WO2007148902A1

WO2007148902A1 - Light emittable keyboard

Info

Publication number: WO2007148902A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/002951
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jang Yeon Jo; Min Ho Choi
Original assignee: Epivalley Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-06-17
Filing date: 2007-06-18
Publication date: 2007-12-27
Also published as: KR100830522B1; KR20070119976A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a light emittable keyboard including a light emittable element plate provided with a light emittable element, a membrane positioned at the upper portion of the light emittable element plate, and provided with a contact point in a position corresponding to the light emittable element, a key positioned at the upper portion of the membrane, and provided with a pressurized portion cooperating with the contact point in a position corresponding to the contact point, a rubber positioned between the membrane and the key, for returning the key to the original position when the key is pressed, and a plate positioned between the light emittable element plate and the membrane, for accommodating the light emittable element.

Description

Description LIGHT EMITTABLE KEYBOARD

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a light emittable keyboard, and more particularly, to a light emittable keyboard wherein lights emitted from lower portions of keys are transmitted through the keys so that the user can identify the keys even in a dark place. Background Art

[2] In general, a keyboard is a device for entering signals into a hardware such as a PC.

Recently, there are increasing demands for various kinds of keyboards with the popular use of the PC.

[3] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conventional light emittable keyboard. The conventional light emittable keyboard 10 includes a substrate 20 with a circuit configured therein to identify positions of keys 40, housings 30 provided with operation portions 35 for transferring signals about the positions of the keys 40 to the substrate 20 when the keys 40 are pressed, the keys 40 fitted to be pressed onto the operation portions 35, and light emittable elements 50 installed at one sides of the housings 30, for emitting lights toward the keys 40 so that the lights can be transmitted through the top faces or side faces of the keys 40.

[4] However, in the conventional light emittable keyboard 10, the lights emitted by the light emittable elements 50 are not uniformly dispersed to the keys 40. Therefore, when the lights are transmitted through the keys 40, the light emitting surfaces defined on the keys 40 do not look good. As the light emittable elements 50 are installed at the top face of the substrate 20, they are easily contaminated and lost. Moreover, as the light emittable elements 50 are installed at the top faces of the housings 30, respectively, the productivity decreases and the cost increases. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described shortcomings occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light emittable keyboard which can allow the user to easily identify keys even in a dark place or at nighttime.

[6] Another object of the present invention is to provide a light emittable keyboard which can improve outward appearances of light emitting surfaces of keys by uniformly dispersing lights.

[7] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a light emittable keyboard which can prevent contamination and loss of a light emittable element plate. [8] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a light emittable keyboard which can improve the productivity and cut down the cost.

[9] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a light emittable keyboard which can minimize loss of light emitted by a light emittable element plate. Technical Solution

[10] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a light emittable keyboard, including: a light emittable element for generating light; a membrane positioned at the upper portion of the light emittable element, and provided with a contact point in a position corresponding to the light emittable element; and a key positioned at the upper portion of the membrane to correspond to the contact point, and cooperated with the contact point when pressed.

[11] In one aspect of the present invention, the light emittable keyboard includes an elastic member positioned between the membrane and the key, for returning the key to the original position when the key is pressed.

[12] In another aspect of the present invention, the elastic member is a rubber.

[13] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the rubber includes a protrusion for pressurizing the contact point in a position corresponding to the contact point.

[14] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the light emittable keyboard includes a plate positioned between the light emittable element and the membrane, for accommodating the light emittable element.

[15] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the plate includes a lens in a position corresponding to the light emittable element.

[16] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the light emittable keyboard further includes a lens positioned between the light emittable element and the membrane to correspond to the light emittable element.

[17] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the contact point is made of a conductor, and provided with a light passing portion for transmitting the light of the light emittable element.

[18] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the membrane includes a first layer provided with a first contact point in a position corresponding to the light emittable element, an insulating layer positioned at the upper portion of the first layer, and provided with a hole in a position corresponding to the first contact point, and a second layer positioned at the upper portion of the insulating layer, and provided with a second contact point in a position corresponding to the hole.

[19] The present invention also provides a light emittable keyboard, including: a light emittable element plate provided with a light emittable element; a membrane positioned at the upper portion of the light emittable element plate, and provided with a contact point in a position corresponding to the light emittable element; a key positioned at the upper portion of the membrane, and provided with a pressurized portion cooperating with the contact point in a position corresponding to the contact point; a rubber positioned between the membrane and the key, for returning the key to the original position when the key is pressed; and a plate positioned between the light emittable element plate and the membrane, for accommodating the light emittable element.

[20] In one aspect of the present invention, the contact point is made of a conductor, and provided with a light passing portion for transmitting the light of the light emittable element.

[21] In another aspect of the present invention, the plate includes a lens in a position corresponding to the light emittable element.

Advantageous Effects

[22] In the above-described configuration, the present invention provides a light emittable keyboard which can allow the user to easily identify the keys even in a dark place or at nighttime. [23] Also, the present invention provides a light emittable keyboard which can improve the outward appearances of the light emitting surfaces of the keys by uniformly dispersing the lights. [24] Also, the present invention provides a light emittable keyboard which can prevent contamination and loss of the light emittable element plate. [25] Also, the present invention provides a light emittable keyboard which can improve the productivity and cut down the cost. [26] Also, the present invention provides a light emittable keyboard which can minimize loss of the light emitted by the light emittable element plate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[27] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conventional light emittable keyboard.

[28] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating one example of a disassembled state of a light emittable keyboard in accordance with the present invention. [29] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating one example of the section of the light emittable keyboard in accordance with the present invention. [30] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating one example of a plate provided at the light emittable keyboard in accordance with the present invention. [31] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating one example of a membrane provided at the light emittable keyboard in accordance with the present invention. [32] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating one example of contact points printed on a second layer of the membrane provided at the light emittable keyboard in accordance with the present invention.

[33] FIGS. 7 and 8 are views illustrating another examples of the contact points printed on the second layer of the membrane provided at the light emittable keyboard in accordance with the present invention.

[34] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating one example of a rubber provided at the light emittable keyboard in accordance with the present invention. Mode for the Invention

[35] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be construed that the scope of the present invention is not limited to or by these embodiments or drawings but limited to or by the claims as hereinafter recited.

[36] A configuration of a light emittable keyboard in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

[37] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating one example of a disassembled state of the light emittable keyboard in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view illustrating one example of the section of the light emittable keyboard in accordance with the present invention. The light emittable keyboard 100 includes a bottom plate 200, a light emittable element plate 300, a plate 400, a membrane 500, a micro control unit 600, a rubber 700, a housing 800 and keys 900.

[38] The bottom plate 200 provide bases 210 so that the above components can be stacked thereon. In this embodiment, the bottom plate 200 is a rectangular plate. Bolt hoes H for screw assembly are formed at the rear face of the bottom plate 200, legs (not shown) for controlling the gradient of the light emittable keyboard 100 are hinge- connected to the left and right upper portions of the rear face thereof, and legs which are rubber members (not shown) for preventing sliding are fixedly installed at the left and right lower portions of the rear face thereof.

[39] The light emittable element plate 300 is installed on the bottom plate 200. In this embodiment, the light emittable element plate 300 includes light emittable elements 320 such as LEDs packaged into a PCB 310. Here, the light emittable element plate 300 is connected to the micro control unit 600. In this embodiment, the light emittable elements 320 constituting the light emittable element plate 300 are packaged to emit lights to the upper portion of the PCB 310.

[40] The plate 400 is stacked on the light emittable element plate 300, for uniformly dispersing the light generated by the light emittable element plate 300. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating one example of the plate 400 provided at the light emittable keyboard 100 in accordance with the present invention, particularly, an enlarged view illustrating a lens 410 provided at the plate 400. In this embodiment, the plate 400 includes the lenses 410 for dispersing the lights. In addition, the plate 400 is made of a transparent material to uniformly disperse light and improve light permeability. Here, the transparency of the plate 400 may be controlled to adjust the brightness of light.

[41] In this embodiment, convex lenses are used as the lenses 410 to disperse the lights, and provided at the plate 400 to be positioned directly above the light emittable elements 320. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the lenses 410 are formed at the plate 400 in positions corresponding to the upper portions of the light emittable elements 320. In detail, domes are formed at the rear face of the plate 400 to cover the light emittable elements 320 packaged into the PCB 310 to protrude therefrom, and the lenses 410 are formed at the centers of the domes to be convex toward the light emittable elements 320. Alternatively, the lenses 410 may be formed individually from the plate 400, and mounted at holes provided at the plate 400 in positions corresponding to the light emittable elements 320.

[42] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating one example of the membrane 500 provided at the light emittable keyboard 100 in accordance with the present invention. The membrane 500 which generates signals for identifying characters or symbols of the keys 900 by the movements of the keys 900 is connected to the micro control unit 600. In this embodiment, the membrane 500 includes a first layer 510, a second layer 520 and an insulating layer 530. The first layer 510 is a conductor printed film having first contact points 511 and a first circuit 512. The first circuit 512 is formed according to a matrix set to grasp the positions of the first contact points 511, and connects each first contact point 511. In addition, the first contact points 511, the lenses 410 and the light emittable elements 320 are positioned in lines in the up-down direction.

[43] The second layer 520 is a conductor printed film having second contact points 521 and a second circuit 522. The second circuit 522 is formed according to a matrix set to grasp the positions of the second contact points 521, and connects each second contact point 521. Here, the first contact points 511 and the second contact points 521 must be printed to be positioned in lines in the up-down direction at the stacked state.

[44] A plurality of holes h are formed at the insulating film 530. The holes h must be formed to be positioned between the first contact points 511 and the second contact points 521. Accordingly, when the external force does not operate, the first contact points 511 and the second contact points 521 separate from each other, and when the external force operates, the first contact points 511 and the second contact points 521 contact each other. The membrane 500 is made of a material with a light passing characteristic. In this embodiment, the membrane 500 is made of a transparent material, except the first circuit 512, the first contact points 511, the second circuit 522 and the second contact points 521.

[45] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating one example of the second contact points 521 printed on the second layer 520 of the membrane 500 provided at the light emittable keyboard 100 in accordance with the present invention. The first contact points 511 printed on the first layer 510 can be configured identically to the second contact points 521 printed on the second layer 520, and thus detailed explanations thereof are omitted. The second contact points 521 include light passing portions 523. In this embodiment, each of the light passing portions 523 has a few lines. Conductors are printed so that the lights can pass through the second contact points 521. Here, the light passing portions 523 are formed in a circular shape. FIGS. 7 and 8 are views illustrating another examples of the second contact points 521 printed on the second layer 520 of the membrane 500 provided at the light emittable keyboard 100 in accordance with the present invention. The light passing portions 523 provided at the second contact points 521 are formed in any one of the linear and radial shapes, and may be formed in various shapes.

[46] In FIG. 2, the micro control unit 600 is connected to the light emittable element plate 300, for controlling the light emissions of the light emittable elements 320, and also connected to the membrane 500, for receiving the signals for identifying the characters or symbols of the keys 900 therefrom. The micro control unit 600 processes and transmits the signals to a PC.

[47] In FIG. 3, the rubber 700 is stacked on the membrane 500, for elastically supporting the keys 900. In this embodiment, the rubber 700 is made of a polymer synthetic material with a light passing characteristic, and provided with elastic portions 710. Preferably, the elastic portions 710 are formed in a bell shape. Therefore, when the external force is applied to the upper portions of the elastic portions 710, the elastic portions 710 are pressed in the downward direction, and when the external force is removed, the elastic portions 710 return to the original shape. Here, the elastic portions 710 are formed directly on the second contact points 521 to correspond to the second contact points 521 in lines in the up-down direction. FIG. 9 is a view illustrating one example of the rubber 700 provided at the light emittable keyboard 100 in accordance with the present invention, particularly, an enlarged view illustrating the elastic portion 710 provided at the rubber 700. Preferably, protrusions 711 are provided at the centers of the bell-shaped inner faces of the elastic portions 710 of the rubber 700. Accordingly, when the external force is applied to the upper portions of the elastic portions 710 to press the elastic portions 710, the second contact points 521 and the first contact points 511 can contact each other.

[48] In FIG. 3, the housing 800 is stacked on the rubber 700. The keys 900 are fitted into the housing 800. In this embodiment, the housing 800 includes a plate portion 810 and protruding portions 820. The plate portion 810 which constitutes the bottom face of the housing 800 is stacked on the region except the elastic portions 710 of the rubber 700. The protruding portions 820 are preferably formed in a quadrangular container shape to surround the elastic portions 710 of the rubber 700, when the plate portion 810 is stacked on the rubber 700. Here, the protruding portions 820 can be formed in a cylindrical shape. Preferably, hooks 821 are inwardly protruded from the upper portions of the protruding portions 820 with steps, for preventing the separations of the keys 900 fitted into the protruding portions 820.

[49] The keys 900 are fitted to be movable in the housing 800 in the up-down direction, and provided with the characters or symbols. In this embodiment, each of the keys 900 includes a pressed portion 910, a fitted portion 920 and a pressurized portion 930. The pressed portion 910 constitutes the top face of the key 900. Preferably, the peripheral ends of the pressed portion 910 are downwardly inclined so that impurities cannot be inserted into the protruding portion 820 of the housing 800 but dropped to the plate portion 810. The character or symbol is engraved on the top face of the pressed portion 910. The fitted portion 920 which forms a wall in the downward direction of the pressed portion 910 is fitted into the protruding portion 820. Preferably, a hook 921 is provided at the fitted portion 920 to be hooked on the hook 821 of the protruding portion 820, for preventing the separation of the key 900 when the key 900 moves in the housing 800 in the up-down direction. The pressurized portion 930 forms a wall inside the fitted portion 920 in the downward direction of the pressed portion 910. When the key 900 moves in the housing 800 in the up-down direction, the pressurized portion 930 transfers the movement of the key 900 to the rubber 700. Preferably, the pressurized portion 930 contacts the top face of the rubber 700 to precisely transfer the movement of the key 900. In addition, the keys 900 are made of a material with a light passing characteristic.

[50] In this embodiment, the light emittable elements 320 provided at the light emittable element plate 300, the lenses 410 provided at the plate 400, the first contact points 511 provided at the first layer 510, the holes h provided at the insulating layer 530, the second contact points 521 provided at the second layer 520, the elastic portions 710 provided at the rubber 700, and the keys 900 are arranged in lines in the vertical direction, to thereby transmit and disperse the lights.

[51] The assembly and operation of the light emittable keyboard 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

[52] In FIG. 3, in the light emittable keyboard 100 obtained by laminating the above- described components, the lights emitted by the light emittable elements 320 are uniformly dispersed through the lenses 410 provided at the plate 400, and transmitted through the membrane 500. Here, the light passing portions 523 provided at the contact points 511 and 521 printed on the membrane 500 serve to minimize the reduction of the lights transmitted through the membrane 500. The lights transmitted through the membrane 500 are transmitted through the rubber 700, and emitted to the outside through the pressed portions 910 constituting the top faces of the keys 900. As a result, even if the user uses the light emittable keyboard 100 in a dark place or at nighttime, since the keys 900 emit the lights, the user can easily identify the keys 900. [53] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these preferred embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

[1] A light emittable keyboard, comprising: a light emittable element for generating light; a membrane positioned at the upper portion of the light emittable element, and provided with a contact point in a position corresponding to the light emittable element; and a key positioned at the upper portion of the membrane to correspond to the contact point, and cooperated with the contact point when pressed.

[2] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 1, comprising an elastic member positioned between the membrane and the key, for returning the key to the original position when the key is pressed.

[3] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 2, wherein the elastic member is a rubber.

[4] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 3, wherein the rubber comprises a protrusion for pressurizing the contact point in a position corresponding to the contact point. [5] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 1, comprising a plate positioned between the light emittable element and the membrane, for accommodating the light emittable element. [6] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 5, wherein the plate comprises a lens in a position corresponding to the light emittable element. [7] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 1, further comprising a lens positioned between the light emittable element and the membrane to correspond to the light emittable element. [8] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 1, wherein the contact point is made of a conductor, and provided with a light passing portion for transmitting the light of the light emittable element. [9] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a first layer provided with a first contact point in a position corresponding to the light emittable element, an insulating layer positioned at the upper portion of the first layer, and provided with a hole in a position corresponding to the first contact point, and a second layer positioned at the upper portion of the insulating layer, and provided with a second contact point in a position corresponding to the hole. [10] A light emittable keyboard, comprising: a light emittable element plate provided with a light emittable element; a membrane positioned at the upper portion of the light emittable element plate, and provided with a contact point in a position corresponding to the light emittable element; a key positioned at the upper portion of the membrane, and provided with a pressurized portion cooperating with the contact point in a position corresponding to the contact point; a rubber positioned between the membrane and the key, for returning the key to the original position when the key is pressed; and a plate positioned between the light emittable element plate and the membrane, for accommodating the light emittable element. [11] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 10, wherein the contact point is made of a conductor, and provided with a light passing portion for transmitting the light of the light emittable element. [12] The light emittable keyboard of Claim 10, wherein the plate comprises a lens in a position corresponding to the light emittable element.