TWI666672B - Luminous keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The illuminated keyboard includes a key module with a plurality of key units and a backlight module disposed below the key module. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light shielding sheet, and a light source unit. The light guide plate includes a plurality of light guide plates spaced corresponding to a plurality of key unit units and partially connected to each other by a connecting portion, and a light guide plate gap is provided between light exiting sides of adjacent light guide plates. The light-shielding sheet includes a plurality of light-transmitting portions having edges of the light-transmitting portions. The vertical projection position of the light-emitting side of each light guide sheet on the corresponding light-transmitting portion is within the light-transmitting portion and has a light-emitting gap between the light-transmitting portion and the edge of the light-transmitting portion. The light source unit includes a light source circuit layer and a plurality of light emitting elements. Each of the plurality of light emitting elements provides light toward a corresponding light incident side, and each light guide sheet guides light at least partially from its light emitting side to a corresponding key unit through a light emitting gap.

Description

Illuminated keyboard

The present invention generally relates to a light-emitting keyboard, and in particular, the present invention relates to a light-emitting keyboard that emits light from the edge of a light guide sheet.

In order to operate the keyboard smoothly in a dim environment, the illuminated keyboard has gradually become the first choice for consumers. The conventional light-emitting keyboard usually uses several light-emitting diodes as a light source, and uses a light guide plate corresponding to the size of the keyboard to achieve the light-emitting effect of the entire keyboard. However, as the distance between the key and the light source is different, the brightness of the key is also different, resulting in poor uniformity of the overall light emission of the keyboard and affecting the visual effect.

Therefore, how to improve the light emitting uniformity of the light-emitting keys is one of the key points in the design of the light-emitting keyboard.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting keyboard, which emits light through the edges of each light guide sheet to improve the light-emitting effect.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting keyboard, which partially connects a plurality of light guide plates to form a single light guide plate, so as to simplify the assembly steps of individual light guide plates.

In one embodiment, the illuminated keyboard of the present invention includes a key module and a backlight module, wherein the key module includes a plurality of key units; the backlight module is disposed below the key module, and the backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light shielding sheet, and a light source unit. The light guide plate includes a plurality of light guide plates and a connection portion, The plurality of light guides are arranged at intervals corresponding to the plurality of key units and are locally connected to each other by a connecting portion. Each of the plurality of light guides has a light exit side and a light entrance side, and there is a light guide gap between adjacent light guides; On one side of the light guide plate, the light-shielding sheet includes a plurality of light-transmitting portions, and the plurality of light-transmitting portions are respectively disposed corresponding to the plurality of light-guiding plates. Has a vertical projection, the vertical projection is located in the corresponding light-transmitting portion and has a light-emitting gap between the edge of the light-transmitting portion of the corresponding light-transmitting portion; the light source unit includes a light source circuit layer and a plurality of light-emitting elements, and the plurality of light-emitting elements are electrically connected respectively The light source circuit layer is respectively located on the light incident side of the plurality of light guides, the plurality of light emitting elements each provide light toward the corresponding light incident side, and each light guide sheet guides light at least partially from the light exit side toward the corresponding light exit gap. The button unit is ejected.

In one embodiment, each of the light guide plates is substantially quadrangular, the light-emitting side is a U-shaped side wall, and the connecting portion is disposed at an opening adjacent to the U-shaped side wall.

In an embodiment, a plurality of key units are arranged in N rows, each row has at least two key units, and the connecting portion includes the same-row connecting portion and the cross-row connecting portion, and the same-row connecting portion extends along the X-axis direction to connect the same row. The light guide sheets corresponding to the at least two key units, the cross-row connecting portion is extended along the Y-axis direction to connect the light guide sheets corresponding to at least one key unit in the N rows, the X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, and N Greater than or equal to 2.

In one embodiment, the connection portion includes the same column connection portion and the inter-column connection portion. The plurality of light guide plates are arranged in an array according to the rows and columns. The plurality of light guide plates in the same column are connected to the same side by the same column connection portions, and the complex numbers in different columns The light guide sheets are locally connected by the cross-row connection portion.

In one embodiment, the width of the light-emitting gap is 5-10 mm.

In another embodiment, the illuminated keyboard of the present invention includes a key module and a backlight module. The key module includes a plurality of key units; the backlight module is disposed below the plurality of key units, and the backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light shielding sheet, and a light source unit. The light guide plate includes a plurality of light guide plates and a connection portion. The plurality of light guide plates are spaced from the plurality of key units and are locally connected to each other by the connection portion. Each light guide plate has an upper surface, a light emitting side and a light incident side. There is a light guide gap between the light sheets; the light shielding sheet is disposed on one side of the light guide plate, the light shielding sheet includes a plurality of light transmitting parts, and the plurality of light transmitting parts are respectively corresponding to the plurality of light guide sheets, and the light guide sheet gaps are vertically overlapped and corresponding. Light transmitting unit; the light source unit includes a light source circuit layer and a plurality of light emitting elements, the plurality of light emitting elements are respectively electrically connected to the light source circuit layer, and the light source circuit layer is disposed on the other side of the light guide plate with respect to the light shielding sheet, so that the plurality of light emitting elements are respectively located in the plurality of correspondingly The light incident side of the light guide sheet, and the plurality of light emitting elements each provide light toward the corresponding light incident side, and each light guide sheet guides light at least partially from its upper surface toward the corresponding key unit; the plurality of key units are arranged in a row N rows, each row has at least two key units, the connection part includes the same row connection part and the cross-row connection part, and the same row connection part extends along the X axis direction The light guide sheets corresponding to the at least two key units in the same row are connected to each other, and the cross-row connecting portion is extended along the Y axis direction to connect the light guide sheets corresponding to at least one key unit in the N rows, and the X axis direction and the Y axis direction Vertical, and N is greater than or equal to 2; each light-emitting element has a light-emitting angle, and the connecting portion is disposed outside the light-emitting angle of the adjacent light-emitting element to reduce the energy transmitted by the light to the adjacent light guide sheet through the connecting portion.

In an embodiment, the plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in N rows, each row having at least two light emitting elements, at least two light emitting elements belonging to the same row are arranged along the X-axis direction, and the light incident side of the plurality of light guide plates is also along X Aligned in the axial direction.

In an embodiment, each light guide sheet is substantially quadrangular, and the light-emitting side is a U-shaped side wall. The same-row connecting portions are provided adjacent to the openings of the U-shaped side walls, and the cross-row connecting portions are provided. Placed near the bottom end of the U-shaped sidewall.

In an embodiment, each of the plurality of key units includes a keycap, and each keycap has a keycap light transmitting portion, and at least one of the plurality of light guide sheets has an opening, and the position of the opening is corresponding to the key of the corresponding keycap. The cap light-transmitting portion corresponds.

In an embodiment, the shape of the opening corresponds to the shape of the transparent portion of the keycap, so that the vertical projection of the opening on the keycap substantially overlaps with the transparent portion of the keycap.

In one embodiment, each of the plurality of key units includes a keycap, and there is a keycap gap between the keycaps of the adjacent plurality of key units, and the keycap gap is smaller than the light guide sheet gap.

In one embodiment, there are light-blocking blocks between the adjacent plurality of light-transmitting portions, and the light-blocking blocks are substantially greater than or equal to the keycap gap and smaller than the light guide sheet gap.

In one embodiment, the light guide plate is a sheet-shaped light guide plate without a light extraction structure, and a plurality of light guide plates and connection portions are formed.

In one embodiment, the light-emitting side is an arc-shaped side wall, and two ends of the arc-shaped side wall are adjacent to the light-entering side.

Compared with the conventional technology, the light emitting keyboard of the present invention effectively emits light through the edges of the plurality of light guide plates, thereby effectively improving the uniformity of light emission of the keyboard. Furthermore, the light-emitting keyboard of the present invention partially connects the plurality of light guide sheets through the connection portion, which effectively simplifies the assembly process of the light guide sheets.

1‧‧‧ illuminated keyboard

10‧‧‧ Button Module

100‧‧‧ Button Unit

110‧‧‧ floor

112‧‧‧ Hole

120, 120a, 120b‧‧‧ keycaps

122, 122a, 122b ‧‧‧ keycap light transmission

130‧‧‧Scissor Support

140‧‧‧ membrane switch

20‧‧‧ backlight module

210、210’‧‧‧light guide plate

212, 212’‧‧‧ light guide

212a‧‧‧light side

212b‧‧‧Side into the light

212c‧‧‧upper surface

214a‧‧‧Same-line connection

214b‧‧‧ Cross-Column Connection

220‧‧‧shield

220a‧‧‧Shading pattern

222‧‧‧Light Transmission Department

222a‧‧‧Edge of light transmitting part

224a, 224b ‧‧‧ Shading Block

230‧‧‧light source unit

232‧‧‧Light source circuit layer

234‧‧‧Light-emitting element

242a, 242b‧‧‧‧light guide

244a, 244b‧‧‧Opening

246a, 246b

G1x, G1y‧‧‧ keycap clearance

G2x, G2y‧‧‧light guide gap

G3x, G3y‧‧‧Light output gap

G4x, G4y‧‧‧ the width of the shading block

θ‧‧‧ Beam Angle

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a light-emitting keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are schematic cross-sectional views of the illuminated keyboard of FIG. 1 along tangent lines A-A and B-B, respectively.

3A and 3B are an exploded view and a schematic top view of a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a light guide plate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a schematic diagram of a light guide sheet and a keycap of a light-emitting keyboard according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The invention provides a light-emitting keyboard, in particular a light-emitting keyboard using light emitted from the edge of a light guide sheet. Specifically, the light-emitting keyboard of the present invention can be any independent keyboard device with light-emitting keys or a light-emitting keyboard integrated with an electronic product (such as a key or keyboard provided on a mobile device, a tablet computer, etc.), but is not limited thereto. In the following, a computer keyboard is taken as an example, and details of the illuminated keyboard according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment, the light-emitting keyboard 1 of the present invention includes a key module 10 and a backlight module 20, and the backlight module 20 is disposed below the key module 10. The key module 10 includes a plurality of key units 100, and the plurality of key units 100 are arranged in N columns, each column having at least two key units, where N is greater than or equal to 1, and preferably greater than or equal to 2. For example, in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction that are perpendicular to each other, the plurality of key units 100 are arranged in six columns along the Y-axis direction, and each column has, for example, 14 to 20 keys along the X-axis direction according to different key sizes. But not limited to this. In other embodiments, the plurality of key units 100 may be arranged in an array or in a graphic configuration according to an actual application.

As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, in an embodiment, the key unit 100 may be movably connected to the keycap 120 and the bottom plate 110 through the scissors-type support frame 130 to support the movement of the keycap 120, thereby triggering the membrane switch 140. The reset button is restored by the restoring force of the restoring unit, but not limited to this. The key unit 100 may be any suitable key unit having a light transmitting keycap (for example, the keycap 120 having the keycap light transmitting portion 122). For example, in other embodiments, the scissor-type support frame 130 may be replaced by other lifting mechanisms, such as a butterfly-wing-type support mechanism, a slide-block support mechanism, and a cantilever-type support mechanism. Etc., and the return unit may be, for example, an elastic body, a spring, a magnet, or the like. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the key unit 100 may be a mechanical key unit that integrates a recovery unit (such as a spring) in the key shaft housing, and a separate lifting mechanism may not be provided. In addition, the membrane switch 140 can also be replaced with other switch units, such as a mechanical switch, an optical switch, and the like. In other words, the key unit 100 of the key module 10 may have any suitable structure to achieve the function of generating a trigger signal after pressing. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottom plate 110 has a hole 112 corresponding to the key unit 100 to allow light provided by the backlight module 20 to be emitted toward the key cap 120 of the corresponding key unit 100. Furthermore, there is a keycap gap (for example, G1x, G1y) between adjacent keycaps 120. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, the keycap gap G1y may be the distance between adjacent outer edges of adjacent keycaps 120 in the Y-axis direction, and as shown in FIG. 2B, the keycap gap G1x may be an adjacent key. The distance between adjacent outer edges of the cap 120 along the X-axis direction. Depending on the application, the keycap gaps G1x and G1y can be the same or different sizes.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the backlight module 20 includes a light guide plate 210, a light shielding sheet 220, and a light source unit 230. The light guide plate 210 includes a plurality of light guide plates 212 and connection portions (for example, 214a and 214b in FIG. 3A and FIG. 4). The plurality of light guide plates 212 are arranged at intervals from the plurality of key units 100 and are partially connected to each other through the connection portion. The plurality of light guide plates Each of 212 has an upper surface 212c, a light emitting side surface 212a and a light incident side surface 212b, and a light guide sheet gap (for example, G2x, G2y) is provided between adjacent light guide sheets 212. The light shielding sheet 220 is disposed on one side of the light guide plate 210, and the light shielding sheet 220 includes a plurality of light transmitting portions 222. The plurality of light-transmitting portions 222 are respectively disposed corresponding to the plurality of light-guiding sheets 212, and each light-transmitting portion 222 has a light-transmitting portion edge 222a. The light-emitting side 212a of each light guide sheet 212 has a vertical projection on the corresponding light-transmitting portion 222, and the vertical projection is located in the corresponding light-transmitting portion 222 and between the light-transmitting portion edge 222a of the corresponding light-transmitting portion 222. Light output gap (for example, G3x, G3y). The light source unit 230 includes a light source circuit layer 232 and a plurality of light emitting elements 234. The plurality of light emitting elements 234 are respectively electrically connected to the light source circuit layer 232, and are respectively located correspondingly. The light incident side 212b side of the plurality of light guide sheets 212. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of light emitting elements 234 provides light toward a corresponding light incident side 212b, and each light guide sheet 212 guides light at least partially from its light emitting side 212a toward a corresponding key unit 100 through a light emitting gap.

Furthermore, the light-blocking blocks (for example, 224a, 224b) between the light-transmitting portions 222 of the light-shielding sheet 220 are preferably substantially larger than or equal to the keycap gap and smaller than the light guide sheet gap. As shown in FIG. 2A, the width G4y of the light-shielding block 224b is slightly larger than the keycap gap G1y and smaller than the light guide sheet gap G2y, and as shown in FIG. 2B, the width G4x of the light-shielding block 224a is slightly larger than the keycap gap G1x and less than G2x light guide gap. Specifically, in the X-axis direction, the keycap gap G1x between adjacent keycaps 120 is preferably smaller than the light guide sheet gap G2x between the light exiting sides 212a adjacent to the adjacent light guide sheet 212, and in the Y-axis direction, The keycap gap G1y between adjacent keycaps 120 is preferably smaller than the light guide sheet gap G2y between the light exit side 212a and the light incident side 212b adjacent to the adjacent light guide sheet 212. In this embodiment, the vertical projection of the light emitting side surface 212a onto the bottom plate 110 is preferably located in the hole 112, so that light can pass from the light emitting side surface 212a through the light emitting gaps G3x, G3y (that is, the light transmitting portion 222 corresponds to the light guide gap G2x , G2y overlap), and then shot through the hole 112 of the bottom plate 110 toward the keycap 120, but not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, in one embodiment, the shape of each of the light guide plates 212 corresponding to the keycap 120 is substantially quadrangular, the light-emitting side 212a is a U-shaped side wall, and the connecting portion (for example, 214a) is preferably disposed adjacent to U Opening in the side wall of the chevron. In this embodiment, the light incident side 212b is preferably a side wall connected to the open end of the U-shaped side wall. Specifically, the upper surface 212c is a quadrangular surface extending parallel to the X-axis and Y-axis planes in the quadrangular light guide sheet 212, the light incident side 212b is a side surface of one of the sides of the quadrangular light guide sheet 212, and the light exit side 212a is It is a side surface of the remaining three sides of the quadrangular light guide sheet 212. For example, the light incident side surface 212b is connected to the upper surface 212c along the X axis and extends downward along the Z axis, and is a parallel X axis and an XZ surface on which the quadrangular light guide sheet 212 extends. Light out side 212a includes a continuous surface composed of an XZ surface connected to the upper surface 212c along the X axis and extending downward along the Z axis, and a YZ surface connected to the upper surface 212c along the Y axis and extending downward along the Z axis on both sides of the XZ surface, but Not limited to this.

The plurality of light guide plates 212 are arranged at array intervals corresponding to the key units 100 according to the rows and columns, so that there is a light guide gap (such as G2x, G2y) between adjacent light guide sheets 212, and a keycap gap (such as G1x, G1y) is preferred. Less than the light guide sheet gap. Specifically, the width of the light guide sheet gap G2x may be the distance between adjacent outer edges of the adjacent light guide sheets 212 along the X-axis direction, for example, the distance between the light emitting side surfaces 212a of the adjacent light guide sheets 212, and the light guide The sheet gap G2x preferably has a uniform size along the Y-axis direction, but is not limited thereto. The width of the light guide sheet gap G2y may be the distance between adjacent outer edges of adjacent light guide sheets 212 along the Y-axis direction, for example, the bottom end of the U-shaped side wall of the light exit side 212a of the light guide sheet 212 and the adjacent guides of the adjacent columns. The distance of the light incident side 212b of the light sheet 212, and the light guide sheet gap G2y preferably has a uniform size along the X-axis direction, but is not limited thereto. According to practical applications, the light guide gap G2x in the X-axis direction may have the same or different size as the light guide gap G2y in the Y-axis direction.

In other embodiments, the light guide sheet 212 may have different shapes according to different keycap shapes. As shown in FIG. 4, in another embodiment, the light guide plate 210 'includes a plurality of light guide sheets 212'. The light guide sheet 212 'may be an arc-shaped sheet, wherein the light-exiting side surface 212a is an arc-shaped side wall, and both ends of the arc-shaped side wall are preferably adjacent to the light-entering side surface 212b. Specifically, the light guide sheet 212 ′ may be a sheet body having a half-moon shape, in which the light exit side 212 a is a side surface of the arc side of the half moon light guide sheet 212 ′, so that the light exit side 212 a is an arc light exit side, and The light incident side surface 212b is a side surface on a straight line side that connects both ends of the arc side. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the light guide sheet gap G2x may have an increasing size according to the curved side wall along the Y-axis direction, and the light guide sheet gap G2y may have an undulating size change along the X-axis direction according to the curved side wall. But not limited to this.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3A, the plurality of light guide sheets 212 are partially connected to each other by a connecting portion, so that the plurality of light guide sheets 212 have an integrated structure, and at the same time, the light emitting side surfaces 212a of the individual light guide sheets 212 and adjacent guides The light guide sheet gaps G2x and G2y are substantially maintained between the light sheets 212. The connection portion preferably includes an in-row connection portion 214a and an inter-row connection portion 214b. The same-row connecting portion 214 a preferably extends along the X-axis direction and connects the corresponding light guide sheets 212 of at least two key units 100 in the same row. In one embodiment, the plurality of light guide sheets 212 in the same row are preferably connected to the same side by the same row connection portion 214a, and the plurality of light guide sheets 212 in different rows are locally connected by the cross-row connection portion 214b. In this embodiment, the same-row connecting portion 214a is preferably disposed near the opening of the U-shaped sidewall and away from the bottom end of the U-shaped sidewall. Specifically, the same-row connecting portion 214a is preferably connected between adjacent ends of the light incident side 212b of the adjacent light guide sheet 212 in parallel, so that the light emitting sides 212a of the plurality of light guide sheets 212 in the same row are substantially independent of each other, and The light incident side surfaces 212b are connected to each other along, for example, the X-axis direction, but is not limited thereto. According to practical applications, the same-row connecting portion 214a may be partially connected between the light-exiting sides 212a of adjacent light-guiding sheets 212 in the same row, so that the light-exiting sides 212a and the light-entering sides 212b of the plurality of light-guiding sheets 212 in the same row are substantially independent of each other. As shown in FIG. 4, in another embodiment, the same-row connecting portion 214 a is disposed between the arc-shaped side walls (ie, the light-emitting side 212 a) adjacent to the light incident side 212 b.

The cross-row connecting portion 214b preferably extends along the Y-axis direction to connect the corresponding light guide sheet 212 of the at least one key unit 100 in the N rows. As shown in FIG. 3A, in one embodiment, the straddle connection portion 214b is disposed near the bottom end of the U-shaped sidewall. Specifically, the cross-column connection portion 214b may extend from the bottom end of the U-shaped side wall of the light guide sheet 212 of one column toward the adjacent column, and then connect the adjacent light guide sheet 212 (for example, adjacent to the light incident side 212b) of the adjacent column. End portion) or the corresponding in-row connection portion 214a, but not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 4, in another embodiment, the cross-column connection portion 214 b may extend from the same-column connection portion 214 a of the light guide sheet 212 in one column to an adjacent column, thereby connecting adjacent columns. The near light guide sheet 212 or the same-row connecting portion 214a is not limited thereto.

It should be noted here that the connecting portions (for example, the same-row connecting portion 214a and the cross-row connecting portion 214b) are preferably arranged at positions that have a small influence on the light-emitting side 212a of each light guide sheet 212, in order to improve the light-emitting effect and reduce light transmission. Possibility of the connection part passing to the adjacent light guide sheet. For example, the vertical projection of the connecting portion (such as the same-row connecting portion 214a and the cross-row connecting portion 214b) on the light shielding sheet 220 is preferably substantially outside the light transmitting part 222, that is, the connecting part is preferably mostly covered by the light shielding sheet 220. Covered by opaque parts.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the light shielding sheet 220 is disposed on one side of the light guide plate 210, for example, adjacent to one side (ie, the upper side) of the key module 10. The light-shielding sheet 220 has a light-shielding pattern 220a to selectively partially block light or allow light to pass therethrough. In an embodiment, the light-shielding sheet 220 is a light-transmitting optical film (such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)) and has a pattern design on the film to shield the light-emitting keyboard 1 that does not require light. section. Specifically, the light shielding sheet 220 may have a pattern corresponding to the relative positions and contours of the plurality of key units 100 of the key module 10, so that the gaps between adjacent key units 100 (such as the keycap gaps G1x, G1y) are not covered. Light is allowed to pass through, and the position corresponding to the plurality of key units 100 is a light transmitting portion 222, which allows light to pass through so that the light can be emitted from the key cap transmitting portion 122 of the key cap 120. In one embodiment, each light-transmitting portion 222 preferably has a shape and size corresponding to the keycap 120, and the edge 222a of the light-transmitting portion is a boundary between each light-transmitting portion 222 and the light-opaque portion of the light shielding sheet 220. Specifically, there is a light-blocking block (for example, 224a, 224b) between the adjacent plurality of light-transmitting portions 222, and the edge 222a of the light-transmitting portion is the boundary between each light-transmitting portion 222 and the adjacent light-blocking block. For example, the width G4x of the light-shielding block 224a is the distance between the edges 222a of the adjacent light-transmitting sections 222 along the X axis in the X-axis direction, and the width G4y of the light-shielding block 224b is along the adjacent light-transmitting sections 222. The distance between the edges 222a of adjacent transparent portions in the Y-axis direction.

Specifically, the plurality of light-transmitting portions 222 are respectively disposed corresponding to the plurality of light-guiding sheets 212, and the light-guiding sheet gaps G2x and G2y partially overlap the corresponding light-transmitting portions 222 vertically. As shown in FIG. 3B, in the X-axis direction, the width G4x of the light-shielding block 224a between the adjacent light-transmitting portions 222 is preferably smaller than the light-guide sheet gap G2x between the adjacent light-emitting sides 212a of the adjacent light-guide sheet 212, so that The light guide sheet gap G2x partially overlaps the corresponding light transmitting part 222 vertically, and the light projection side 212a of the light guide sheet 212 is vertically projected on the corresponding light transmitting part 222, and is located in the corresponding light transmitting part 222 and corresponds to the corresponding light transmitting part 222. There is a light emitting gap G3x between the light transmitting portion edges 222a of the light portion 222. That is, a portion where the light guide sheet gap G2x and the corresponding transparent portion 222 vertically overlap is a light exit gap G3x. In the Y-axis direction, the width G4y of the light shielding block 224b between the adjacent light transmitting portions 222 is preferably smaller than the light guide sheet gap G2y between the light exit side 212a of the adjacent light guide sheet 212 and the adjacent light incident side 212b, so that the light guide sheet The light sheet gap G2y partially vertically overlaps the corresponding light transmitting portion 222, and the light projection side 212a of the light guide sheet 212 is vertically projected on the corresponding light transmitting portion 222, and is located in the corresponding light transmitting portion 222 and corresponds to the corresponding light transmitting portion. A light emitting gap G3y is provided between the light transmitting portion edges 222a of the portion 222. That is, a portion of the light guide sheet gap G2y that vertically overlaps with the corresponding light transmitting portion 222 is a light exit gap G3y. In an embodiment, the width of the light-emitting gaps G3x and G3y is preferably 5-10 mm, so that most of the light emitted from the light-emitting side 212a passes through the light-transmitting portion 222 within the light-emitting gap, and then is emitted toward the corresponding key unit 100. . It should be noted here that the widths of the light-emitting gaps G3x and G3y may vary according to the positions of the holes 112 of the base plate 110 and the light-transmitting portions 122 of the keycap 120, and therefore may be less than 5 mm or greater than 10 mm, which is not limited to those shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, according to practical applications, the light exit gap G3x in the X-axis direction and the light exit gap G3y in the Y-axis direction may have the same or different sizes. In addition, the light exit gaps G3x and G3y are preferably provided around the light exit side surface 212a of the light guide sheet 212, for example, corresponding to the light exit side 212a of the U-shaped side wall. The light exit gaps G3x and G3y preferably constitute a light exit space substantially surrounding the U-shaped side wall, but not This is the limit. According to the actual application, the light emitting side 212a is perpendicular to the light shielding sheet 220. The direct projection preferably does not overlap at least one of the corresponding light-blocking block 224a and the light-blocking block 224b, so that the light guide sheet 212 forms a light gap G3x or a light gap G3y in at least one of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. , Or there is a gap G3x and G3y at the same time.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the light source circuit layer 232 is disposed on the other side (for example, the lower side) of the light guide plate 210 relative to the light shielding sheet 220, and the plurality of light emitting elements 234 correspond to the light incident side 212 b of the light guide sheet 212 in an array manner. The light source circuit layer 232 is provided. Specifically, the plurality of light-emitting elements 234 are arranged in N rows, each row having at least two light-emitting elements, and at least two light-emitting elements 234 belonging to the same row are arranged along the X-axis direction. Arranged along the X-axis direction. The light-emitting element 234 is preferably a light-emitting diode (LED), and particularly a side-emitting light-emitting diode, but not limited thereto. The light emitting surface of the light emitting element 234 preferably faces the light incident side 212b of the light guide sheet 212, so that light passes through the light incident side 212b to be transmitted into the light guide sheet 212, and then is emitted from the light exit side 212a. Each light emitting element 234 has a light exit angle θ, and the connection portion (for example, the same-row connection portion 214 a) is preferably disposed outside the light exit angle θ of the adjacent light emitting element 234 to reduce the transmission of light through the connection portion to the adjacent light guide sheet 212. Energy; in this way, when two adjacent light-emitting elements 234 emit light of different colors, it is possible to avoid mixing of light between two adjacent light guide plates 212 through the connecting portion 214a or 214b, and ensure that the two adjacent light guide plates 212 are only A predetermined color light is emitted.

In the above embodiment, the light emitting keyboard 1 of the present invention uses the light emitting side 212a of the light guide sheet 212 to emit light. The light guide sheet 212 may not need to be provided with a light extraction structure, such as a micro-lens structure or Printing outlets. In other words, the light guide plate 210 in the above embodiment may be a sheet-shaped light guide plate without a microlens structure or a halftone dot. After cutting, a plurality of light guide plates 212 (or 212 ') and connection portions (for example, 214a, 214b) are formed, but Not limited to this. In another embodiment, the light guide sheet 212 may be provided with a dot or a micro-lens structure, so that the plurality of light-emitting elements 234 Each of the light guides 212b is provided for light, and each light guide sheet 212 guides light at least partially from its upper surface 212c toward the corresponding key unit 100. In other words, the light guide plate 210 can also be cut for a sheet-shaped light guide plate having dots to form a plurality of light guide plates 212 (or 212 ') and connecting portions (for example, 214a, 214b), and light can be emitted through the upper surface 212c and the light emitting side surface 212a. , To further enhance the light effect.

Furthermore, according to the position and shape of the keycap light-transmitting portion 122 of the keycap 120, the corresponding light guide sheet 212 may have a design that partially enhances light emission brightness. As shown in FIG. 5, in an embodiment, the keycaps 120a / 120b have keycap light-transmitting portions 122a / 122b, such as "shift" and "Z" characters, and at least one of the plurality of light guide plates 242a / 242b preferably has openings 244a / 244b, and the positions of the openings 244a / 244b preferably correspond to the keycap transparent portions 122a / 122b of the corresponding keycaps 120a / 120b. Furthermore, the shape of the openings 244a / 244b preferably corresponds to the shape of the distribution area of the keycap transparent portions 122a / 122b, so that the vertical projection of the openings 244a / 244b onto the keycaps 120a / 120b is substantially the same as the keycap transparent portions 122a. / 122b at least partially overlaps.

Specifically, the keycap transparent portion 122a of the keycap 120a is a "shift" character with a large number of characters, and the distribution area of the keycap transparent portion 122a is a rectangular shape that is longer, shorter, left and right, and therefore corresponds to the keycap 120a. The opening 244a of the light guide sheet 242a is correspondingly designed as a rectangle with a longer left and right and a shorter front and back, so that the rectangular opening 244a and the "shift" character at least partially vertically overlap, so that light can not only exit from the light guide sheet 242a Light is emitted from the side 246a and can be emitted from the opening 244a to enhance the luminous brightness of the "shift" character. Similarly, the keycap transparent portion 122b of the keycap 120b is a "Z" character with fewer characters, so the light guide sheet 242b corresponding to the keycap 120b may be provided with, for example, a circular opening 244b, so that the circular The opening 244b and the "Z" character at least partially overlap vertically, so that light can not only be emitted from the light exit side 246b of the light guide sheet 242b, but also can be emitted from the opening 244b to enhance the luminous brightness of the "Z" character. It should be noted here that according to the actual application, the position, shape, The size can be changed according to the characters presented by the keycap to achieve local enhanced luminous brightness, and thus to improve the overall luminous uniformity.

Compared with the conventional technology, the light-emitting keyboard of the present invention not only uses individual light-guiding sheets to cooperate with light-emitting elements to improve light-emitting uniformity, but also uses a light-guiding gap between the light-guiding sheets to be larger than a light-blocking block between light-transmitting portions of the light-shielding sheet. Designed to take advantage of the light output from the edges of individual light guides, so that the light guide plate does not need to be equipped with dots, reducing costs. Furthermore, the light-emitting keyboard of the present invention uses the connecting portion to partially connect the plurality of light guide sheets, not only keeping the light guide sheet gaps between the light guide sheets to achieve edge light emission, but also making the plurality of light guide sheets have an integrated structure and easy to assemble.

The present invention has been described by the above-mentioned embodiments, but the above-mentioned embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments specifically described herein may have other modifications to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention also covers such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the appended patent applications.

Claims (14)

A light-emitting keyboard includes: a key module including a plurality of key units; and a backlight module disposed below the key module. The backlight module includes a light guide plate including a plurality of light guide sheets and a connection portion, The plurality of light guides are spaced from the plurality of key units and are locally connected to each other by the connection portion. Each of the plurality of light guides has a light exit side and a light entrance side, and an adjacent light guide has a Light guide sheet gap; a light-shielding sheet is disposed on one side of the light guide plate, the light-shielding sheet includes a plurality of light-transmitting portions, and the plurality of light-transmitting portions are respectively disposed corresponding to the plurality of light-guiding sheets, and each of the light-transmitting portions has a light transmission The light projection side of each light guide sheet has a vertical projection on the corresponding light transmitting portion, and the vertical projection is located in the corresponding light transmitting portion and corresponds to the edge of the light transmitting portion of the corresponding light transmitting portion There is a light emitting gap therebetween; and a light source unit including a light source circuit layer and a plurality of light emitting elements, the plurality of light emitting elements are respectively electrically connected to the light source circuit layer, and respectively correspond to the light incident on the plurality of light guide plates. Side, toward the light incident surface of each of the plurality of corresponding light emitting element is provided, and each of the light guide plate guiding the light emitted by the at least partially out of the unit key corresponding to light from the gap toward which the light-emitting surface. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1, wherein each of the light guide plates is substantially a quadrangle, the light emitting side is a U-shaped side wall, and the connection portion is disposed at an opening adjacent to the U-shaped side wall. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of key units are arranged in N columns, each column has at least two key units, and the connection portion includes a joint connection portion and a cross-row connection portion. The light guide sheets corresponding to the at least two key units in the same row are extended along an X-axis direction, and the cross-row connecting portion is extended along a Y-axis direction to connect at least one key unit in the N column. In the light guide sheet, the X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, and N is greater than or equal to two. The light-emitting keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion includes a parallel connection portion and a cross-column connection portion, the plurality of light guide plates are arranged in an array according to rows and columns, and the plurality of light guide plates in the same column pass through the same column. The connecting portions are connected on the same side, and the plurality of light guide sheets in different rows are locally connected by the cross-row connecting portions. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the width of the light-emitting gap is 5-10 mm. A light-emitting keyboard includes: a key module including a plurality of key units; and a backlight module disposed below the plurality of key units. The backlight module includes: a light guide plate including a plurality of light guide sheets and a connection portion, The plurality of light guides are spaced from the plurality of key units and are locally connected to each other by the connection portion. Each of the light guides has an upper surface, a light emitting side and a light incident side, and adjacent light guide plates There is a light guide gap between the light guides; a light shield is disposed on one side of the light guide plate, the light shield includes a plurality of light transmitting portions, the plurality of light transmitting portions are respectively corresponding to the plurality of light guide plates, and the light guide plates have a gap And a light source unit including a light source circuit layer and a plurality of light emitting elements, the plurality of light emitting elements are respectively electrically connected to the light source circuit layer, and the light source circuit layer is disposed on the guide with respect to the light shielding sheet; The other side of the light plate, so that the plurality of light emitting elements are respectively located on the light incident side of the plurality of light guide sheets, and the plurality of light emitting elements are respectively raised toward the corresponding light incident side Light, and each light guide sheet guides the light to at least partially exit from the upper surface toward the corresponding key unit; wherein the plurality of key units are arranged in N rows, each row has at least two key units, and the connecting portion The same-row connection part includes a light-shielding sheet corresponding to the at least two key units in the same row extending along an X-axis direction and a cross-row connection part. The cross-row connection part is along the X-axis direction. A Y-axis direction extends to connect the light guide sheet corresponding to at least one key unit in the N column, the X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, and N is greater than or equal to 2; each of the light-emitting elements has a light emitting angle, The connection portion is disposed outside the light emitting angle of the adjacent light-emitting element to reduce the energy transmitted by the light to the adjacent light guide sheet through the connection portion. The light-emitting keyboard according to claim 3 or 6, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged in N columns, each column has at least two light-emitting elements, and the at least two light-emitting elements belonging to the same column are arranged along the X-axis direction, the The light incident sides of the plurality of light guide plates are also arranged along the X-axis direction. The light-emitting keyboard according to claim 6, wherein each of the light guide plates is substantially a quadrangle, the light emitting side is a U-shaped side wall, the same-row connection portion is disposed adjacent to the opening of the U-shaped side wall, and the cross The column connection portion is disposed adjacent to the bottom end of the U-shaped sidewall. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 or 6, wherein each of the plurality of key units includes a keycap, and each of the keycaps has a keycap light transmitting portion, and at least one of the plurality of light guide sheets has a An opening, and the position of the opening corresponds to the light transmitting part of the keycap corresponding to the keycap. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 9, wherein the shape of the opening corresponds to the shape of the transparent portion of the keycap, so that the vertical projection of the opening on the keycap substantially overlaps the transparent portion of the keycap at least partially. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 or 6, wherein each of the plurality of key units includes a keycap, and there is a keycap gap between the keycaps of the adjacent plurality of key unit, and the keycap gap is smaller than the guide Light sheet gap. The light-emitting keyboard according to claim 11, wherein a light-blocking block is provided between the plurality of adjacent light-transmitting portions, and the light-blocking block is substantially larger than or equal to the keycap gap and smaller than the light guide sheet gap. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the light guide plate is a sheet-shaped light guide plate with a lightless extraction structure cut to form the plurality of light guide plates and the connection portion. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the light-emitting side is an arc-shaped side wall, and two ends of the arc-shaped side wall are adjacent to the light-incident side.