Backlit keyboard using two thin-film circuit boards

• US 10,056,206 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Electronics Company Limited (Lite-On Technology Corporation), Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Electronics Company Limited (Lite-On Technology Corporation), Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Chun-Lin
• Primary Examiner(s): Girardi, Vanessa
• Application Number:
  US15/471,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20180075989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 200310, 200313
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/704 characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/034 Coloured areas
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/036 Light emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent

Abstract

A direct-backlit keyboard is disclosed, the direct-backlit keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, a thin film circuit board, a base plate, a copper etched thin-film circuit board, and a plurality of light-emitting units. The plurality of keys are disposed on the thin film circuit board, the thin film circuit board being disposed on the base plate, the base plate being disposed on the copper etched thin-film circuit board, and the copper etched thin film circuit board being provided with the plurality of light-emitting units. Each light-emitting unit corresponds to each key so that the light emitted from each light-emitting unit can be transmitted to each corresponding key.

Claims

1. A direct-backlit keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keys;

a thin film circuit board;

a base plate;

a light-diffusing sheet;

a reflector sheet;

a copper etched thin-film circuit board; and

a plurality of light-emitting units disposed under the copper etched thin-film circuit board,

wherein each key is disposed on the thin film circuit board, the thin film circuit board being disposed on the copper etched thin film circuit board, the copper etched thin-film circuit board being disposed on the base plate;

wherein each light-emitting unit corresponds to each key respectively in a manner such that light emitted from each light-emitting unit is transmitted to each corresponding key; and

wherein the light-diffusing sheet and the reflector sheet are disposed between the base plate and the copper etched thin-film circuit board, the reflector sheet being disposed on the base plate and under the light-diffusing sheet, the reflector sheet being a monolayer reflector sheet made of white organic resin.

2. A direct-backlit keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keys;

a thin film circuit board;

a base plate;

a copper etched thin-film circuit board;

a plurality of light-emitting units disposed on the copper etched thin-film circuit board;

a light-shielding layer; and

a reflector sheet;

wherein each key is disposed on the thin film circuit board, the thin film circuit board being disposed on the base plate, the base plate being disposed on the copper etched thin-film circuit board, and

wherein each light-emitting unit corresponds to each key respectively in a manner such that light emitted from each light-emitting unit is transmitted to each corresponding key

wherein the light-shielding layer being disposed on the reflector sheet and the plurality of the light-emitting units, the reflector sheet being disposed on the copper etched thin-film circuit board.

3. The direct-backlit keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the light-shielding layer includes a light-permeable area and an opaque area, a part of the light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting units being transmitted to the plurality of keys through the light-permeable area, the other part of light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting units being reflected back to the reflector sheet by the opaque area.

4. A direct-backlit keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keys;

a thin film circuit board;

a base plate;

a light-diffusing sheet;

a reflector sheet;

a copper etched thin-film circuit board; and

a plurality of light-emitting units disposed on the copper etched thin-film circuit board,

wherein each key is disposed on the thin film circuit board, the thin film circuit board being disposed on the base plate, the base plate being disposed on the copper etched thin-film circuit board;

wherein each light-emitting unit corresponds to each key respectively in a manner such that light emitted from each light-emitting unit is transmitted to each corresponding key; and

wherein the light-diffusing sheet and the reflector sheet are disposed between the base plate and the copper etched thin-film circuit board, the reflector sheet being disposed on the copper etched thin-film circuit board and under the light-diffusing sheet, the reflector sheet being a monolayer reflector sheet made of white organic resin.

5. The direct-backlit keyboard according to claim 4, wherein the copper etched thin-film circuit board is a thin film circuit board made by etching a copper-plated thin film.

6. The direct-backlit keyboard according to claim 4, further comprising a light-shielding layer, the light-shielding layer being disposed on the reflector sheet and the plurality of the light-emitting units.

7. The direct-backlit keyboard according to claim 6, wherein the light-shielding layer includes a light-permeable area and an opaque area, a part of the light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting units being transmitted to the plurality of keys through the light-permeable area, the other part of light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting units being reflected back to the reflector sheet by the opaque area.

8. The direct-backlit keyboard according to claim 4, wherein the light-diffusing sheet is disposed on the plurality of light-emitting units, the light-diffusing sheet including a light incident surface at one side thereof and a light exit surface at the opposite side, the light incident surface being attached to the plurality of the light-emitting units.

9. The direct-backlit keyboard according to claim 8, wherein the light-diffusing sheet includes a diffusing structure disposed on the light incident surface or the light exit surface.

10. The direct-backlit keyboard according to claim 9, wherein the diffusing structure includes a plurality of light-shielding sub-structures.

11. The direct-backlit keyboard according to claim 8, further comprising a circuit protection film disposed on the copper etched thin-film circuit board and under the light-diffusing sheet.

12. The direct-backlit keyboard according to claim 11, wherein the circuit protection film is a thickened protection film.