Patent Application
20140216908
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to a keyboard assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
A notebook computer usually includes a keyboard and a backlight unit. The backlight unit lights the keyboard. With the trend towards miniaturization, there is a need for decreasing the thickness of the keyboard and the backlight unit.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”
The keyboard unit 10 includes a base panel 11 and a plurality of keys 13 mounted on the base panel 11. The base panel 11 defines a plurality of through holes 111.
The securing bracket 30 defines a plurality of receiving holes 31 corresponding to the keys 13. A touch panel 33 is mounted on the securing bracket 30. The securing bracket 30 includes a separating rim 311 located between two adjacent receiving holes 31. The securing bracket 30 defines a plurality of securing holes 313 located in the rims 311. The securing holes 313 correspond to the through holes 111 of the base panel 11. The securing bracket 30 further defines a plurality of mounting holes 35 for receiving light members (not shown). In one embodiment, the light members are LEDs.
The shape of the outer panel 50 matches the shape of the securing bracket 30. The outer panel 50 includes a transmission portion 51 and a light shield layer 53 attached to the transmission portion 51. In one embodiment, the transmission portion 51 is made of glass.
The transmission portion 51 defines a plurality of light holes 511 and an opening 513 corresponding to the touch panel 33. The light hole 511 includes an inner surface 5111. The light members are configured to pass through the mounting holes 35 to light the transmission portion 51 of the outer panel 50.
The keyboard assembly is mounted to a printed circuit board (not shown). The printed circuit board includes a plurality of light members (not shown). The light members pass through the mounting holes 35. In use, the light from the light members emits into the transmission portion 51 of the outer panel 50. And then the light is reflected by the light shield layer 53 to emit into the light holes 511 via the inner surfaces 5111, thereby lighting the keys 13 in the light holes 511. The thickness of the notebook computer is decreased as the outer panel 50 acts as the backlight unit lighting the keys 13.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102104491 | Feb 2013 | TW | national |
