Keyboard, Lighting Module for Keyboard and Electronic Apparatus

• US 20100128427A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Iso, Kageyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.90
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/064 Optical isolation of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a keyboard includes keytops supported on a substrate and a membrane switch placed between the keytops and the substrate. The membrane switch has an electrically insulating membrane sheet on which a plurality of contacts operated by the keytops are formed. A light source is mounted on the membrane sheet. A conductor pattern configured to supply an electric current to the light source is formed on the membrane sheet. Further, a lightguide plate configured to lead light emitted by the light source to the keytops is stacked on the membrane sheet.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of keytops supported on the substrate;

a membrane switch placed between the keytops and the substrate, the membrane switch having an electrically insulating membrane sheet on which a plurality of contacts operated by the keytops are formed;

a light source mounted on the membrane sheet of the membrane switch;

a conductor pattern formed on the membrane sheet and configured to supply an electric current to the light source; and

a lightguide stacked on the membrane sheet and configured to lead light emitted by the light source to the keytops.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the lightguide includes a sheet-like main body having an incident plane facing the light source, light incident on the incident plane from the light source passes through an inside of the main body while being repeatedly reflected, and the main body has a plurality of light-diffusing parts configured to diffuse light that passes through the main body toward the keytops.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein a light-reflecting plate configured to let light that passes through an inside of the lightguide reflect toward the keytop is interposed between the substrate and the lightguide.

4. The keyboard of claim 3, wherein the lightguide and the light-reflecting plate are interposed between the substrate and the keytop.

5. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the main body of the lightguide has a size corresponding to a size of the substrate, the light source includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes, and the light-emitting diodes are arranged at intervals along an outer peripheral part of the main body.

6. The keyboard of claim 5, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes are connected in series.

7. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the lightguide is placed between the substrate and the membrane switch.

8. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the lightguide is stacked on the membrane switch.

9. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the keytop is formed of a material having optical transparency, and has an indication part that indicates a function of each of the keytops.

10. The keyboard of claim 9, wherein the indication part of the keytop has optical transparency, and an area of the keytop except the indication part is covered with a film having a light blocking effect.

11. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the membrane sheet includes a lead piece drawn outside the substrate, the conductor pattern has a power supply line led to the lead piece, and the lead piece has a terminal part to which the power supply line is electrically connected.

12. A lighting module used for a keyboard including:

a plurality of keytops supported on a substrate; and

a membrane switch located between the keytops and the substrate, the membrane switch having an electrically insulating membrane sheet on which a plurality of contacts operated by the keytops are formed, the lighting module comprising;

a light source mounted on the membrane sheet of the membrane switch;

a conductor pattern formed on the membrane sheet and configured to supply an electric current to the light source; and

a lightguide stacked on the membrane sheet and configured to lead light emitted from the light source to the keytops.

13. The lighting module of claim 12, wherein the lightguide includes a sheet-like main body having an incident plane facing the light source, light incident on the incident plane from the light source passes through an inside of the main body while being repeatedly reflected, and the main body has a plurality of light-diffusing parts configured to diffuse light that passes through the main body toward the keytops.

14. The lighting module of claim 13, wherein a light-reflecting plate configured to let light that passes through an inside of the lightguide reflect toward the keytops is interposed between the lightguide and the substrate of the keyboard.

15. The lighting module of claim 12, wherein the light source includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes, and the light-emitting diodes are connected in series.

16. The lighting module of claim 15, wherein the main body of the lightguide has a size corresponding to a size of the substrate, and the light-emitting diodes are arranged at intervals along an outer periphery of the main body.

17. The lighting module of claim 12, wherein the membrane sheet includes a lead piece drawn outside the keyboard, the conductor pattern has a power supply line led to the lead piece, and the lead piece has a terminal part to which the power supply line is electrically connected.

18. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing; and

a keyboard supported by the housing, the keyboard includes;

a substrate;

a plurality of keytops supported on the substrate;

a membrane switch placed between the keytops and the substrate, the membrane switch having an electrically insulating membrane sheet on which a plurality of contacts operated by the keytops are formed;

a light source mounted on the membrane sheet of the membrane switch;

a conductor pattern formed on the membrane sheet and configured to supply an electric current to the light source; and

a lightguide stacked on the membrane sheet and configured to lead light emitted by the light source to the keytops.

19. The electronic apparatus of claim 18, wherein the membrane sheet includes a lead piece drawn outside the keyboard, the conductor pattern has a power supply line led to the lead piece, and the lead piece has a terminal part to which the power supply line is electrically connected.