IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,860,401
Granted Patent B2
US 11,860,401 · App. 17/871,988 · Granted Jan 2, 2024

Input apparatus

Inventor: Yi-Wen Chen (Taipei, TW)
Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED; Lite-On Technology Corporation
G02B6/0055G06F1/169G06F3/0213H01H13/14H01H13/83H01H2219/06
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 11,860,401
App. No.
17/871,988
Granted
Jan 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input apparatus includes a reflection layer, a light guide plate, a first light source, a second light source and a light absorption member. The light guide plate is disposed on the reflection layer and includes a first light guide region and a second light guide region connected with each other by a junction, a first area of the first light guide region is different from a second area of the second light guide region. The first light source corresponds to the first light guide region. The second light source corresponds to the second light guide region, the light guide plate has a first opening structure disposed between the first light source and the second light source. The light absorption member is disposed at a position corresponding to the first opening structure.

Claims (22)

1. An input apparatus, comprising:

a reflection layer;

a light guide plate, being disposed on the reflection layer and comprising a first light guide region and a second light guide region connected with each other by a junction, wherein a first area of the first light guide region is different from a second area of the second light guide region;

a first light source corresponding to the first light guide region;

a second light source corresponding to the second light guide region, wherein the light guide plate has a first opening structure disposed between the first light source and the second light source; and

a light absorption member disposed at a position corresponding to the first opening structure.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light absorption member is an ink layer or an adhesive layer arranged on the reflection layer.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide plate has a second opening structure corresponding to the junction, the second opening structure has a second closed end faces a first closed end of the first opening structure.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first opening structure and the second opening structure have respective contours.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first closed end and the second closed end are disposed on opposite sides of the junction.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first opening structure and the second opening structure are aligned to a first axis, and the first light source and the second light source are aligned to a second axis not parallel to the first axis.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first opening structure and the second opening are of unequal widths along a longitudinal axis of the light guide plate.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide plate comprises a first recess and a second recess, the first light source is disposed corresponding to the first recess, and the second light source is disposed corresponding to the second recess.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising keycaps disposed on the light guide plate, wherein a first group of keycaps corresponding to the first light guide region and a second group of keycaps corresponding to the second light guide region are different in number.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the junction is disposed corresponding to a position between two adjacent keycaps of the keycaps.

11. The input apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein a width of the first opening structure along a longitudinal axis of the light guide plate is less than a width of the keycap along the longitudinal axis.

12. The input apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a mask layer between the light guide plate and the keycaps, wherein the mask layer comprises light-transmittable openings corresponding to the keycaps.

13. The input apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the light absorption member is an ink layer or an adhesive layer arranged on the mask layer.

14. The input apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein a part of the reflection layer or a part of the mask layer extends toward the first opening structure, and the light absorption member is disposed on at least one of the reflection layer and the mask layer.

15. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first opening structure has a circular portion corresponding to a position between two adjacent keycaps.

16. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first opening structure passes through a longitudinal side of the light guide plate.

17. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the junction is not parallel to a longitudinal side of the light guide plate.

Priority Claims (1)
CN 201811493155.8 · Dec 7, 2018 · national
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17167045 · Feb 3, 2021
Continuation In Part 16524187 · Jul 29, 2019
Provisional Application 62712993 · Aug 1, 2018
Related Publication 20220357502A1 · Nov 10, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,352,995