This application claims priority from Japanese Application Serial No. 2002-076158, filed Mar. 19, 2002.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keyboard for use in a word processor or computer, and relates in particular to a keyboard spill-proofing mechanism that prevents the inflow of water droplets, coffee or other liquids to a membrane sheet having an electrical circuit inside the keyboard.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical problem faced by keyboard users is that when a beverage such as coffee is spilled on a keyboard of a computer or word processor, the liquid reaches circuit boards with sensitive electronic components within the keyboard and results in short circuits or other electrical problems. In the past, sealing parts were positioned around circuit boards in the places where liquids could possibly enter the keyboard so that liquids would not reach the circuit boards or other sensitive components. In this keyboard design, the circuit boards were sealed by pressing and joining the sealing parts with a joining piece, etc. between the keyboard upper and lower covers, thus preventing the penetration of liquids to the circuit board.
As described above, placing the sealing parts around a circuit board and pressure joining the sealing parts to an upper cover and a lower cover may result in water tightness or spill proofing the circuit board. However, the sealing parts must be placed under a considerable amount of adhesion pressure in order to achieve the desired level of spill proofing. Accordingly, a disadvantage of this design is that to obtain rigidity sufficient to withstand the significant amount of the required adhesion pressure, the slab thickness of peripheral parts, etc. must be increased. An increased thickness of such parts results in a thicker keyboard. Another disadvantage of this design is that there is also a necessity to control accuracies in the assembly process in order attain the desired level of spill proofing obtained by adhesion pressure. Such increased production requirements result in a decline in work efficiency.
Another spill-proofing keyboard design is found in Laid Open Japanese Patent No. 2001-228950. This patent discloses a waterproof keyboard device equipped with a keyboard unit, an enclosure, and absorptive pieces. The enclosure is comprised of holders that hold the keyboard unit, and a housing that houses a printed circuit board. The absorptive pieces are placed around the holders to absorb liquids and to prevent spillage onto the circuit board. These absorptive pieces are comprised of a water-permeable surface sheet and a water-impermeable underside sheet. Additionally, an absorptive hydroscopic polymer is positioned between the surface and underside sheet of the absorptive pieces. A disadvantage of this design is that the structure of the absorptive pieces is complex and may result in increased production costs.
Accordingly, the object of present invention is to eliminate some of the disadvantages found in the prior art and to provide a keyboard spill-proofing mechanism with a simple structure that prevents the inflow or spillage of liquids onto a circuit board, membrane sheet having an electrical circuit. Another object of the present invention is to design a simple structure for preventing keyboard damage caused by liquids so that the manufacturing costs of such a keyboard are minimized and work efficiency is improved.
In general the first aspect of the present invention features a keyboard spill-proofing mechanism that includes a top case, wherein that top case engages a plurality of key caps so that the key caps are allowed to slide freely. The keyboard also includes a membrane sheet position below the top case. The membrane sheet includes multiple layers that have electrical circuits. The electrical circuits detect the off/on state of the key caps when they are pressed. Moreover, the keyboard includes a back plate positioned below the membrane sheet. A waterproof base sheet is positioned between the top case and the membrane sheet. The waterproof base sheet includes a plurality of rubber springs connected thereon that transmit the off/on state of the key caps to the electrical circuits in the membrane sheet. The waterproof base sheet may also be designed to include multiple blocking portions that project upward from the waterproof base sheet so as to prevent spilled liquid from flowing onto the membrane sheet.
Embodiments of the present invention may further include one or more of the following features. Blocking portions that project upward from the waterproof base sheet may be formed around the outer perimeter of the waterproof base sheet. Moreover, blocking portions which project upward from the waterproof base sheet may also be formed around the outer perimeter of a plurality openings formed in the waterproof base sheet. The blocking portions that project upward from the waterproof base sheet are of a height that can prevent liquids from flowing onto the membrane sheet. The height of such blocking portions may be 0.2 mm.
The membrane sheet is multi-layered and may further include a spacer sheet that is disposed between the multiple sheet layers having electrical circuits. The waterproof base sheet may be made of an adhesive material, such as PET film or the like. Moreover, the waterproof base sheet may also include a plurality of rubber springs having a coned-shape connected to its surface. The multiple rubber springs may be connected to the waterproof base sheet with an adhesive material. The top case may further include connecting bosses that connect the top case to the back plate by allowing the connecting bosses to penetrate the plurality of openings in the waterproof base sheet.
The keyboard spill-proofing mechanism of the present invention features blocking portions that project upward from the perimeter of a waterproof base sheet and openings that substantially reduce the possibility that liquid spilled on such a keyboard will damage the electronic circuits therein. This blocking structure can be manufactured simply and inexpensively.
The above aspects, advantages and features are of representative embodiments only. It should be understood that they are not to be considered limitations on the invention as defined by the claims. Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims.
The invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation and the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references denote like or corresponding parts, and in which:
Referring to
Membrane sheet 4 contains through-holes 4d and is positioned below waterproof base sheet 5. Back plate 6 is positioned below membrane sheet 4. Back plate 6 may be made from a thin metal or the like and has a rectangular-shape similar to that of membrane sheet 4. Bottom case 7 is positioned below back plate 6. Attachment screws 10 are inserted through back plate 6, waterproof base sheet 5 and membrane sheet 4 and into connecting boss 3c of top case 3 so as to securely maintain the relative positions of back plate 6, membrane sheet 4 and waterproof base sheet 5 to top case 3.
The keyboard waterproof mechanism of the present invention can therefore significantly reduce or eliminate any damage that may result from the accidental spilling of liquids onto the keyboard. Accordingly, when a liquid is spilled on the keyboard of the present invention, the majority of the liquid that leaks between key caps 2 will flow into drain holes 3e and drain out from the keyboard, as shown by arrows 50 in
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention any small quantity of excess liquid that is spilled onto top case 3 and flows onto waterproof base sheet 5 will be prevented from flowing onto and damaging membrane sheet 4 by causing electrical short or other electrical problems. More specifically, waterproof base sheet 5 is designed such that upward projects are formed in waterproof base sheet 5 around openings 5b that ensure that the flow of liquid is prevented from entering such openings and flowing onto membrane sheet 4 below.
Further, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention top case 3 and back plate 6 are connected by connecting bosses 3c which are disposed in top case 3 and penetrate openings in waterproof base sheet 5, and membrane sheet 4.
Further, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention blocking portions 5c are formed in waterproof base sheet 5 and are of a specified height.
The block portions described above can be easily designed with simple structures so as to reduce manufacturing costs.
In the foregoing description, the apparatus of the present invention have been described with reference to specific examples. It is to be understood and expected that variations in the principles of the apparatus herein disclosed may be made by one skilled in the art and it is intended that such modifications, changes, and substitutions are to be included within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2002-076158 | Mar 2002 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
6054939 | Wei et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6156983 | Chen et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6444928 | Okamoto et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6688790 | Ito | Feb 2004 | B1 |
6690360 | Johnston et al. | Feb 2004 | B1 |
6717083 | Chen et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20030179540 A1 | Sep 2003 | US |