The invention relates to a lighting keyboard, a backlight module and a lighting substrate and, more particularly, to a lighting keyboard, a backlight module and a lighting substrate capable of enhancing the overall illuminating consistency.
As technology advances, there are many types of keyboards in use. Users pay much more attention to visual effect of keyboard except basic input function while choosing keyboard. So far a lighting keyboard has been developed. The lighting keyboard attracts users in visual effect and can be used in darkness. Since the lighting keyboard of the prior art applies a low luminous light emitting diode (LED) to illuminate each of square keyswitches, the following problems may occur: 1) the main symbol above the LED is over-illuminated and the corner symbol(s) of keycap is too dark; 2) the surrounding outlet for keycap peripheral is inconsistent; and 3) the overall illuminating consistency on a single square keyswitch and on plural keyswitches are both not good.
The invention provides a lighting keyboard, a backlight module and a lighting substrate capable of enhancing the overall illuminating consistency, so as to solve the aforesaid problems.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a lighting keyboard comprises a backlight module and at least one keyswitch. The backlight module comprises a lighting substrate and a protruding structure. The lighting substrate comprises two non-intersecting traces and a light emitting unit. The light emitting unit is connected between the two non-intersecting traces. A position of the protruding structure corresponds to a position of the light emitting unit and the protruding structure is located between the two non-intersecting traces. The at least one keyswitch is disposed on the backlight module.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a backlight module comprises a lighting substrate and a protruding structure. The lighting substrate comprises a first reflective layer, a plurality of micro-structure regions and a light emitting unit. The plurality of micro-structure regions are formed on the first reflective layer. The light emitting unit is located between the plurality of micro-structure regions. A position of the protruding structure corresponds to a position of the light emitting unit and the protruding structure is located between the plurality of micro-structure regions.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a lighting substrate comprises two non-intersecting traces, a light emitting unit and a protruding structure. The light emitting unit is connected between the two non-intersecting traces. A position of the protruding structure corresponds to a position of the light emitting unit and the protruding structure being located between the two non-intersecting traces.
As mentioned in the above, the invention forms the protruding structure between the two non-intersecting traces or the plurality of micro-structure regions, and the position of the protruding structure corresponds to the position of the light emitting unit, such that an upper surface of the light emitting unit is flush with or lower than an upper surface of a light guide panel. Accordingly, the amount of light emitted by the light emitting unit entering the light guide panel can be increased, so as to enhance the overall illuminating consistency.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
Referring to
As shown in
The backlight module BLM comprises a lighting substrate LCB, a light guide panel LGP and a shielding sheet SS. The light guide panel LGP is disposed on the lighting substrate LCB and the shielding sheet SS is disposed on the light guide panel LGP. Each keyswitch KS on the lighting keyboard LKB corresponds to at least one light emitting unit (e.g. LED) on the lighting substrate LCB of the backlight module BLM.
Referring to
As shown in
The first reflective layer RL1 is disposed on the two non-intersecting traces LT, HT and the other two non-intersecting traces STa, STb. The micro-structure regions MS are formed on the first reflective layer RL1. In this embodiment, the micro-structure regions MS may be a concave-convex structure formed on the first reflective layer RL1. For example, the lighting substrate LCB may be composed of a flexible circuit board and a copper mesh may be commonly used to improve the support strength of the circuit board. The first reflective layer RL1 may be formed by coating reflective paint or covering a reflective film on the surface of the flexible circuit board (including the surface of the copper mesh). The grid structure of the copper mesh may make the first reflective layer RL1 form regular concave points. The concave points function as reflective points capable of reflecting light back to the light guide panel LGP. In principle, the copper mesh does not overlap with the traces LT, HT on the flexible circuit board and does not electrically connect the traces STa, STb. In practical applications, the copper mesh can achieve an effect of shielding radio frequency interference, so the copper mesh may be connected to the ground of the traces.
In this embodiment, the micro-structure regions MS comprises two inner micro-structure regions IMS and two outer micro-structure regions OMS, wherein the two inner micro-structure regions IMS are located between the two non-intersecting traces LT, HT, and the two outer micro-structure regions OMS are located beyond the two non-intersecting traces LT, HT. The patterns of the two inner micro-structure regions IMS may be different from the patterns of the two outer micro-structure regions OMS, but the invention is not so limited. The light emitting unit LED is located between the micro-structure regions MS, i.e. the light emitting unit LED is located between the two inner micro-structure regions IMS and also located between the two outer micro-structure regions OMS.
The light guide panel LGP has a light guide hole LO and the light emitting unit LED is located in the light guide hole LO. The top surface and/or the bottom surface of the light guide panel LGP close to the light guide hole LO may have adhesive around the light guide hole LO to adhere the shielding sheet SS and/or the lighting substrate LCB respectively. Furthermore, the light guide panel LGP also has a plurality of micro-structure regions LMS.
The shielding sheet SS comprises a mask layer ML, a second reflective layer RL2 and a protection layer PL, wherein the mask layer ML, the second reflective layer RL2 and the protection layer PL may be stacked with each other by various manners. For example, each of the mask layer ML, the second reflective layer RL2 and the protection layer PL may be stacked on top, middle or bottom to form the shielding sheet SS. The mask layer ML is opaque. The second reflective layer RL2 may have reflective and translucent characteristics at the same time, i.e. the second reflective layer RL2 may reflect part of the light and allow part of the light to pass through. The mask layer ML may be black ink and the second reflective layer RL2 may be white ink, but the invention is not so limited. In this embodiment, the mask layer ML has a mask layer hole MLH and an inner mask layer ML0 located in the mask layer hole MLH, and the second reflective layer RL2 has a reflective layer hole RLH and an inner reflective section RL0 located in the reflective layer hole RLH. The mask layer hole MLH may be larger than, equal to or smaller than the reflective layer hole RLH, and the inner mask layer ML0 may be larger than, equal to or smaller than the inner reflective section RL0, wherein it depends on the desired illuminating effect. The inner mask layer ML0 and the inner reflective section RL0 are located above the light emitting unit LED. In this embodiment, the inner mask layer ML0 and/or the inner reflective section RL0 above the light emitting unit LED is at least partially projected between the two non-intersecting traces LT, HT or between the two non-intersecting traces STa, STb.
Each of the keyswitches KS comprises a part of the support plate SUP. In this embodiment, the support plate SUP has an inner hole Sc, a surrounding rib Sr0, a plurality of bridge ribs Sr1 and a support frame Sf, wherein the surrounding rib Sr0 surrounds the inner hole Sc, and the bridge ribs Sr1 connect the surrounding rib Sr0 and the support frame Sf. Furthermore, there are a plurality of peripheral holes SUPH between the bridge ribs Sr1, the surrounding rib Sr0 and the support frame Sf. In this embodiment, the two inner micro-structure regions IMS at least partially overlap with projections of the inner hole Sc, the surrounding rib Sr0, the bridge ribs Sr1 and/or the support frame Sf. Still further, the two outer micro-structure regions OMS at least partially overlap with projections of the surrounding rib Sr0, the plurality of bridge ribs Sr1 and/or the support frame Sf.
The keyswitch KS comprises a keycap KCC, a support mechanism SSR, a circuit board MEM and a support plate SUP. The keycap KCC is disposed with respect to the support plate SUP. The keycap KCC has an inner outlet KC0 and a plurality of outer outlets KC1, wherein the inner outlet KC0 and the outer outlets KC1 are surrounded by an opaque area KC2. The positions of the inner outlet KC0 and the outer outlets KC1 correspond to the positions of the inner hole Sc and the peripheral holes SUPH of the support plate SUP, such that the light emitted by the light emitting unit LED may be projected from the inner outlet KC0 and the outer outlets KC1 of the keycap KCC through the light guide panel LGP, the shielding sheet SS, the inner hole Sc and the peripheral holes SUPH of the support plate SUP. The support mechanism SSR is disposed between the keycap KCC and the support plate SUP. When the keycap KCC is pressed, the keycap KCC will move vertically toward the support plate SUP along with the support mechanism SSR. Furthermore, a restoration member (not shown) may be further disposed between the keycap KCC and the support plate SUP, wherein the restoration member may be, but is not limited to, a rubber dome. The circuit board MEM may have a switch (e.g. membrane switch or other trigger switches) corresponding to the keyswitch KS.
From top view, the light emitting unit LED, the light guide hole LO, the inner reflective section RL0, the inner mask layer ML0, the inner hole Sc, the inner outlet KC0 and the adhesive around the light guide hole LO may be located between the two non-intersecting traces LT, HT and/or STa, STb.
From top view, the light emitting unit LED, the light guide hole LO, the inner reflective section RL0, the inner mask layer ML0, the inner hole Sc, the inner outlet KC0 and the adhesive around the light guide hole LO may be located between the two inner micro-structure regions IMS.
As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
As mentioned in the above, the invention forms the protruding structure between the two non-intersecting traces or the plurality of micro-structure regions, and the position of the protruding structure corresponds to the position of the light emitting unit, such that an upper surface of the light emitting unit is flush with or lower than an upper surface of a light guide panel. Accordingly, the amount of light emitted by the light emitting unit entering the light guide panel can be increased, so as to enhance the overall illuminating consistency.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
111113486 | Apr 2022 | TW | national |
112108658 | Mar 2023 | TW | national |
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/325,623, filed on Mar. 31, 2022. Further, this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/430,675, filed on Dec. 7, 2022. Further, this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/378,261, filed on Oct. 4, 2022. Further, this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/368,272, filed on Jul. 13, 2022. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63325623 | Mar 2022 | US | |
63430675 | Dec 2022 | US | |
63378261 | Oct 2022 | US | |
63368272 | Jul 2022 | US |