Patent Application
20140367238
The present invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly to a luminous keyboard device.
Generally, the widely-used peripheral input device of a computer system includes for example a mouse device, a keyboard device, a trackball device, or the like. Via the keyboard device, characters and symbols can be inputted into the computer system directly. As a consequence, most users and most manufacturers of the input devices pay much attention to the development of keyboard devices. That is, the manufacturers of the input devices make efforts in designing novel keyboard devices with diversified functions. For operating the keyboard device in a dark environment, one of the conventional approaches is to install an electroluminance plate within the keyboard device and use the electroluminance plate as a light source. When the electroluminance plate is powered by electricity, the electroluminance plate is enabled to emit a light beam, and thus the keyboard device exhibits luminous efficacy. However, since the electroluminescence plate is only able to emit a monochromatic light beam, the conventional luminous keyboard device can only exhibit a single light color. In another conventional approach of operating the keyboard device in a dark environment, light emitting diodes (LED) are installed under respective keys to be used as dot light sources. However, the approach of installing the light emitting diodes under respective keys may increase the fabricating cost of the luminous keyboard device and reduce the heat-dissipating efficiency of the luminous keyboard device.
For solving the above two drawbacks, a luminous keyboard device is disclosed in for example Taiwanese Patent Publication No. TW200945113.
In the illumination module 200, the first light-emitting element 240 is used for emitting a first color light beam (e.g. a white light beam) to the first light-guiding region 222. The second light-emitting element 250 is used for emitting a second color light beam (e.g. a blue light beam) to the second light-guiding region 224. The first light-guiding region 222 and the second light-guiding region 224 are separated from each other by the light-shading region 226, so that the first color light beam and the second color light beam are not mixed with each other.
The light-shading member 210 has a predetermined pattern. The first color light beam from the first light-emitting element 240 and the second color light beam from the second light-guiding region 224 are transmissible through the predetermined pattern, so that the possibility of scattering the light beams will be reduced. Moreover, the light-shading member 210 may be a light-shading pigment layer or a thin resin film with a light-shading pigment coating. For example, the thin resin film is a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) thin film or a polyvinylchloride (PVC) thin film. The light-shading member 210 has plural openings 215 corresponding to the positions of the keys to be illuminated. Consequently, the light beams can be guided by the light guide plate 220 to be directed to the corresponding keys (e.g. the keys 112 and 114). Moreover, for preventing the light beams from being scattered through the region between every two adjacent keys, the openings 215 of the light-shading member 210 are slightly smaller than the corresponding keys (see
The light guide plate 220 is located under the light-shading member 210 for guiding the first color light beam and the second color light beam, so that the light guide plate 220 is served as a light transfer medium. The first light-guiding region 222, the second light-guiding region 224 and the light-shading region 226 of the light guide plate 220 are integrally formed with each other. Moreover, the second light-guiding region 224 is surrounded by the light-shading region 226 (i.e. the gap), so that the first light-guiding region 222, the second light-guiding region 224 and the light-shading region 226 are respectively defined (see
The first light-emitting element 240 and the second light-emitting element 250 are light emitting diodes for emitting different color light beams, so that the predetermined positions of the keypad module 100 are illuminated in different colors. For example, the first light-emitting element 240 is a white light LED and the second light-emitting element 250 is a blue light LED. Consequently, the keypad module 100 will exhibit a white-color area (e.g. the position of key 112) and a blue-color area (e.g. the position of the key 114).
From the above discussions, the structures and operating principles of the conventional luminous keyboard device 10 for exhibiting various light colors have been described. The keys of the luminous keyboard device 10 may exhibit various colors for facilitating the user to recognize and operate the keys of the luminous keyboard device 10 in a dark environment. However, the processes of additionally installing the second light-emitting element 250, the second light-guiding region 224 and the light-shading region 226 in the light guide plate 220 are very complicated, very difficult and time-consuming. In other words, the fabricating cost of the luminous keyboard device 10 is increased.
Therefore, there is a need of providing a luminous keyboard device that is fabricated in a simplified process.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a luminous keyboard device that is fabricated in a simplified process.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a luminous keyboard device with reduced fabricating cost.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a luminous keyboard device. The luminous keyboard device includes a keypad module, a supporting plate, an illumination circuit board, a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element, a first light guide plate, and a second light guide plate. The keypad module is exposed to a top surface of the luminous keyboard device. The supporting plate is located under the keypad module and connected with the keypad module for supporting the keypad module. The supporting plate includes a first supporting plate opening and a second supporting plate opening. The illumination circuit board is located near the supporting plate for providing electric power. The first light-emitting element is disposed on a top surface of the illumination circuit board. In response to the electric power, the first light-emitting element emits a first color light beam. The second light-emitting element is disposed on a bottom surface of the illumination circuit board. In response to the electric power, the second light-emitting element emits a second color light beam. The first light guide plate is arranged between the keypad module and the supporting plate for guiding the first color light beam to be directed to a first light-outputting zone of the keypad module. The second light guide plate is located under the supporting plate for guiding the second color light beam to be directed to a second light-outputting zone of the keypad module through the first supporting plate opening. When the first color light beam is guided by the first light guide plate to be projected on a third light-outputting zone of the keypad module and when the second color light beam is guided by the second light guide plate to be projected on the third light-outputting zone through the second supporting plate opening, the first color light beam and the second color light beam projected on the third light-outputting zone are mixed as a third color light beam.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a luminous keyboard device. The luminous keyboard device includes a keypad module, a supporting plate, an illumination circuit board, a light-mixing type light-emitting element, a first light guide plate, and a second light guide plate. The keypad module is exposed to a top surface of the luminous keyboard device. The supporting plate is located under the keypad module and connected with the keypad module for supporting the keypad module. The supporting plate includes a first supporting plate opening and a second supporting plate opening. The illumination circuit board is located near the supporting plate for providing electric power. The light-mixing type light-emitting element is disposed on a top surface of the illumination circuit board and located near the supporting plate. The light-mixing type light-emitting element includes a first light-emitting part and a second light-emitting part. The first light-emitting element emits a first color light beam in response to the electric power. The second light-emitting element emits a second color light beam in response to the electric power. The first light guide plate is arranged between the keypad module and the supporting plate for guiding the first color light beam to be directed to a first light-outputting zone of the keypad module. The second light guide plate is located under the supporting plate for guiding the second color light beam to be directed to a second light-outputting zone of the keypad module through the first supporting plate opening. When the first color light beam is guided by the first light guide plate to be projected on a third light-outputting zone of the keypad module and when the second color light beam is guided by the second light guide plate to be projected on the third light-outputting zone through the second supporting plate opening, the first color light beam and the second color light beam projected on the third light-outputting zone are mixed as a third color light beam.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
For eliminating the drawbacks encountered from the prior art, the present invention provides a luminous keyboard device.
In this embodiment, the luminous keyboard device 3 is a keyboard device for a notebook computer (not shown). Moreover, the connecting element 3012 is a scissors-type connecting element, and the elastic element 3013 is a light-transmissible rubbery elastomer. It is noted that the connecting element 3012 is not restricted to the scissors-type connecting element. For example, in some other embodiments, the connecting element is implemented by another connecting structure.
The supporting plate 31 is located under the keypad module 30 and connected with the plural connecting elements 3012 of the keypad module 30 for supporting the keypad module 30. The supporting plate 31 comprises plural first supporting plate openings 311 and plural second supporting plate openings 312. Each of the first supporting plate openings 311 is aligned with a corresponding second light-outputting zone 3011B and located under the corresponding second light-outputting zone 3011B. Each of the second supporting plate openings 312 is aligned with a corresponding third light-outputting zone 3011C and located under the corresponding third light-outputting zone 3011C. Moreover, the supporting plate 31 is made of an opaque material.
The illumination circuit board 32 is located near the supporting plate 31 and located at a lateral edge 313 of the supporting plate 31 for providing electric power to the first light-emitting element 33 and the second light-emitting element 34. The first light-emitting element 33 is disposed on a top surface 321 of the illumination circuit board 32. By acquiring the electric power, the first light-emitting element 33 emits a first color light beam B1. The second light-emitting element 34 is disposed on a bottom surface 322 of the illumination circuit board 32. By acquiring the electric power, the second light-emitting element 34 emits a second color light beam B2. In this embodiment, the illumination circuit board 32 is a flexible circuit board. Moreover, both of the first light-emitting element 33 and the second light-emitting element 34 are side-view light-emitting diodes. The first color light beam B1 is a red light beam, and the second color light beam B2 is a blue light beam.
Please refer to
The second light guide plate 36 comprises plural third light-guiding parts 361 and plural fourth light-guiding parts 362. Each of the third light-guiding parts 361 is aligned with a corresponding second light-outputting zone 3011B. In particular, each of the third light-guiding parts 361 is disposed on a bottom surface 363 of the second light guide plate 36 and located under the corresponding second light-outputting zone 3011B for guiding the second color light beam B2 to be directed upwardly to the corresponding second light-outputting zone 3011B through the corresponding first supporting plate opening 311 of the supporting plate 31 and the first light guide plate 35. Each of the fourth light-guiding parts 362 is aligned with a corresponding third light-outputting zone 3011C. In particular, each of the fourth light-guiding parts 362 is disposed on the bottom surface 363 of the second light guide plate 36 and located under the corresponding third light-outputting zone 3011C for guiding the second color light beam B2 to be directed upwardly to the corresponding third light-outputting zone 3011C through the corresponding second supporting plate opening 312 and the first light guide plate 35. In this embodiment, the first light-guiding parts 351, the second light-guiding parts 352, the third light-guiding parts 361 and the fourth light-guiding parts 362 are all V-cut microstructures. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the first light-guiding parts, the second light-guiding parts, the third light-guiding parts and the fourth light-guiding parts are all texturing structures. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the third light-guiding parts and the fourth light-guiding parts are light-guiding ink layers. However, if the light-guiding ink layers are used as the first light-guiding parts and the second light-guiding parts, the underlying optical path of the second color light beam B2 will be hindered by the light-guiding ink layers. In other words, the light-guiding ink layers cannot be used as the first light-guiding parts and the second light-guiding parts.
Due to the structures of the first light guide plate 35 and the second light guide plate 36, the first color light beam B1 and the second color light beam B2 are subjected to total internal reflection within the first light guide plate 35 and the second light guide plate 36, respectively. Moreover, after the first color light beam B1 is projected on the first light-guiding parts 351 or the second light-guiding parts 352, the first color light beam B1 is directed upwardly to the first light-outputting zones 3011A or the third light-outputting zones 3011C. Moreover, after the second color light beam B2 is projected on the third light-guiding parts 361 or the fourth light-guiding parts 362, the second color light beam B2 is directed upwardly to the second light-outputting zones 3011B or the third light-outputting zones 3011C.
The inner structure of the membrane switch circuit member 302 of the keypad module 30 will be illustrated in more details as follows. The membrane switch circuit member 302 is arranged between the supporting plate 31 and the plural keys 301. When the membrane switch circuit member 302 is triggered by the plural keys 301, plural key signals are correspondingly generated. In this embodiment, the membrane switch circuit member 302 comprises an upper wiring board 3021, a spacer layer 3022 and a lower wiring board 3023. The upper wiring board 3021 has plural upper contacts 3021A. The spacer layer 3022 is located under the upper wiring board 3021. Moreover, the spacer layer 3022 comprises plural perforations 3022A corresponding to the plural upper contacts 3021A. When the membrane switch circuit member 302 is depressed, a corresponding upper contact 3021A is inserted into the corresponding perforation 3022A. The lower wiring board 3023 is located under the spacer layer 3022. Moreover, the lower wiring board 3023 comprises plural lower contacts 3023A corresponding to the plural upper contacts 3021A. The plural upper contacts 3021A, the plural perforations 3022A and the plural lower contacts 3023A are collectively defined as plural key switches 3024.
The reflecting part 37 is located under the second light guide plate 36 for reflecting the second color light beam B2. Consequently, the second color light beam B2 is directed upwardly and introduced into the second light guide plate 36 again. Under this circumstance, the utilization efficiency of the second color light beam B2 is enhanced. In this embodiment, the reflecting part 37 is a reflecting plate.
The illumination of the luminous keyboard device 3 will be illustrated as follows. When the luminous keyboard device 3 is driven and enabled, the first light-emitting element 33 and the second light-emitting element 34 emit the first color light beam B1 and the second color light beam B2, respectively. Since the illumination circuit board 32 is arranged between the first light-emitting element 33 and the second light-emitting element 34, the first color light beam B1 and the second color light beam B2 are separated by the illumination circuit board 32 and the first color light beam B1 and the second color light beam B2 are not mixed with each other. After the first color light beam B1 is introduced into the first light guide plate 35, the first color light beam B1 is subjected to total internal reflection within the first light guide plate 35. When the first color light beam B1 is projected on the plural first light-guiding parts 351, the total internal reflection of the first color light beam B1 is destroyed by the plural first light-guiding parts 351, and the first color light beam B1 is guided by the plural first light-guiding parts 351 to be directed upwardly. Under this circumstance, the first color light beam B1 is directed to the plural first light-outputting zones 3011A through the membrane switch circuit member 302, and thus the plural first light-outputting zones 3011A of the keycaps 3011 are illuminated by a red light beam.
On the other hand, after the second color light beam B2 is introduced into the second light guide plate 36, the second color light beam B2 is subjected to total internal reflection within the second light guide plate 36. When the second color light beam B2 is projected on the plural third light-guiding parts 361, the total internal reflection of the second color light beam B2 is destroyed by the plural third light-guiding parts 361, and the second color light beam B2 is guided by the plural third light-guiding parts 361 to be directed upwardly. Under this circumstance, the second color light beam B2 is directed to the plural second light-outputting zones 3011B through the first supporting plate opening 311, the first light guide plate 35 and the membrane switch circuit member 302 sequentially. Meanwhile, the plural second light-outputting zones 3011B of the keycaps 3011 are illuminated by a blue light beam. Moreover, during the process of directing the second color light beam B2 to the second light-outputting zones 3011B, the second color light beam B2 is transmitted through the first light guide plate 35, but is not subjected to total internal reflection within the first light guide plate 35. Since the second color light beam B2 is not influenced by the first color light beam B1, the second color light beam B2 is not mixed with the first color light beam B1.
The portion of the first color light beam B1 that is not projected on the plural first light-guiding parts 351 of the first light guide plate 35 is continuously subjected to total internal reflection within the first light guide plate 35. When the first color light beam B1 is projected on the plural second light-guiding parts 352, the total internal reflection of the first color light beam B1 is destroyed by the plural second light-guiding parts 352, and the first color light beam B1 is guided by the plural second light-guiding parts 352 to be directed upwardly. Under this circumstance, the first color light beam B1 is directed to the plural third light-outputting zones 3011C through the membrane switch circuit member 302. Similarly, the portion of the second color light beam B2 that is not projected on the plural third light-guiding parts 361 of the second light guide plate 36 is continuously subjected to total internal reflection within the second light guide plate 36. When the second color light beam B2 is projected on the plural fourth light-guiding parts 362, the total internal reflection of the second color light beam B2 is destroyed by the plural fourth light-guiding parts 362, and the second color light beam B2 is guided by the plural fourth light-guiding parts 362 to be directed upwardly. Under this circumstance, the second color light beam B2 is directed to the plural third light-outputting zones 3011C through the second supporting plate opening 312, the first light guide plate 35 and the membrane switch circuit member 302 sequentially. After the second color light beam B2 is departed from the membrane switch circuit member 302 and before the second color light beam B2 is projected on the third light-outputting zones 3011C, the second color light beam B2 and the first color light beam B1 are mixed as a third color light beam B3. Consequently, the plural third light-outputting zones 3011C are illuminated by the third color light beam B3. In this embodiment, the third color light beam B3 is a purple light beam.
Of course, during the total internal reflection of the second color light beam B2 within the second light guide plate 36, a portion of the second color light beam B2 is possibly leaked from the second light guide plate 36. The portion of the second color light beam B2 leaked from the second light guide plate 36 can be reflected by the reflecting part 37, which is located under the second light guide plate 36. Consequently, the leaked portion of the second color light beam B2 is introduced into the second light guide plate 36 again, and the utilization efficiency of the second color light beam B2 is enhanced.
From the above discussions of
The present invention further provides a luminous keyboard device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Except for the following five items, the structures and the operations of the luminous keyboard device 4 of this embodiment are substantially identical to those of the luminous keyboard device 3 of the first embodiment, and are not redundantly described herein.
Firstly, the illumination circuit board 42 of the luminous keyboard device 4 of this embodiment is not located at a lateral edge of the supporting plate 41. On the other hand, the illumination circuit board 42 is disposed within the third supporting plate opening 413 of the supporting plate 41. The third supporting plate opening 413 is aligned with the illumination circuit board 42 for accommodating the illumination circuit board 42. The plural first light-emitting elements 43 are disposed on a top surface 421 of the illumination circuit board 42. The plural second light-emitting elements 44 are disposed on a bottom surface 422 of the illumination circuit board 42.
Secondly, the first light guide plate 45 further comprises a vacant region 454. The vacant region 454 is disposed under the keycap 4011 with the second light-outputting zones 4011B. When a second color light beam B2 from the second light-emitting elements 44 is projected on the plural third light-guiding parts 461, the second color light beam B2 is guided by the plural third light-guiding parts 461 to be directed upwardly. Consequently, the second color light beam B2 is directed to the second light-outputting zones 4011B through the first supporting plate opening 411, the vacant region 454 and the membrane switch circuit member 402 sequentially. In this embodiment, the vacant region 454 is produced by drilling through a specified region of the first light guide plate 45. Due to the vacant region 454, the second color light beam B2 is not transmitted through the first light guide plate 45. In other words, the first color light beam B1 transferred within the first light guide plate 45 is not interfered by the second color light beam B2.
Thirdly, the supporting plate 41 further comprises a partition part 414. The partition part 414 is protruded from a top surface of the supporting plate 41, and inserted into the vacant region 454 of the first light guide plate 45. The partition part 414 is capable of blocking the first color light beam B1 from being introduced into the vacant region 454. Moreover, the partition part 414 is capable of preventing the second color light beam B2 from being introduced into the first light guide plate 45 through the vacant region 454.
Fourthly, the first light guide plate 45 further comprises a first receiving part 455, and the second light guide plate 46 further comprises a second receiving part 463. The first receiving part 455 is aligned with the third supporting plate opening 413 and located over the third supporting plate opening 413 for accommodating the first light-emitting elements 43. The second receiving part 463 is aligned with the third supporting plate opening 413 and located under the third supporting plate opening 413 for accommodating the second light-emitting elements 44.
Fifthly, the reflecting part 47 of this embodiment is a reflecting plate. Moreover, the reflecting part 47 comprises a bent structure 471. The bent structure 471 is located at a lateral edge 472 of the reflecting part 47 for enclose a lateral edge 464 of the second light guide plate 46 and a lateral edge 456 of the first light guide plate 45. Due to the bent structure 471, the problem of causing lateral light leakage of the first color light beam B1 and the second color light beam B2 will be eliminated.
From the above discussions, the operations of the luminous keyboard device 4 of this embodiment are substantially identical to those of the luminous keyboard device 3 of the first embodiment. In addition, the luminous efficacy of the luminous keyboard device 4 of this embodiment is identical to that of the luminous keyboard device 3. Moreover, due to the vacant region 454 and the partition part 414, the light-discriminating efficacy of the luminous keyboard device 4 of this embodiment is enhanced.
The present invention further provides a luminous keyboard device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in
Moreover, the second partition part 515 has a first light-guiding slant surface 5151 and a second light-guiding slant surface 5152. The first light-guiding slant surface 5151 is disposed on a first surface of the second partition part 515 and faces the first light guide plate 54. The first color light beam B1 is guided by the first light-guiding slant surface 5151 to be introduced into the first light guide plate 54. The second light-guiding slant surface 5152 is disposed on a second surface of the second partition part 515, and located under the first light-guiding slant surface 5151. Moreover, the second light-guiding slant surface 5152 faces the second light guide plate 55. The second color light beam B2 is guided by the second light-guiding slant surface 5152 to be introduced into the second light guide plate 55. The first partition part 514 is protruded from a top surface of the supporting plate 51. In this embodiment, the supporting plate 51 is made of an opaque material. Moreover, the second partition part 515 and the first partition part 514 are integrally formed with the supporting plate 51.
Since the second partition part 515 has the first light-guiding slant surface 5151 and the second light-guiding slant surface 5152, the fractions of the light-outputting surfaces of the first light-emitting part 531 and the second light-emitting part 532 shielded by the supporting plate 51 will be reduced. Under this circumstance, the light amount of the first color light beam B1 to be introduced into the first light guide plate 54 and the light amount of the second color light beam B2 to be introduced into the second light guide plate 55 can be increased, and thus the luminous efficiency can be enhanced. Moreover, due to the first light-guiding slant surface 5151 and the second light-guiding slant surface 5152, the efficiency of discriminating the first color light beam B1 and the second color light beam B2 will be increased.
The illumination circuit board 52 is located near the supporting plate 51 and located at a lateral edge 513 of the supporting plate 51 for providing electric power to the light-mixing type light-emitting element 53. The light-mixing type light-emitting element 53 is disposed on a top surface 521 of the illumination circuit board 52 and located near the supporting plate 51. The light-mixing type light-emitting element 53 comprises the first light-emitting part 531 and the second light-emitting part 532. By acquiring the electric power from the illumination circuit board 52, the first light-emitting part 531 emits a first color light beam B1. By acquiring the electric power, the second light-emitting part 532 emits a second color light beam B2. In this embodiment, the illumination circuit board 52 is a printed circuit board. Moreover, the light-emitting element 53 is a side-view light-emitting diode. The first color light beam B1 is a red light beam, and the second color light beam B2 is a blue light beam. Alternatively, the first color light beam from the first light-emitting part 531 is not limited to the red light beam, and the second color light beam from the second light-emitting part 532 is not limited to the blue light beam.
The first light guide plate 54 is arranged between the membrane switch circuit member 502 of the keypad module 50 and the supporting plate 51 for guiding the first color light beam B1 to be directed to the first light-outputting zones 5011A of the keycap 5011, so that the first color light beam B1 is outputted from the first light-outputting zones 5011A. The second light guide plate 55 is located under the supporting plate 51 for guiding the second color light beam B2 to be transmitted through the first supporting plate openings 511 of the supporting plate 51 and directed to the second light-outputting zones 5011B of the keycap 5011, so that the second color light beam B2 is outputted from the second light-outputting zones 5011B. The first light guide plate 54 comprises plural first light-guiding parts 541, plural second light-guiding parts 542 and a vacant region 544. Each of the first light-guiding parts 541 is aligned with a corresponding first light-outputting zone 5011A. In particular, each of the first light-guiding parts 541 is disposed on a bottom surface 543 of the first light guide plate 54 and located under the corresponding first light-outputting zone 5011A for guiding the first color light beam B1 to be directed upwardly to the corresponding first light-outputting zone 5011A. Each of the second light-guiding parts 542 is aligned with a corresponding third light-outputting zone 5011C. In particular, each of the second light-guiding parts 542 is disposed on the bottom surface 543 of the first light guide plate 54 and located under the corresponding third light-outputting zone 5011C for guiding the first color light beam B1 to be directed upwardly to the corresponding third light-outputting zone 5011C.
The second light guide plate 55 comprises plural third light-guiding parts 551 and plural fourth light-guiding parts 552. Each of the third light-guiding parts 551 is aligned with a corresponding second light-outputting zone 5011B. In particular, each of the third light-guiding parts 551 is disposed on a bottom surface 553 of the second light guide plate 55 and located under the corresponding second light-outputting zone 5011B for guiding the second color light beam B2 to be directed upwardly to the corresponding second light-outputting zone 5011B through the corresponding first supporting plate opening 511 of the supporting plate 51 and the first light guide plate 54. Each of the fourth light-guiding parts 552 is aligned with a corresponding third light-outputting zone 5011C. In particular, each of the fourth light-guiding parts 552 is disposed on the bottom surface 553 of the second light guide plate 55 and located under the corresponding third light-outputting zone 5011C for guiding the second color light beam B2 to be directed upwardly to the corresponding third light-outputting zone 5011C through the corresponding second supporting plate opening 512 of the supporting plate 51 and the first light guide plate 54. The vacant region 544 is arranged between the third light-guiding parts 551 of the second light guide plate 55 and the light-mixing type light-emitting element 53. The first partition part 514 of the supporting plate 51 is inserted into the vacant region 544 for blocking the first color light beam B1 from being introduced into the vacant region 544. In this embodiment, the first light-guiding parts 541, the second light-guiding parts 542, the third light-guiding parts 551 and the fourth light-guiding parts 552 are all texturing structures, and the vacant region 544 is a gap.
The inner structure of the membrane switch circuit member 502 of the keypad module 50 will be illustrated in more details as follows. The membrane switch circuit member 502 is arranged between the supporting plate 51 and the plural keys 501. When the membrane switch circuit member 502 is triggered by the plural keys 501, plural key signals are correspondingly generated. In this embodiment, the membrane switch circuit member 502 comprises an upper wiring board 5021, a spacer layer 5022 and a lower wiring board 5023. The upper wiring board 5021 has plural upper contacts 5021A. The spacer layer 5022 is located under the upper wiring board 5021. Moreover, the spacer layer 5022 comprises plural perforations 5022A corresponding to the plural upper contacts 5021A. When the membrane switch circuit member 502 is depressed, a corresponding upper contact 5021A is inserted into the corresponding perforation 5022A. The lower wiring board 5023 is located under the spacer layer 5022. Moreover, the lower wiring board 5023 comprises plural lower contacts 5023A corresponding to the plural upper contacts 5021A. The plural upper contacts 5021A, the plural perforations 5022A and the plural lower contacts 5023A are collectively defined as plural key switches 5024.
As shown in
From the above discussions about the luminous keyboard device 5 of this embodiment, the first partition part 514 of the supporting plate 51 is inserted into the vacant region 544 of the first light guide plate 54. Consequently, the portion of the first color light beam B1 which is subjected to total internal reflection within the first light guide plate 54 will not be directed to the positions over the third light-guiding parts 551. Under this circumstance, since the first color light beam B1 is not close to the optical path of the second color light beam B2, the possibility of mixing the first color light beam B1 with the second color light beam B2 will be minimized. Moreover, since the second partition part 515 is located at the lateral edge of the supporting plate 51, the first color light beam B1 and the second color light beam B2 are not mixed with each other, and the first color light beam B1 and the second color light beam B2 are guided to be introduced into the first light guide plate 54 and the second light guide plate 55, respectively.
The present invention further provides a luminous keyboard device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Except for the following four items, the structures and the operations of the luminous keyboard device 6 of this embodiment are substantially identical to those of the luminous keyboard device 5 of the third embodiment, and are not redundantly described herein.
Firstly, the illumination circuit board 62 of the luminous keyboard device 6 of this embodiment is not located at a lateral edge of the supporting plate 61. Whereas, the illumination circuit board 62 is located under the third supporting plate opening 613 of the supporting plate 61. The third supporting plate opening 613 is aligned with the light-mixing type light-emitting elements 63 for accommodating the light-mixing type light-emitting elements 63. In addition, the light-mixing type light-emitting elements 63 are disposed on a top surface 621 of the illumination circuit board 62.
Secondly, a partition part 614 is located beside a sidewall of the third supporting plate opening 613. Moreover, the partition part 614 is arranged between the first light-emitting part 631 and the second light-emitting part 632. Due to the second partition part 614, a first color light beam B1 from the first light-emitting part 631 and a second color light beam B2 from the second light-emitting part 632 are not mixed with each other, and the first color light beam B1 and the second color light beam B2 are guided to be introduced into the first light guide plate 64 and the second light guide plate 65, respectively.
Thirdly, the first light guide plate 64 further comprises a first receiving part 643, and the second light guide plate 65 further comprises a second receiving part 654. The first receiving part 643 is aligned with the third supporting plate opening 613 and located over the third supporting plate opening 613. The second receiving part 654 is aligned with the third supporting plate opening 613 and located under the third supporting plate opening 613. The light-mixing type light-emitting elements 63 are accommodated within the first receiving part 643 and the second receiving part 654 collaboratively.
Fourthly, the reflecting part 66 of this embodiment is a reflective ink layer, which is printed on a bottom surface 653 of the second light guide plate 65.
From the above descriptions, the present invention provides a luminous keyboard device. The luminous keyboard device comprises two light-emitting elements or a light-mixing type light-emitting element for emitting a first color light beam and a second color light beam of different colors. Moreover, the first color light beam and the second color light beam are guided by a first light guide plate and a second light guide plate to be directed to a first light-outputting zone and a second light-outputting zone, respectively. Consequently, the first light-outputting zone is shown in a first color and a second light-outputting zone is shown in a second color. Moreover, the first color light beam and the second color light beam are guided by the first light guide plate and the second light guide plate to be directed to a third light-outputting zone. During the process of directing the first color light beam and the second color light beam, the two light beams are mixed as a third color light beam. Consequently, the third light-outputting zone is shown in a third color. When compared with the conventional technology, the luminous keyboard device of the present invention can produce the polychromatic luminous efficacy by a simplified fabricating process and with reduced fabricating cost.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102121389 | Jun 2013 | TW | national |
