WO2007148903A1

WO2007148903A1 - Key for a keyboard with light emitting device

Info

Publication number: WO2007148903A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/002954
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jang Yeon Jo; Min Ho Choi
Original assignee: Epivalley Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-06-17
Filing date: 2007-06-18
Publication date: 2007-12-27
Also published as: KR100865896B1; KR20070119975A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard. The keyboard includes a key, an elastic member for supporting the key, and a light emitting device positioned at the lower portion of the key. The key includes a cap constituting the top face of the key and transmitting light, the cap being provided with a region displaying at least one of a character and a symbol, and a leg positioned at the bottom face of the cap, supported by the elastic member, and provided with a supporting portion positioned with a gap from the bottom face of the cap.

Description

Description KEY FOR A KEYBOARD WITH LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a key for a keyboard with a light emitting device, and more particularly, to a key through which light generated by a light emitting device is transmitted without shadow. Background Art

[2] In general, a keyboard is a device for entering signals into a hardware such as a PC.

Recently, there are increasing demands for various kinds of keyboards with the popular use of the PC.

[3] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conventional keyboard with a light emitting device.

The conventional keyboard 10 includes keys 20. FIG. 2 is views, particularly, a plane view, a side-sectional view (A-A') and a bottom view illustrating the key for the conventional keyboard with the light emitting device. The key 20 includes a cap 30 and a leg 40. The cap 30 includes a pressed portion 32 having a character or a symbol and constituting the top face of the key 20, and a peripheral portion 34 downwardly inclined from the periphery of the pressed portion 32. The leg 40 forms a wall in the downward direction from the bottom face of the pressed portion 32.

[4] In detail, the leg 40 is fitted into the keyboard 10 and supported by an elastic member 50 so that the key 20 can move in the up-down direction. When the key 20 is pressed on the keyboard 10, a signal for identifying the position of the key 20 is generated.

[5] However, as seen in the plane view of the key 20, when light generated at the lower portion of the key 20 by a light emitting device 60 is transmitted through the key 20, the shadow of the leg 40 is formed on the pressed portion 32 of the cap 30, so that the character or the symbol is not clearly externally illuminated. As such shadow overlaps with the character or the symbol, the user cannot easily identify the character or the symbol. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described shortcomings occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard which does not generate shadow.

[7] Another object of the present invention is to provide a key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard which can improve an identification effect of a character or a symbol.

[8] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a key used for a light- emittalbe keyboard which can be provided with a clear light emitting surface and typed only by small force.

[9] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a key used for a light- emittalbe keyboard which can improve a typing feel. Technical Solution

[10] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a key used for a light- emittalbe keyboard, the keyboard including: a key; an elastic member for supporting the key; and a light emitting device positioned at the lower portion of the key, the key including: a cap constituting the top face of the key and transmitting light, the cap being provided with a region in which at least one of a character and a symbol is indicated; and a leg positioned at the bottom face of the cap, supported by the elastic member, and provided with a supporting portion positioned with a gap from the bottom face of the cap.

[11] In one aspect of the present invention, the leg includes a guide wall for guiding light of the light emitting device to the cap, and the supporting portion is positioned inside the guide wall.

[12] In another aspect of the present invention, the guide wall is positioned outside the region at the bottom face of the cap.

[13] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the guide wall includes a hook to be hooked on the keyboard.

[14] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the guide wall includes slits at both sides of the hook.

[15] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the supporting portion is formed in a cross shape to pressurize the elastic member when the key is pressed.

[16] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the supporting portion includes two ends contacting the guide wall.

[17] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the supporting portion is formed in a cross shape with four ends contacting the guide wall.

[18] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the supporting portion is positioned inside the bottom end of the guide wall.

[19] The present invention also provides a key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard, the keyboard including: a key; an elastic member for supporting the key; and a light emitting device positioned at the lower portion of the key, the key including: a cap constituting the top face of the key and transmitting light, the cap being provided with a region in which at least one of a character and a symbol is indicated; and a leg positioned at the bottom face of the cap and supported by the elastic member without contacting the region at the bottom face of the cap. [20] In one aspect of the present invention, the leg includes a guide wall positioned outside the region, for guiding light of the light emitting device to the cap.

[21] In another aspect of the present invention, the leg includes a supporting portion positioned inside the guide wall with a gap from the bottom face of the cap.

Advantageous Effects

[22] In the above-described configuration, the present invention provides a key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard which does not generate shadow. [23] The present invention provides a key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard which can improve the identification effect of the character or the symbol. [24] The present invention provides a key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard which can be provided with the clear light emitting surface and typed only by small force. [25] The present invention provides a key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard which can improve the typing feel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conventional keyboard with a light emitting device.

[27] FIG. 2 is views illustrating a key for the conventional keyboard with the light emitting device. [28] FIG. 3 is views illustrating one example of a key for a keyboard with a light emitting device in accordance with the present invention. [29] FIG. 4 is views illustrating another example of the key for the keyboard with the light emitting device in accordance with the present invention.

Mode for the Invention [30] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be construed that the scope of the present invention is not limited to or by these embodiments or drawings but limited to or by the claims as hereinafter recited. [31] A configuration of a key according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained. [32] FIG. 3 is views, particularly, a plane view, a side- sectional view (B-B') and a bottom view illustrating one example of a key for a keyboard with a light emitting device in accordance with the present invention. The key 100 for the keyboard with the light emitting device includes a cap 200 and a leg 300. [33] The cap 200 constituting the top face of the key 100 is made of a light passing material to transmit light. The cap 200 includes a pressed portion 210 and a peripheral portion 220. In this embodiment, the pressed portion 210 has a character or a symbol.

Preferably, the pressed portion 210 is formed in a quadrangular shape with a gently indented center so that the user can stably easily press the pressed portion 210. The character or the symbol can be printed, depressed or embossed in Braille on the top face of the pressed portion 210. The peripheral portion 220 extends from the periphery of the pressed portion 210 to be inclined in the downward direction. In this embodiment, the peripheral portion 220 is formed in an eave shape at the periphery of the pressed portion 210.

[34] The leg 300 is fixed to the bottom face of the cap 200 and supported by an elastic member 500 for supplying an elastic force to the key 100 at the lower portion of the key 100, namely, supplying a restoring force when the key 100 is pressed. Therefore, the leg 300 is fitted into the keyboard to be movable in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the leg 300 includes a guide wall 310 and a supporting portion 320.

[35] The guide wall 310 forms a wall in the downward direction from the periphery of the bottom face of the pressed portion 210 of the key 100. In this embodiment, the guide wall 310 is fixed to the bottom face of the pressed portion 210 of the key 100 by ultrasonic bonding U. Here, the guide wall 310 can be fixed to the pressed portion 210 by double extrusion. Preferably, the guide wall 310 is fixed to the peripheral end 211 of the bottom face of the pressed portion 210 of the key 100 in order to increase an amount of light emitted from a light emitting device 600 to the top face of the key 100 without generating shadow.

[36] In addition, the guide wall 310 includes hooks 311 hooked on the keyboard in a fitted state into the keyboard. Preferably, slits S are formed between both sides of the hooks 311 and the guide wall 310 so that the guide wall 310 can be elastically fitted into and separated from the keyboard.

[37] The supporting portion 320 is formed at the inner lower portion of the guide wall

310 to cross the corresponding inner faces of the guide wall 310, and supported by the elastic member 500. In this embodiment, the supporting portion 320 is preferably formed at the inner lower portion of the guide wall 310 not to form shadow on the pressed portion 210 of the key 100 by the light emitted by the light emitting device 600. Moreover, the supporting portion 320 is preferably formed in a '+' shape with one relatively long shaft to efficiently receive the force from the elastic member 500. Both ends of the long shaft of the '+' shape are fixed to the inner faces of the guide wall 310. Here, the supporting portion 320 can be integrally formed with the guide wall 310.

[38] The supporting portion 320 has a thickness T in the vertical direction from the '+' shaped crossing shafts to prevent shadow on the pressed portion 210 constituting the top face of the key 100 and to efficiently receive the force from the elastic member 500. The thickness T is limited to the lower portion of the guide wall 310.

[39] The operation and effect of the key for the keyboard with the light emitting device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

[40] The light emitted from the light emitting device 600 is transmitted through the key 100 and emanated to the outside. As the guide wall 310 of the leg 300 is fixed to the outermost periphery of the pressed portion 210 constituting the top face of the key 100 and the supporting portion 320 is formed at the bottom end of the guide wall 310, the shadow is not formed on the pressed portion 210. Therefore, the key 100 is provided with a clear light emitting surface for externally illuminating the character or the symbol. In addition, since the supporting portion 320 receives the force from the elastic member 500, although the guide wall 310 is fixed to the outermost periphery of the pressed portion 210, the key 100 can be easily pressed even by small force. The pressing feel of the key 100 is not reduced either.

[41] In this embodiment, another example of the supporting portion for efficiently receiving the force from the elastic member will be explained.

[42] FIG. 4 is views, particularly, a plane view, a side- sectional view (C-C) and a bottom view illustrating another example of the key for the keyboard with the light emitting device in accordance with the present invention. Same reference numerals are used for same elements as those of the above-described embodiment, and detailed explanations thereof are omitted.

[43] A supporting portion 350 is formed at the inner lower portion of the guide wall 310 to cross the corresponding inner faces of the guide wall 310, and supported by the elastic member 500. Preferably, the supporting portion 350 is formed at the inner bottom end of the guide wall 310 not to form shadow on the pressed portion 210 of the key 100 by the light emitted by the light emitting device 600. Moreover, the supporting portion 350 is preferably formed in a '+' shape to efficiently receive the force from the elastic member 500. The top, bottom, left and right ends of the '+' shape are fixed to the inner faces of the guide wall 310. The supporting portion 350 can be integrally formed with the guide wall 310. Preferably, the supporting portion 350 has a small thickness T in the vertical direction from the '+' shaped crossing shafts to prevent shadow on the pressed portion 210 constituting the top face of the key 100 and to efficiently receive the force from the elastic member 500.

[44] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these preferred embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

[1] A key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard, the keyboard including: a key; an elastic member for supporting the key; and a light emitting device positioned at the lower portion of the key, the key comprising: a cap constituting the top face of the key and transmitting light, the cap being provided with a region in which at least one of a character and a symbol is indicated; and a leg positioned at the bottom face of the cap, supported by the elastic member, and provided with a supporting portion positioned with a gap from the bottom face of the cap. [2] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 1, wherein the leg comprises a guide wall for guiding light of the light emitting device to the cap, and the supporting portion is positioned inside the guide wall. [3] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 2, wherein the guide wall is positioned outside the region at the bottom face of the cap. [4] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 2, wherein the guide wall comprises a hook to be hooked on the keyboard. [5] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 4, wherein the guide wall comprises slits at both sides of the hook. [6] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 1, wherein the supporting portion is formed in a cross shape to pressurize the elastic member when the key is pressed. [7] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 2, wherein the supporting portion comprises two ends contacting the guide wall. [8] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 2, wherein the supporting portion is formed in a cross shape with four ends contacting the guide wall. [9] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 2, wherein the supporting portion is positioned inside the bottom end of the guide wall. [10] A key used for a light-emittalbe keyboard, the keyboard including: a key; an elastic member for supporting the key; and a light emitting device positioned at the lower portion of the key, the key comprising: a cap constituting the top face of the key and transmitting light, the cap being provided with a region in which at least one of a character and a symbol is indicated; and a leg positioned at the bottom face of the cap and supported by the elastic member without contacting the region at the bottom face of the cap. [11] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 10, wherein the leg comprises a guide wall positioned outside the region, for guiding light of the light emitting device to the cap. [12] The key used for the light-emittalbe keyboard of Claim 11, wherein the leg comprises a supporting portion positioned inside the guide wall with a gap from the bottom face of the cap.