A keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module

Abstract

The invention discloses a keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module, belonging to the field of keyboard technology, and sequentially comprises a keycap, a scissor-type support frame, a support plate, a light shielding layer, a light guide layer, an elastic member, an upper circuit layer, a middle layer, a lower circuit and a light source layer; wherein the lower circuit layer is a layer that integrates a traditional light board, a reflection layer and a lower circuit layer of a keyboard; wherein the lower circuit and the light source layer, each key position has and is connected with at least zero to a plurality of light-emitting LEDs, the LED transmits light to the light guide layer through the middle layer and the upper circuit layer, and the light guide layer emits light to the keycap through the reflection and refraction microstructures thereon, thereby achieving a backlight effect; wherein the lower circuit layer and the light source layer, the substrate of the lower circuit layer and the light source layer is: a plastic film or an amide film or a metal plate or a composite structure of a plastic film and a metal film. The keyboard structure combining the membrane switch and the backlight module can reduce the thickness of the backlight keyboard, reduce the weight of the keyboard, and improve the battery life of the computer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of keyboards, and in particular to a keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module. Background Art

[0002] With the development trend of thinner and lighter computers, backlit keyboards are widely used. However, traditional backlit keyboards are heavier and require more materials due to more processes and overall structures. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module to solve the problems raised in the background technology.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: a keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module, which sequentially comprises a keycap, a scissor-type support frame, a support plate, a light shielding layer, a light guide layer, an elastic member, an upper circuit layer, a middle partition layer, a lower circuit and a light source layer;

[0005] The lower circuit layer integrates the traditional light board, reflective layer and keyboard lower circuit layer into one layer;

[0006] The lower circuit and light source layer has at least zero to multiple light-emitting LEDs under each key position, and the LED transmits light to the light guide layer through the middle partition layer and the upper circuit layer. The light guide layer radiates light to the keycap through the reflective and refractive microstructures thereon, thereby achieving a backlight effect;

[0007] The lower circuit layer and the light source layer, the substrate of the lower circuit layer and the light source layer is: a plastic film or an amide film or a metal plate or a composite structure of a plastic film and a metal film, and has a first circuit, a second circuit and contacts thereon;

[0008] The lower circuit layer and the light source lamp, the circuits and contacts thereon are screen-printed conductive paste, electroplated conductive layer or etched conductive layer, and the circuits are gathered to the external connector;

[0009] The first circuit and the second circuit are distributed on the front and back of the substrate, or one of them exists, and the circuits on the front and back are connected by punching, grouting or electroplating;

[0010] The middle partition layer has a five-one slot for contacting the upper and lower circuit contacts, and a five-two slot for avoiding the LEDs. The middle partition layer is attached to the lower circuit layer and the light source layer by a hot melt adhesive process or glue or adhesive.

[0011] The upper circuit layer, the substrate of the upper circuit layer is a plastic film or an amide film, and has contacts and circuits thereon. The contacts and circuits are screen-printed conductive paste, electroplated conductive layer or etched conductive layer, and have corresponding grooves for avoiding positions of LEDs;

[0012] Light guide layer: the light guide layer is made of PC, PET, PMMA material with optical function. There is a microstructure on the light guide layer, with an 81 slot for receiving and guiding LED light, and an 83 slot for avoiding the elastic part;

[0013] The light-shielding layer has a transparent or colored plastic film as its base material, on which a matching ink and a black ink are printed or coated, the matching ink is below the black ink, the matching ink is printed on the back of the film, the black is printed on the front of the film, or the matching ink and the black are superimposed on the front or back of the film; the matching ink includes: white ink, other visible light color inks, and inks with light filtering function;

[0014] A support plate having designated slots corresponding to other components for light transmission;

[0015] Scissor-type support frame, used for connecting and fixing keycaps and support plates;

[0016] The lower circuit layer, light source layer, light shielding layer and light guide layer are all bonded by glue, self-adhesive adhesive or hot melt adhesive with specific patterns or on the whole surface to meet the waterproof and moisture-proof functions.

[0017] Preferably, the LED may be a miniCSP LED, or an LED in a package form of other sizes.

[0018] Preferably, the contacts have three styles, namely a first style, a second style and a third style.

[0019] Preferably, the support plate is made of plastic metal or plastic or PMMA or polycarbonate.

[0020] Preferably, the scissor-type support frame is a combination of malleable plastic or polycarbonate or elastic metal parts.

[0021] Preferably, the microstructure is one of a dot-shaped, irregular-shaped, strip-shaped, and line-shaped structure.

[0022] Preferably, the structure of the eight-one slots is one of circular, elliptical, rectangular and polygonal structures.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the technical effects and advantages of the present invention are as follows:

[0024] The keyboard structure that combines the membrane switch and the backlight module redefines the keyboard stacking structure, integrating the original four-layer backlight structure and keyboard circuit together, reducing the overall thickness and weight of the keyboard, and can use miniLED to reduce keyboard energy consumption and increase computer battery life.

[0025] The keyboard structure that combines the membrane switch and the backlight module can make the backlight keyboard thinner, reduce the weight of the keyboard, and improve the battery life of the computer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific implementation methods of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the specific implementation methods or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some implementation methods of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 A top view of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 An exploded view of the present invention in a disassembled state;

[0029] Figure 3 A top view of the lower circuit and light source layer of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 It is a partial enlarged view of the lower circuit and light source layer of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 It is a partial enlarged view of the light guiding layer of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 The three types of contacts of the present invention are enlarged.

[0033] Description of reference numerals:

[0034] In the figure:

[0035] Keycap 1, scissor-type support frame 2, support plate 6, designated slot 61, shading layer 7, light guide layer 8, eight-one slot 81, microstructure 82, eight-three slot 83, elastic part 3, upper circuit layer 4, contact 41, corresponding slot 42, circuit 43, middle partition layer 5, five-one slot 51, five-two slot 52, lower circuit and light source layer 9, LED 91, first circuit 92, contact 93, first style 931, second style 932, third style 933, electroplated connection 94, second circuit 95, connector 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In the following description, a large number of specific details are provided to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented without one or more of these details. In other examples, in order to avoid confusion with the present invention, some technical features well known in the art are not described.

[0037] Unless otherwise defined, the up, down, left, right, front, back, inside and outside directions involved in this document are based on the up, down, left, right, front, back, inside and outside directions in the figures shown in the present invention, and are explained here together.

[0038] The connection method can be bonding, welding, bolt connection, etc., depending on actual needs.

[0039] See also Figures 1 to 6 As shown, a keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module, this embodiment includes a keycap 1, a scissor-type support frame 2, a support plate 6, a light shielding layer 7, a light guide layer 8, an elastic member 3, an upper circuit layer 4, a middle partition layer 5, and a lower circuit and light source layer 9;

[0040] The lower circuit layer integrates the traditional light board, reflective layer and keyboard lower circuit layer into one layer;

[0041] The lower circuit and light source layer 9 has and is connected to at least zero or more light-emitting LEDs 91 under each key position. The LEDs 91 transmit light to the light guide layer 8 through the middle partition layer 5 and the upper circuit layer 4. The light guide layer 8 emits light to the scissors and keycaps through the reflection and refraction microstructures thereon, thereby achieving a backlight effect. The LEDs 91 may be miniCSP LEDs or LEDs in packaging forms of other sizes.

[0042] The lower circuit layer and light source layer 9, the substrate of the lower circuit layer and light source layer is: a plastic film or an amide film or a metal plate or a composite structure of a plastic film and a metal film, having a first circuit 92, a second circuit 95 and a contact 93 thereon, wherein the contact 93 has three styles, namely a first style 931, a second style 932, and a third style 933;

[0043] The lower circuit layer and the light source lamp, the circuits and contacts thereon are screen-printed conductive paste, electroplated conductive layer or etched conductive layer, and the circuits are gathered to the external connector 10;

[0044] The first circuit 92 and the second circuit 95 are distributed on the front and back of the substrate, or one of them exists, and the circuits on the front and back are connected by punching, grouting or electroplating 94;

[0045] The middle partition layer 5 has a five-one slot 51 for contacting the upper and lower circuit contacts, and a five-two slot 52 for avoiding the LED. The middle partition layer 5 is attached to the lower circuit layer and the light source layer 9 by hot melt adhesive process or glue or adhesive.

[0046] The upper circuit layer 4, the upper circuit layer substrate is a plastic film or an amide film, and has contacts 41 and circuits 43 thereon, and the contacts 41 and circuits 43 are screen-printed conductive paste, electroplated conductive layers or etched conductive layers; and has corresponding grooves 42 for avoiding positions of LEDs;

[0047] The light guide layer 8 is made of PC, PET, or PMMA with optical functions. The light guide layer has a microstructure 82. The microstructure 82 is in a dot-shaped, irregular, strip-shaped, or linear structure. The light guide layer has an 81-shaped slot 81 for receiving and guiding LED light. The 81-shaped slot 81 is in a circular, elliptical, rectangular, or polygonal structure. The light guide layer has an 83-shaped slot 83 for avoiding the elastic member.

[0048] The light-shielding layer 7 has a substrate of a transparent or colored plastic film on which a matching ink and a black ink are printed or coated, wherein the matching ink is below the black ink, the matching ink is printed on the back of the film, and the black is printed on the front of the film, or the matching ink and the black are superimposed on the front or back of the film; the matching ink includes: white ink, other visible light color inks, and inks with light filtering function;

[0049] A support plate 6, the support plate is made of plastic metal or plastic or PMMA or polycarbonate, and has designated slots 61 corresponding to other components for light transmission;

[0050] The scissor-type support frame 2 is a combination of plastic or polycarbonate or elastic metal parts, and is used for connecting and fixing the keycap and the support plate;

[0051] The lower circuit layer, light source layer, light shielding layer and light guide layer are all bonded by glue, self-adhesive adhesive or hot melt adhesive with specific patterns or on the whole surface to meet the waterproof and moisture-proof functions.

[0052] It should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as one and two are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions. The sentence "includes an element defined by ... does not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the element".

[0053] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module, characterized in that: It includes key caps, a scissor-type support frame, a support plate, a light shielding layer, a light guide layer, an elastic member, an upper circuit layer, a middle partition layer, a lower circuit layer and a light source layer in sequence; The lower circuit layer integrates the traditional light board, reflective layer and keyboard lower circuit layer into one layer; The lower circuit and light source layer has at least zero to multiple light-emitting LEDs under each key position, and the LED transmits light to the light guide layer through the middle partition layer and the upper circuit layer. The light guide layer radiates light to the keycap through the reflective and refractive microstructures thereon, thereby achieving a backlight effect; The lower circuit layer and the light source layer, the substrate of the lower circuit layer and the light source layer is: a plastic film or an amide film or a metal plate or a composite structure of a plastic film and a metal film, and has a first circuit, a second circuit and contacts thereon; The lower circuit layer and the light source lamp, the circuits and contacts thereon are screen-printed conductive paste, electroplated conductive layer or etched conductive layer, and the circuits are gathered to the external connector; The first circuit and the second circuit are distributed on the front and back of the substrate, or one of them exists, and the circuits on the front and back are connected by punching, grouting or electroplating; The middle partition layer has a five-one slot for contacting the upper and lower circuit contacts, and a five-two slot for avoiding the LEDs. The middle partition layer is attached to the lower circuit layer and the light source layer by a hot melt adhesive process or glue or adhesive. The upper circuit layer, the substrate of the upper circuit layer is a plastic film or an amide film, and has contacts and circuits thereon. The contacts and circuits are screen-printed conductive paste, electroplated conductive layer or etched conductive layer, and have corresponding grooves for avoiding positions of LEDs; Light guide layer: the light guide layer is made of PC, PET, PMMA material with optical function. There is a microstructure on the light guide layer, with an 81 slot for receiving and guiding LED light, and an 83 slot for avoiding the elastic part; The light-shielding layer has a transparent or colored plastic film as its base material, on which a matching ink and a black ink are printed or coated, the matching ink is below the black ink, the matching ink is printed on the back of the film, the black is printed on the front of the film, or the matching ink and the black are superimposed on the front or back of the film; Color matching inks include: white ink, other visible light color inks, and inks with light filtering function; A support plate having designated slots corresponding to other components for light transmission; Scissor-type support frame, used to connect and fix the keycaps and support plate; The lower circuit layer, light source layer, light shielding layer and light guide layer are all bonded by glue, self-adhesive adhesive or hot melt adhesive with specific patterns or on the whole surface to meet the waterproof and moisture-proof functions.

2. The keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The LED may be a miniCSP LED, or an LED in a package form of other sizes.

3. The keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The contact has three styles, namely a first style, a second style and a third style.

4. The keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support plate is made of plastic metal or plastic or PMMA or polycarbonate.

5. The keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scissor-type support frame is a combination of plastic or polycarbonate or elastic metal parts.

6. The keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microstructure is one of a dot-shaped, irregular-shaped, strip-shaped, and line-shaped structure.

7. The keyboard structure combining a membrane switch and a backlight module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The structure of the eight-one slots is one of circular, elliptical, rectangular and polygonal structures.

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