Backlighting keyboard

• US 7,057,125 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huo-Lu Tsai
• Original Assignee: Huo-Lu Tsai
• Inventors: Tsai, Huo-Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US11/145,868
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 200/344, 200/341, 200310-314, 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 362/85, 362/23, 362/24, 341 22- 24
• US Class Current: 200/310
• 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 2219/06 Reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser

Abstract

A backlighting keyboard includes a light guide board with multiple fastening members formed at an upper surface, multiple light refracting areas formed at a bottom surface, multiple openings defined through the light guide board, and multiple illuminants respectively received in the openings. A membrane printed circuit board on the light guide board has multiple nodes respectively aligned with the fastening members, and multiple first holes defined through the membrane printed circuit board. A rubber button sheet on the membrane printed circuit board has multiple buttons respectively aligned with the nodes, and multiple second holes defined through the rubber button sheet. Multiple bridges are respectively and pivotally mounted on the fastening members of the light guide board. Multiple keys are respectively and pivotally mounted on the bridges.

Claims

1. A backlighting keyboard comprising:

a light guide board made of a transparent material and having multiple fastening members formed at an upper surface of the light guide board, multiple light refracting areas formed at a bottom surface of the light guide board, multiple openings defined through the light guide board, and multiple illuminants respectively received in the openings;

a membrane printed circuit board provided on the light guide board and having multiple nodes respectively aligned with the fastening members, and multiple first holes defined through the membrane printed circuit board;

a rubber button sheet provided on the membrane printed circuit board and having multiple buttons respectively aligned with the nodes, and multiple second holes defined through the rubber button sheet;

multiple bridges respectively and pivotally mounted on the fastening members of the light guide board, each bridge being composed of a first arm and second arm pivotally mounted together in a scissors-like manner; and

multiple keys respectively and pivotally mounted on the bridges.

2. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening members each have a pair of L-like first lugs and a pair of second lugs, wherein the L-like first lugs each have a notch away from the respective second lugs and a first elongated slot defined between each pair of first lugs, and each of the second lugs has a first aperture defined at a side thereof away from the first lugs;

and

the bridges each have a pair of first pins at an upper end of the first arm, a first axle at an upper end of the second arm, a pair of second pins at a lower end of the second arm, and a second axle at a lower end of the first arm, the second pins are respectively and rotatably located in the first apertures of the fastening member, and the second axle is rotatably located in the first elongated slot of the same fastening member.

3. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein the keys each have a second elongated slot, two second apertures defined in a bottom surface thereof and a positioning portion is formed at the bottom surface of the key;

and

the first pins are rotatably located in the second apertures, each first axle is rotatably located in a corresponding second elongated slot, and each button is located in a corresponding positioning portion.

4. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a illuminating board pasted at a bottom surface of the light guide board, and the illuminants are provided on the illuminating board and respectively received in the openings of the light guide board.

5. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a bottom plate provided beneath the illuminating board.

6. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illuminants are LEDs.

7. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illuminants are mounted on the bottom surface of the membrane printed circuit board and received in the openings.

8. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein the illuminants are LEDs.

9. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a bottom plate provided beneath the light guide board.

10. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a bottom plate provided beneath the light guide board, wherein the illuminants are mounted on the bottom plate and received in the openings.

11. The backlight keyboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein the illuminants are LEDs.