above description, the light-emitting keyboard of the present invention is designed to pass through the light-shielding plate 53 of the light guide plate 5 and the light guide plate body 54, that is, the light-shielding plate body 53 is a light guide block 541 surrounding the light guide plate body 54. The circumferential surface of the light source 72 is limited to be guided by the light guiding blocks 541, and can be emitted only from the top and bottom surfaces of the light guiding blocks 541, and is matched with a light guiding block 541. The light source of a light source 72 is designed such that the light-emitting brightness of each light-guiding block 541 is controlled by a single light source 72 without being affected by the remaining light sources 72, so that the light-emitting brightness of the light-guiding blocks 541 is uniform and close. The brightness of the light emitted by each of the light sources 72, so that the light-emitting brightness of the light-transmitting portions 21 of the word keys 2 is uniform, so that the user can more easily recognize the word keys 2 when the light-emitting keyboard of the present invention is used in a dark place. Letter symbol.

Moreover, the light guide plate 5 is shielded by the peripheral surface of the light guide plate body 53 through the peripheral frame 530 of the light shielding plate body 53 to solve the problem that the light emitted by the light source of the conventional light-emitting keyboard is leaked from the circumferential side of the light guide plate. In order to improve the light utilization efficiency of each of the light sources 72, the light guide plate 5 and the light guide plate body 54 are designed to have a fitting structure in the thickness direction, thereby effectively improving the structural strength of the entire light guide plate 5, which is advantageous. A combined configuration between the illuminated keyboard elements of the present invention.

In addition, in the case where the light guide plate 5 can limit the light emitted by the light sources 72 to be emitted from the top and bottom surfaces of the light guide blocks 541, the illuminated keyboard of the present invention can be omitted from the keyboard module 100. The light shielding sheet 4 between the light guide plate 5 and the light reflecting plate disposed between the light guide plate 5 and the circuit board 71 of the light emitting unit 7 6. The circuit board 71 that is opaque is adhered to the bottom surface 52 of the light guide plate 5, and the peripheral edge of the circuit board 71 extends to the peripheral frame 530 of the light shielding plate body 53 to be attached to the periphery. The frame 530 is such that the circuit board 71 can also achieve the same reflective effect as the reflector 6. That is to say, the light guide plate 5 can effectively reduce the overall thickness of the backlight module 200.

In summary, the illuminated keyboard of the present invention does achieve the object of the present invention.

However, the above is only the embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, and all the equivalent equivalent changes and modifications according to the scope of the patent application and the patent specification of the present invention are still The scope of the invention is covered.

100‧‧‧ keyboard module

1‧‧‧floor

11‧‧‧ top surface

13‧‧‧through hole

2‧‧‧ word key

200‧‧‧Backlight module

4‧‧ ‧ shading film

41‧‧‧ top surface

51‧‧‧ top surface

53‧‧‧ visor body

54‧‧‧Light guide plate body

55‧‧‧Light source setting space

6‧‧‧Reflecting parts

61‧‧‧Light source perforation

7‧‧‧Lighting unit

71‧‧‧Circuit board

43‧‧‧Transparent area

5‧‧‧Light guide plate

72‧‧‧Light source

Claims (8)

A light guide plate for a keyboard module having a complex number key, comprising: a light shielding plate body, comprising a peripheral frame, a plurality of horizontal spacers disposed in the peripheral frame, and a plurality of longitudinal spacers disposed in the peripheral frame And a plurality of light guiding regions separated by the peripheral frame and the horizontal spacers and the longitudinal spacers, wherein the light guiding regions respectively correspond to a word key, and the peripheral frame has a left frame spaced apart from each other And a right frame strip, and an upper frame strip and a lower frame strip, wherein the two ends of the upper frame strip are respectively connected to the left frame strip and the right frame strip, and the two ends of the lower frame strip are respectively connected to the strip The left frame bar and the right frame bar are respectively connected to the peripheral frame at the two ends, and each of the longitudinal strips connects at least one of the upper frame strip, the lower frame strip and the horizontal spacer strips, and each of the mediastinums The strip has a connecting end connected to one of the upper frame strip, the lower frame strip and the transverse strips, and a free end opposite to the connecting end, the peripheral frame being spaced apart from the transverse strips a plurality of columns of light guiding spaces, each of the columns of light guiding spaces having the light guiding a light guide plate body comprising a plurality of light guide blocks respectively embedded in the light guide regions, and a plurality of connection portions respectively connected between the two adjacent light guide blocks, wherein the connection portions are embedded in the corresponding portions The free end of the longitudinal strip; and the complex light source setting space, respectively corresponding to the light guide block. The light guide plate of claim 1, wherein the light source setting spaces are respectively formed between the light shielding plate body and the light guiding blocks. The light guide plate of claim 2, wherein the light source installation spaces are formed on the horizontal spacers and are respectively opposite to the light guide blocks and adjacent to the free ends of the longitudinal spacer strips. The light guide plate according to claim 1, wherein the engaging surface of the light shielding plate body and the light guide plate body is a non-smooth surface. The light guide plate according to claim 1, wherein the engaging surface of the light shielding plate body and the light guide plate body is a non-vertical surface. An illuminated keyboard includes: a keyboard module, comprising a bottom plate, a plurality of word keys respectively disposed on the bottom plate for moving up and down, the bottom plate having a plurality of through holes respectively corresponding to the word keys, wherein the word keys are respectively located And a light-emitting portion opposite to each of the through-holes; and a backlight module disposed on the bottom side of the bottom plate, and comprising: a light guide plate having a light-shielding plate body and a guide a light board body and a plurality of light source setting spaces, the light shielding board body has a peripheral frame, a plurality of horizontal spacers disposed in the peripheral frame, a plurality of longitudinal spacers disposed in the peripheral frame, and a plurality of the peripheral frames, the horizontal a light guiding area separated by the spacer and the longitudinal spacers, wherein the light guiding areas respectively correspond to a word key, and the peripheral frame has a left frame and a right frame arranged at right and left intervals, and is arranged at an upper and lower interval The upper frame bar and the lower frame bar are respectively connected to the left frame bar and the right frame bar respectively, and the two ends of the lower frame bar are respectively connected to the left frame bar and the right frame bar, and each of the horizontal frame bars The two ends of the spacer are respectively connected to the periphery a frame, each of the longitudinal strips connecting at least one of the upper frame strip, the lower frame strip, and the transverse strips, each of the longitudinal strips having a connection to the upper frame strip, the lower frame strip, and the transverse strips a connecting end of one of the connecting ends, and a free end opposite to the connecting end, the peripheral frame is matched with the horizontal strips to separate the plurality of columns In the light space, each of the light guiding spaces has a plurality of light guiding regions, the light guiding plate body has a plurality of light guiding blocks respectively embedded in the light guiding regions, and the plurality of light guiding blocks respectively connected to the two adjacent light guiding blocks The connecting portions are respectively embedded in the free ends of the corresponding longitudinal strips, the light source setting spaces respectively corresponding to the light guiding blocks, and a light emitting unit having the plurality of light sources respectively disposed on the light guiding plate Set the light source for the space. The illuminated keyboard of claim 6, wherein each of the light sources is a light emitting diode that emits light laterally. The illuminating keyboard of claim 7, wherein the illuminating unit further has a circuit board disposed on a bottom surface of the light guide plate and disposed on the light source, the circuit board being attached to a peripheral frame of the light guide plate.