IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,018,554
Granted Patent B2
US 9,018,554 · App. 13/645,718 · Granted Apr 28, 2015

Luminescent keyswitch module and keyboard thereof

Inventor: Chien-Shuo Chen (Taoyuan County, TW)
Assignee: Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
H01H13/83H01H3/125H01H2219/014H01H2219/056H01H2219/06H01H2219/062
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,018,554
App. No.
13/645,718
Granted
Apr 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A luminescent keyswitch module includes a base plate, a keyswitch, a light guide plate, a light source, a diffusion structure, and a reflector. The keyswitch is disposed on the base plate. The light guide plate, disposed under the base plate, has an accommodating space communicated with a through hole of the base plate. The light source passes through the through hole, is accommodated in the accommodating space, and emits light having a first divergence angle. The diffusion structure is accommodated in the accommodating space and located between the light source and the light guide plate. The light passes through the diffusion structure. The light leaving the second light exit surface has a second divergence angle larger than the first divergence angle. The reflector is disposed under the light guide plate, so as to reflect the light to pass through the light guide plate and the base plate to the keyswitch.

Claims (30)

1. A luminescent keyswitch module comprising:

a base plate having a through hole;

a keyswitch disposed on the base plate;

a light guide plate disposed under the base plate and having an accommodating space, wherein the accommodating space is communicated with the through hole;

a light source passing through the through hole and accommodated in the accommodating space, the light source having a first light exit surface and emitting light from the first light exit surface, and the light leaving the first light exit surface having a first divergence angle;

a diffusion structure accommodated in the accommodating space and located between the light source and the light guide plate, the diffusion structure having a light entrance surface and a second light exit surface, the light leaving the first light exit surface then entering the diffusion structure from the light entrance surface and leaving the diffusion structure from the second light exit surface, wherein the light leaving the second light exit surface has a second divergence angle, and the second divergence angle is larger than the first divergence angle, wherein the shape of the diffusion structure substantially matches the accommodating space, and the light source is sleevedly disposed in the diffusion structure; and

a reflector disposed under the light guide plate, so as to reflect the light to sequentially pass through the light guide plate and the base plate to the keyswitch.

2. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , wherein the radius of curvature of the second light exit surface is smaller than the radius of curvature of the light entrance surface.

3. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 2 , wherein the light entrance surface is a planar surface, and the second light exit surface is a curved surface.

4. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , wherein the second divergence angle is smaller than or equal to 160 degrees.

5. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is flatly attached to the bottom of the light guide plate and mounted to the bottom of the light source.

6. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board disposed on the base plate and covering the through hole for electrically connecting the light source.

7. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 6 , wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board.

8. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board disposed on the base plate and covering the through hole for generating a trigger signal according to a trigger action of the keyswitch and supplying power to the light source.

9. The luminescent keyswitch module of claim 8 , wherein the circuit board is a membrane circuit board.

10. A keyboard comprising:

a base plate having a through hole;

a plurality of keyswitches disposed on the base plate;

a light guide plate disposed under the base plate and having an accommodating space, wherein the accommodating space is communicated with the through hole;

a light source passing through the through hole and accommodated in the accommodating space, the light source having a first light exit surface and emitting light from the first light exit surface, and the light leaving the first light exit surface having a first divergence angle;

a diffusion structure accommodated in the accommodating space and located between the light source and the light guide plate, the diffusion structure having a light entrance surface and a second light exit surface, the light leaving the first light exit surface then entering the diffusion structure from the light entrance surface and leaving the diffusion structure from the second light exit surface, wherein the light leaving the second light exit surface has a second divergence angle, and the second divergence angle is larger than the first divergence angle, wherein the shape of the diffusion structure substantially matches the accommodating space, and the light source is sleevedly disposed in the diffusion structure; and

a reflector disposed under the light guide plate, so as to reflect the light to sequentially pass through the light guide plate and the base plate to the keyswitches.

11. The keyboard of claim 10 , wherein the radius of curvature of the second light exit surface is smaller than the radius of curvature of the light entrance surface.

12. The keyboard of claim 11 , wherein the light entrance surface is a planar surface, and the second light exit surface is a curved surface.

13. The keyboard of claim 10 , wherein the second divergence angle is smaller than or equal to 160 degrees.

14. The keyboard of claim 10 , further comprising a circuit board disposed on the base plate and covering the through hole for electrically connecting the light source.

15. The keyboard of claim 14 , wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board.

16. The keyboard of claim 10 , wherein the base plate has at least one extension portion outside of the peripheral edge of the light guide plate, and the reflector is flatly attached to the light guide plate and mounted to the extension portion.

17. The keyboard of claim 10 , further comprising a circuit board disposed on the base plate and covering the through hole for generating a trigger signal according to a trigger action of the keyswitch and supplying power to the light source.

18. The keyboard of claim 17 , wherein the circuit board is a membrane circuit board.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2012
From: CHEN, CHIEN-SHUO
To: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029083/0538 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 101216820 U · Aug 31, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140061017A1 · Mar 6, 2014