IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,381,047
Granted Patent B2
US 12,381,047 · App. 18/358,497 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Keyboard and key module thereof

Inventors: Chun-Ting Lin (New Taipei, TW); Chun-Wei Chien (New Taipei, TW); Lyu-Cyuan Zeng (New Taipei, TW)
Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
H01H13/10G02B6/0091H01H13/023H01H13/14H01H2219/062H01H2221/044H01H2221/056H01H2221/066
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 12,381,047
App. No.
18/358,497
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A keyboard includes a circuit board module and a key module. The key module includes a keycap, a connecting seat, a connecting assembly and an elastic member. The connecting seat is disposed on the circuit board module. The connecting seat has an opening. One end of the connecting assembly connects to the keycap, and the other end connects to the connecting seat. The elastic member is disposed in the opening of the connecting seat, and the connecting seat presses against the elastic member.

Claims (28)

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a circuit board module; and

a key module, comprising:

a keycap;

a connecting seat disposed on the circuit board module and comprising an opening and a holding portion, the holding portion located on a periphery of the opening and extending into the opening;

a connecting assembly, having one end connecting to the keycap and the other end connecting to the connecting seat; and

an elastic member disposed in the opening of the connecting seat, and wherein the holding portion of the connecting seat presses against the elastic member.

2. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a dome structure, and the holding portion presses a bottom periphery of the elastic member.

3. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting seat further comprises a first fixing portion located on the periphery of the opening, the elastic member further comprises a second fixing portion located on an outer side of the elastic member, and the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are mutually matched and connected.

4. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting seat further comprises at least two first positioning portions, the circuit board module further comprises at least two second positioning portions, and the at least two first positioning portions and the at least two second positioning portions are mutually matched.

5. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting seat further comprises a disassembly groove disposed on a surface of the connecting seat facing the circuit board module and located on a side wall of the connecting seat.

6. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circuit board module further comprises a membrane circuit board, which comprises a membrane top layer, a membrane space layer and a membrane bottom layer, and the hardness of the membrane bottom layer is higher than those of the membrane top layer and the membrane space layer.

7. The keyboard as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the membrane bottom layer is a fiberglass board.

8. The keyboard as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the circuit board module comprises a light source disposed on the membrane bottom layer.

9. The keyboard as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the circuit board module comprises a light guide plate disposed above the membrane circuit board.

10. The keyboard as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the circuit board module comprises a masking plate disposed above the light guide plate.

11. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circuit board module comprises a printed circuit board, and the elastic member is a carbon black rubber dome.

12. The keyboard as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the circuit board module comprises a light source disposed on the printed circuit board.

13. The keyboard as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the circuit board module comprises a light guide plate disposed above the printed circuit board.

14. A key module, applied to a keyboard comprising a circuit board module, the key module comprising:

a keycap;

a connecting seat disposed on the circuit board module and comprising an opening and a holding portion, the holding portion located on a periphery of the opening and extending into the opening;

a connecting assembly, having one end connecting to the keycap and the other end connecting to the connecting seat; and

an elastic member disposed in the opening of the connecting seat, and wherein the holding portion of the connecting seat presses against the elastic member.

15. The key module as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the elastic member is a dome structure, and the holding portion presses a bottom periphery of the elastic member.

16. The key module as claimed in claim 14 wherein the connecting seat further comprises a first fixing portion located on the periphery of the opening, the elastic member further comprises a second fixing portion located on an outer side of the elastic member, and the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are mutually matched and connected.

17. The key module as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the connecting seat further comprises at least two first positioning portions, the circuit board module further comprises at least two second positioning portions, and the two first positioning portions and the two second positioning portions are mutually matched.

18. The key module as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the connecting seat further comprises a disassembly groove disposed on a surface of the connecting seat facing the circuit board module and located on a side wall of the connecting seat.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2023
From: LIN, CHUN-TING; CHIEN, CHUN-WEI; ZENG, LYU-CYUAN
To: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064537/0454 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 112104476 · Feb 8, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240266125A1 · Aug 8, 2024
References Cited (8)
US 10134543B2 · Lin · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20090128496A1 · Huang · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20190228930A1 · Lin · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 116344250A · 2023 [cited by examiner]
TW 411003U · 2000 [cited by applicant]
TW 200529048A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
TW M561842U · 2018 [cited by applicant]
TW 201837947A · 2018 [cited by applicant]