Keyboard device and electronic equipment

Abstract

A keyboard device and an electronic apparatus are provided. A decrease in light quantity is suppressed. The keyboard device includes a light source and a plurality of keycaps capable of emitting light by light emitted from the light source. The keyboard device is provided with: a base plate which supports the keycaps on the upper surface side; and a film having an upper contact sheet, a lower contact sheet, and a spacer sheet interposed between the upper contact sheet and the lower contact sheet, the film being laminated on the upper surface of the base plate, the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the spacer sheet having translucency, a light reflecting layer is arranged on the upper surface of the upper contact sheet, and for the thin film, a part of at least one of the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet and the isolation sheet is arranged below the keycap, and a light diffusion pattern is arranged on the surface of the part arranged below the keycap.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a keyboard device and an electronic device provided with the keyboard device. BACKGROUND

[0002] There is a case where an electronic device such as a notebook PC is equipped with a keyboard device capable of causing keycaps to emit light (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).

[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 6868716

[0004] The keyboard device described above adopts a structure in which a membrane sheet, a base plate that supports keycaps, and a backlight module are stacked in this order from the top. The backlight module is provided with a light source near the center in the left-right direction of the keyboard device. Light from the light source is guided to the left and right by a light guide plate, and the light passes through through-holes formed in the base plate and the membrane sheet to cause each keycap to emit light.

[0005] However, each layer of the membrane sheet is generally formed of a transparent PET film. A light emission experiment was conducted in a dark room for such a keyboard device. As a result, it was found that light leaks from the through-holes under the keycaps into the membrane sheet, which causes the amount of light irradiated to the keycaps to decrease. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application has been achieved in view of the problems of the above-described related art, and aims to provide a keyboard device capable of suppressing a decrease in the amount of light and an electronic device provided with the keyboard device.

[0007] A keyboard device according to a first aspect of the present application includes a light source and a plurality of keycaps capable of emitting light using light emitted from the light source. The keyboard device includes a base plate that supports the keycaps on an upper surface side, and a membrane sheet that has an upper contact sheet, a lower contact sheet, and a spacer sheet interposed between the upper contact sheet and the lower contact sheet, and is stacked on the upper surface of the base plate. The upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the spacer sheet are light-transmissive. A light reflection layer is provided on an upper surface of the upper contact sheet. At least one of the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the spacer sheet is partially disposed below the keycaps, and has a light diffusion pattern on a surface of the portion disposed below the keycaps.

[0008] The electronic device according to the second aspect of the present application includes a housing, and a keyboard device having a light source and a plurality of keycaps capable of emitting light using light emitted from the light source, and facing an upper surface of the housing. The keyboard device includes a base plate supporting the keycaps on the upper surface side, and a film having an upper contact sheet, a lower contact sheet, and a separation sheet interposed between the upper contact sheet and the lower contact sheet, and laminated on the upper surface of the base plate. The upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the separation sheet are light-transmissive, and a light reflection layer is provided on an upper surface of the upper contact sheet. At least one of the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the separation sheet is partially arranged below the keycaps, and a light diffusion pattern is provided on a surface of the at least one sheet arranged below the keycaps.

[0009] According to the above aspect of the present application, the decrease in the amount of light can be suppressed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0011] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a keycap and its surrounding portion of a keyboard device according to the first embodiment of the present application.

[0012] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the keycap and its surrounding portion shown in FIG. 2. Figure 2

[0013] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the keyboard device shown in FIG. 2. Figure 3

[0014] Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a keycap and its surrounding portion of a keyboard device according to the second embodiment of the present application.

[0015] Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a keycap and its surrounding portion of a keyboard device according to the third embodiment of the present application.

[0016] Figure 7 FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the keycap and its surrounding portion shown in FIG. 6. Figure 6

[0017] Figure 8 FIG. 8 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a light source and its surrounding portion of a keyboard device having a film with a protruding portion.

[0018] Figure 9 FIG. 9 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a light source and its surrounding portion of a keyboard device having a film with a curved portion.​​​

[0019] Reference Signs List

[0020] 10...electronic device; 12, 12A to 12C...keyboard device; 14...housing; 24a...key top; 30...base plate; 30c, 38...through hole; 31...film; 32, 32A...light emitting module; 33...upper contact sheet; 34...lower contact sheet; 35...separation sheet; 36...light reflection layer; 40...extension; 42...light diffusion pattern; 44...light guide member; 48, 48A...light source; 48a, 48b...light irradiation surface; 50...flexible substrate; 52, 52A, 52B...hole portion; 60...bulge portion; 62...bend portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a preferred embodiment of a keyboard device and an electronic device provided with the same according to the present application will be described in detail.

[0022] Figure 1 is a plan view of an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1 , the electronic device 10 is provided with a housing 14 on which a keyboard device 12 is mounted, and a display housing 18 on which a display 16 is mounted. In the present embodiment, a clamshell notebook PC, i.e., the electronic device 10, in which the housing 14 and the display housing 18 are linked by a hinge 20 so that they can rotate relative to each other, is exemplified. Figure 1 A use form in which the display housing 18 is opened with respect to the housing 14 is shown. The electronic device 10 is not limited to a clamshell as long as it is an electronic device on which a keyboard device is mounted.

[0024] Hereinafter, with respect to each element of the housing 14 and the keyboard device 12 mounted thereon, etc., the direction observed by a user who observes the display 16 from the side while using the keyboard device 12 will be taken as a reference, the side close to the body will be referred to as front, the side away from the body will be referred to as rear, the thickness direction will be referred to as up and down, and the width direction will be referred to as left and right.

[0025] The display housing 18 is a flat box which is thinner than the housing 14, and has the display 16 on the front surface. The display 16 is constituted by, for example, organic EL, liquid crystal, etc. The lower end portion of the display housing 18 is linked to the rear end portion of the housing 14 via the hinge 20.

[0026] The housing 14 is a flat box which is relatively thin, and the keyboard device 12 faces the upper surface 14a. Inside the housing 14, a mother board on which a CPU, a memory, etc. are mounted, a speaker device, a cooling device, a battery device, etc. are housed.

[0027] The keyboard assembly 12 is supported by the upper part of the housing 14. The keyboard assembly 12 has a plurality of key switches 24. The keyboard assembly 12 is an isolated type keyboard assembly in which the keycaps 24a, which are the operating surfaces of each key switch 24, are separated by a frame 26.

[0028] The frame 26 is a mesh-like frame made of resin, metal, or the like. In this embodiment, the housing 14 is composed of a cover member 27 forming an upper surface 14a and surrounding side surfaces, and a cover member 28 closing the opening on the lower surface of the cover member 27. The frame 26 is integrally formed with the cover member 27 forming the upper surface 14a. Alternatively, the frame 26 and the cover member 27 can be formed independently. The frame 26 has multiple keyholes 26a into which each keycap 24a can be inserted in a vertically movable manner. The portion of the frame 26 enclosed by the horizontal frame portion 26b extending in the left-right direction and the vertical frame portion 26c extending in the front-back direction forms the keyholes 26a.

[0029] Next, a specific structural example of the keyboard device 12 will be described.

[0030] Hereinafter, with respect to the keyboard device 12, the keyboard device 12A according to the first embodiment (see reference) Figure 2 The keyboard device 12B according to the second embodiment (see reference) Figure 5 The keyboard device 12C according to the third embodiment (see reference) Figure 6 The explanation will proceed in the following order.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the keycap 24a and its surrounding portion of the keyboard device 12A according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 The illustration of frame 26 is omitted in the text. Figure 5 and Figure 6 It's the same. Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A schematic top view of the keycap 24a and its surrounding area. Figure 3 In the diagram, only the outline of keycap 24a is shown using double-dotted lines. Figure 7 It's the same. Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The bottom view of the keyboard device 12A shown.

[0032] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the keyboard device 12A includes multiple key switches 24, a substrate 30, a membrane 31, and a light-emitting module 32.

[0033] Each key switch 24 has a key top 24a and a guide mechanism 24b. The guide mechanism 24b is a scissor mechanism that supports the key top 24a so as to be movable up and down on the side of the upper surface 30a of the base plate 30. A rubber dome 24c stands at the center of the guide mechanism 24b (see FIG. 2). The rubber dome 24c is a dome-shaped member formed of a flexible elastic material such as silicone rubber. The rubber dome 24c presses the film 31 when the key top 24a is depressed, and returns the key top 24a to the original position when the depression operation of the key top 24a is released. Figure 3 ) The rubber dome 24c is a dome-shaped member formed of a flexible elastic material such as silicone rubber. The rubber dome 24c presses the film 31 when the key top 24a is depressed, and returns the key top 24a to the original position when the depression operation of the key top 24a is released.

[0034] The base plate 30 is a thin plate that supports each key switch 24 and the frame 26. The base plate 30 extends over substantially the entire region of the outer shape of the keyboard device 12A. The base plate 30 can use a structure in which a plate-shaped member made of metal such as a thin stainless steel plate or an aluminum plate is subjected to cut-and-forming or punch-forming.

[0035] The film 31 is a switch sheet of a three-layer structure in which the contacts are closed when pressed. The film 31 extends to a position overlapping the lower side of all the key switches 24. The film 31 is laminated on the upper surface 30a of the base plate 30. The film 31 has an upper contact sheet 33, a lower contact sheet 34, and a spacer sheet 35 interposed between the contact sheets 33 and 34.

[0036] The contact sheets 33 and 34 each have a predetermined conductive pattern on a facing surface thereof facing the other facing surface across a space formed by the spacer sheet 35. The contact sheets 33 and 34 can adopt, for example, a structure in which a conductive ink such as silver paste or carbon paste is printed on the surface of a transparent PET film. The contact sheets 33 and 34 are formed of a transparent PET film, and thus have light transmissivity in the planar direction and in the thickness direction orthogonal to the planar direction. If the light transmissivity is provided, the contact sheets 33 and 34 can be formed of a material other than the transparent PET film. The thickness of the contact sheets 33 and 34 is, for example, about 0.07 mm, and is extremely thin and has high flexibility.

[0037] The spacer sheet 35 is a member that insulates between the contact sheets 33 and 34. Like the contact sheets 33 and 34, the spacer sheet 35 can be formed of a transparent PET film, for example, and thus has light transmissivity. If the light transmissivity is provided, the spacer sheet 35 can be formed of a material other than the transparent PET film. The thickness of the spacer sheet 35 can be, for example, about 0.06 mm.

[0038] The film 31 has a light reflection layer 36 and a decorative layer 37 laminated on the upper surface 33a of the upper contact sheet 33. The light reflection layer 36 can adopt, for example, a structure in which a light reflection pattern formed of white or silver or the like covers the upper surface 33a. The light reflection layer 36 serves to efficiently guide light entering the film 31 from the light emitting module 32 within the film 31. As described later, Figure 5 andFigure 6 As shown in the structural example, there is a case where light from the light source 48 is intentionally guided to the film 31. There is also a case where light that is diffusely reflected by the light-diffusing pattern 42 is unintentionally guided to the film 31. There is also a case where light that is diffusely reflected by the light-diffusing pattern 42 and reflected by the key top 24a and the guide mechanism 24b is unintentionally guided to the film 31. The light-reflecting layer 36 is also a layer for preventing light that is guided in the film 31 from being absorbed by the black decorative layer 37. The decorative layer 37 is a surface layer for avoiding the film 31 from being exposed from the gap between the key top 24a and the frame 26 in appearance. The decorative layer 37 can adopt a structure in which, for example, the upper surface of the light-reflecting layer 36 is covered by a black pattern.

[0039] In the case where the key top 24a is pressed, the upper contact sheet 33 that is pressed by the rubber dome 24c is elastically deformed in the film 31. As a result thereof, the conductive pattern on the upper contact sheet 33 side (movable contact) comes into abutment with the conductive pattern on the lower contact sheet 34 side (fixed contact) and closes the contact. Thus, the film 31 outputs a predetermined input signal corresponding to the key type.

[0040] As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 , in the case of the present embodiment, the film 31 has a through-hole 38 directly below each key top 24a. The through-hole 38 is, for example, a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. The base plate 30 is arranged in a bridge-like manner inside the through-hole 38, and the film 31 is arranged in a floating island-like manner on the upper surface 30a of this portion. The through-hole 38 allows light from the light-emitting module 32 to pass through the key top 24a. The through-hole 38 is also used for the hook portion 39 that protrudes from the upper surface 30a of the base plate 30 to pass through. The hook portion 39 is provided, for example, four for each portion located below each key switch 24. Each hook portion 39 supports the shaft pin of the guide mechanism 24b. The base plate 30 has a through-hole 30c. The through-hole 30c communicates with the through-hole 38 and allows light from the light-emitting module 32 to pass through the through-hole 38.

[0041] In the case of the present embodiment, the film 31 has an extension portion 40 that protrudes a part of the upper contact sheet 33 to the inside of the through-hole 38.

[0042] The extension portion 40 is a small piece that is formed by protruding the transparent PET film that forms the upper contact sheet 33 to the inner circumferential space of the through-hole 38. The extension portion 40 is arranged below the key top 24a. The light-reflecting layer 36 and the decorative layer 37 are not provided on the upper surface 33a of the extension portion 40. In other words, at the extension portion 40, the transparent PET film is not covered. As shown in Figure 2The extension portion 40 can also be provided to the lower contact piece 34 and the spacer piece 35 as indicated by the middle two-dot chain line. In other words, the extension portion 40 can be provided to at least one of the contact pieces 33, 34 and the spacer piece 35. The extension portion 40 can be formed protruding toward the rear, for example, from the inner wall of the front side of the through-hole 38 (see FIG. 6). Figure 4 ) The extension portion 40 can also be provided to the inner walls of the rear side and the left and right sides of the through-hole 38 as indicated by the middle two-dot chain line. Figure 4 ) The extension portion 40 can also be provided to the inner walls of the rear side and the left and right sides of the through-hole 38 as indicated by the middle two-dot chain line.

[0043] A light diffusion pattern 42 is provided to the surface of the extension portion 40. The light diffusion pattern 42 can be provided to the lower surface 33b of the upper contact piece 33 that forms the extension portion 40. The light diffusion pattern 42 can also be provided to the upper surface of the upper contact piece 33 that forms the extension portion 40, or to both the upper and lower surfaces. The light diffusion pattern 42 is a pattern formed in a convex or concave shape on the surface of the upper contact piece 33. The light diffusion pattern 42 is a pattern for diffusing light that is reflected by light guided in the upper contact piece 33 and increasing the amount of light directed to the key top 24a. The light diffusion pattern 42 is formed, for example, by a slit pattern in a stripe shape as indicated by Figure 3 ) The light diffusion pattern 42 can also be formed by a dot pattern in a circular or rectangular shape as indicated by Figure 7 ) Thus, the extension portion 40 can cause the key top 24a to emit light using light diffused by the light diffusion pattern 42.

[0044] The light emitting module 32 is a backlight module for causing each key top 24a to emit light. The light emitting module 32 is layered to the lower surface 30b of the base plate 30. The light emitting module 32 has a light guide member 44, an upper reflection plate 45, a lower reflection plate 46, and a light source 48.

[0045] The light guide member 44 can be composed of a sheet made of a resin having light transmission properties such as PET, polycarbonate, acrylic acid, or the like. The light guide member 44 guides light that is emitted from the light source 48. The light guide member 44 and the reflection plates 45, 46 extend to a position overlapping the lower side of all the key switches 24. The light guide member 44 is provided with the light diffusion pattern 42 on the surface of the portion located below each key top 24a. The light diffusion pattern 42 can be provided to the lower surface 44a of the light guide member 44 at a position directly below the through-hole 30c. The light diffusion pattern 42 can also be provided to the upper surface of the light guide member 44, or to both the upper and lower surfaces of the light guide member 44.

[0046] An upper reflecting plate 45 is laminated to the upper surface of the light guide member 44. A lower reflecting plate 46 is laminated to the lower surface of the light guide member 44. The reflecting plates 45, 46 suppress light leakage at the light guide member 44 by covering the surfaces of the light guide member 44, and maintain the amount of light inside the light guide member 44 by implementing white painting on the surfaces in contact with the light guide member 44. The reflecting plates 45, 46 can be composed of, for example, a sheet of resin having high reflecting properties, such as PET, polyester, or polyolefin. The upper reflecting plate 45 is cut away at a position overlapping the through-hole 30c. Thus, the light guide member 44 can cause light diffused by the light diffusion pattern 42 to pass through the through-holes 30c, 38, and cause the key top 24a to emit light.

[0047] The light source 48 can be composed of, for example, a light emitting diode (LED). The light source 48 is mounted, for example, at substantially the center in the left-right direction of the light guide member 44, and a plurality of light sources 48 are juxtaposed in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 6). Figure 4 ) The light source 48 is mounted on the upper surface of a flexible substrate (FPC) 50. The flexible substrate 50 is disposed along the lower surface of the lower reflecting plate 46, and one end is electrically connected to a mother board.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the light emitting module 32 has a hole portion 52 that penetrates the lower reflecting plate 46 and the light guide member 44, and the hole bottom surface is closed by the upper reflecting plate 45. The light source 48 is inserted into the hole portion 52, and can irradiate light in the lateral direction from the light irradiation surface 48a provided on the left and right side surfaces. The light emitted from the light source 48 is guided in the left-right direction by the light guide member 44, and can irradiate each key top 24a from the back surface.

[0049] Figure 4 The reference numeral 54 in FIG. 6 is a mounting hole formed through at an appropriate portion of the keyboard device 12A. The mounting hole 54 is for a screw for fixing the keyboard device 12A to the frame 26.

[0050] As described above, the keyboard device 12A of the present embodiment is provided with a light source 48, a plurality of key tops 24a that can emit light using light irradiated from the light source 48, a base plate 30 that supports the key tops 24a on the upper surface 30a side, and a film 31 laminated at the upper surface 30a of the base plate 30. For the keyboard device 12A, the contact sheet 33, 34 and the spacer sheet 35 that constitute the film 31 have light transmissivity, and the light reflecting layer 36 is provided at the upper surface 33a of the upper contact sheet 33. For the film 31, a portion (the extension portion 40) of at least one sheet (for example, the upper contact sheet 33) of the contact sheet 33, 34 and the spacer sheet 35 is disposed below the key top 24a, and has the light diffusion pattern 42 on the surface of the extension portion 40.

[0051] In such a keyboard device 12A, as shown in Figure 2 A portion of the light L emitted from the light source 48 toward the key top 24a is incident into the film 31 from the end surface exposed at the through-hole 38. Here, in the keyboard device 12A, the upper surface 33a of the upper contact sheet 33 constituting the uppermost layer of the 3-layer sheet constituting the film 31 is covered with the light reflecting layer 36. Therefore, the light L introduced into the film 31 is reflected, diffused, and efficiently guided in the film 31 having light transmittance. This light L is diffusely reflected by the light diffusion pattern 42 provided at the extension portion 40, and the key top 24a is made to emit light. As a result, in the keyboard device 12A, the light L introduced into the film 31 is prevented from being leaked to reduce the amount of light, and each key top 24a can be made to emit light with a sufficient amount of light. Figure 2 The hollow arrow L in the drawing mainly indicates light guided in the light guide member 44 and the film 31, and the arrow L of the single dot chain line mainly indicates light diffused by the light diffusion pattern 42, Figure 5 The same is true of each of the following drawings.

[0052] In particular, the upper surface of the film is exposed on the appearance of the keyboard device, and therefore, has been covered with a black pattern (decorative layer 37) in the past. Therefore, if light is incident into the conventional film, the light is absorbed by the black pattern to cause a reduction in light, and therefore, there has been a problem that the amount of light with which the key top 24a emits light is easily reduced. In this regard, the keyboard device 12A can prevent a reduction in light due to absorption at the decorative layer 37 by providing the light reflecting layer 36 under the decorative layer 37, and can achieve efficient light guidance in the film 31.

[0053] The keyboard device 12A can be provided with the light guide member 44 laminated on the lower surface 30b side of the base plate 30. The film 31 has the through-hole 38 through which the light L guided by the light guide member 44 passes toward the key top 24a below the key top 24a. In the keyboard device 12A, most of the light L from the light source 48 is emitted toward the key top 24a from the light diffusion pattern 42 provided at the light guide member 44. On the other hand, a portion of the light L diffused from the light guide member 44 is introduced into the film 31. However, the keyboard device 12A not only suppresses light leakage at the film 31 as described above, but also the light is emitted toward the key top 24a from the light diffusion pattern 42 provided at the extension portion 40.

[0054] That is, compared with a keyboard device having a conventional light guide member 44, the keyboard device 12A according to the first embodiment can suppress a reduction in the amount of light only by adding the light reflecting layer 36 and the extension portion 40. Therefore, the keyboard device 12A can be easily used for a back light type keyboard device widely used in the past, and can achieve efficient use of light into the film 31, and is highly versatile.

[0055] Next, the keyboard device 12B according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0056] Figure 5 is a schematic side sectional view of the key top 24a of the keyboard device 12B according to the second embodiment and the periphery thereof. In the keyboard device 12B according to the second embodiment, elements that function the same as or similarly to the keyboard device 12A according to the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted, and the same applies to the keyboard device 12C according to the third embodiment.

[0057] Compared to the keyboard device 12A illustrated in Figure 2 Figure 5 Compared to the keyboard device 12A illustrated in Figure 4 In the keyboard device 12A, the light sources 48 are, for example, six in number in parallel in the front-rear direction. The light source 48A of the keyboard device 12B is disposed, for example, in place of two of the six light sources 48. Figure 4 The position where the reference numeral "48" indicating the light source is followed by the reference numeral "48A" in parentheses is indicated in

[0058] The light source 48A is the same as the other light sources 48, for example, in that it is constituted by an LED and mounted on the upper surface of the flexible substrate 50. The light source 48A differs from the light source 48 in the direction of light emission (the orientation of the light emission surface). The light source 48A has a light emission surface 48b on the upper surface, and is capable of emitting light upward.

[0059] As illustrated in Figure 5 The keyboard device 12A has a hole portion 52A at a position corresponding to the light source 48A. The hole portion 52A is a hole deeper than the hole portion 52. The light source 48A is inserted into the hole portion 52A. The hole portion 52A penetrates the lower reflection plate 46, the light guide member 44, the upper reflection plate 45, and the base plate 30, and the hole bottom surface is closed by the thin film 31. For the light source 48A inserted into the hole portion 52A, the upward light emission surface 48b faces the lower surface of the thin film 31. Therefore, compared to the light guide member 44, more light emitted from the light source 48A is incident on the thin film 31.

[0060] ​Accordingly, the keyboard device 12B of the present embodiment causes the light L upwardly irradiated from the light source 48A to be incident on the lower surface of the film 31. In the keyboard device 12B, the upper surface 33a of the upper contact sheet 33 located at the uppermost layer of the film 31 is also covered by the light reflecting layer 36. Accordingly, the light L introduced from the light source 48A to the film 31 is reflected, diffused, and efficiently guided within the film 31 having light transmittance. This light L is diffusely reflected by the light diffusion pattern 42 provided to the extension portion 40, and the key top 24a is caused to emit light. On the other hand, the light L irradiated from the other light source 48 and guided by the light guide member 44 is irradiated to the key top 24a from the light diffusion pattern 42 provided to the light guide member 44.

[0061] As a result thereof, in the keyboard device 12B, it is also possible to suppress the light L introduced to the film 31 from being leaked and to reduce the light amount, and each key top 24a can be caused to emit light with a sufficient light amount. With the keyboard device 12B, by appropriately adjusting the ratio of the number of the light source 48A with respect to the light source 48, it is possible to adjust the ratio of the light amount of the light introduced to the film 31 and the light introduced to the light guide member 44. For example, when viewed from the entirety of the key top 24a, it is possible to perform adjustment such that the light amount via the film 31 is 60% and the light amount via the light guide member 44 is 40%. Accordingly, the keyboard device 12B can be designed such that, for example, the light guide member 44 is made as thin as possible, and the light amount that is insufficient due to this thinning is supplemented by the film 31. Thus, the keyboard device 12B has an advantage that it is possible to make the overall thickness thin, and the like. In addition, the keyboard device 12B can also reduce the number of the light sources 48, 48A and the current value to reduce the power consumption without changing the thickness of the light guide member 44.

[0062] Next, the keyboard device 12C according to the third embodiment will be described.

[0063] Figure 6 is a schematic side sectional view of the key top 24a of the keyboard device 12C according to the third embodiment and the periphery thereof. Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the key top 24a and the periphery thereof shown in Figure 6 Figure 7 In the present embodiment, the illustration of the rubber dome 24c is omitted.

[0064] Compared with the above-described keyboard devices 12A, 12B, Figure 6 The keyboard device 12C shown in differs from the above-described structures in that it has a light emitting module 32A having a structure different from that of the light emitting module 32, and a hole portion 52B having a structure different from that of the hole portions 52, 52A. Further, the keyboard device 12C also differs from the above-described structures in that the film 31 does not substantially have the through hole 38.

[0065] ​The light-emitting module 32A differs from the aforementioned light-emitting module 32 in that it lacks the light-guiding component 44, the upper reflector 45, and the lower reflector 46. The light-emitting module 32A can be configured to essentially only have a light source 48 and a flexible substrate 50 for mounting the light source 48. The flexible substrate 50 of the light-emitting module 32A is directly laminated to the lower surface 30b of the base plate 30. Such a keyboard device 12C is configured to guide light emitted from the light source 48 to each keycap 24a solely through a thin film 31, replacing the light-guiding component 44.

[0066] Furthermore, the flexible substrate 50 only covers a portion of the lower surface 30b of the base plate 30. Therefore, in the keyboard device 12C, it is preferable that at least the portion of the lower surface 30b of the base plate 30 not covered by the flexible substrate 50 is covered by the sheet 56. This covers punched holes or similar features formed in the base plate 30. The sheet 56 can be formed from a sheet having the same light reflectivity as the aforementioned reflective plates 45 and 46.

[0067] The hole 52B opens at the lower surface of the film 31 (the lower surface 34a of the lower contact sheet 34) and penetrates the substrate 30. The hole 52B penetrates the substrate 30, the lower contact sheet 34, and the insulating sheet 35, and the bottom surface of the hole can be closed by the upper contact sheet 33. A light source 48 is inserted into the hole 52B. Preferably, at least the left and right light irradiation surfaces 48b of the light source 48 are provided at a height facing the end faces 34b and 35b of the lower contact sheet 34 and the insulating sheet 35 at the inner wall surface of the hole 52B. Thus, the light L emitted laterally from the light irradiation surfaces 48b of the light source 48 smoothly enters the film 31 from the end faces 34b and 35b.

[0068] As described above, the thin film 31 of the keyboard device 12C in this embodiment does not substantially have a through hole 38. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the keyboard device 12C has a thin film 31 covering the area beneath each keycap 24a. The portion of the thin film 31 positioned beneath the keycaps 24a has a light-diffusing pattern 42.

[0069] The light-diffusing pattern 42 can be provided on at least one surface of the contact sheets 33, 34 and the isolation sheet 35 located below the keycap 24a. When the light-diffusing pattern 42 is provided only on a portion of the contact sheets 33, 34 and the isolation sheet 35, it is also possible to arrange only the sheet with the light-diffusing pattern 42 below the keycap 24a. Figure 6In the illustrated structural example, the light diffusion pattern 42 is provided on the surfaces (lower surfaces 33b, 34a) of the contact sheets 33 and 34 disposed below the keycap 24a and on the surface (lower surface 35a) of the insulating sheet 35. The light diffusion pattern 42 can also be provided on the upper surfaces of the contact sheets 33 and 34 and the insulating sheet 35, or on both the upper and lower surfaces of each of the contact sheets 33 and 34 and the insulating sheet 35. Therefore, the keyboard device 12C can more adequately ensure the amount of light diffused from the membrane 31 to the keycap 24a.

[0070] Furthermore, in the keyboard device 12C, the hook 49 also needs to penetrate the membrane 31. Therefore, the keyboard device 12C has a small hole 58 formed in the membrane 31 for the hook 49 to be inserted (see reference). Figure 6 and Figure 7 The aperture 58 can act as a barrier to light guidance and diffusion at the thin film 31. Therefore, the aperture 58 is preferably formed to a minimum size that surrounds each hook 49 from all sides. Preferably, the gap between the inner circumferential surface of the aperture 58 and the hook 49 is set to, for example, 0.3 mm or less.

[0071] Therefore, the keyboard device 12C of this embodiment includes: a light source 48, a plurality of keycaps 24a capable of emitting light using light emitted from the light source 48, a substrate plate 30 supporting the keycaps 24a on the upper surface 30a side, and a thin film 31 laminated on the upper surface 30a of the substrate plate 30. For the keyboard device 12C, the contact sheets 33, 34 and the insulating sheet 35 constituting the thin film 31 are light-transmitting, and a light-reflecting layer 36 is provided on the upper surface 33a of the upper contact sheet 33. For the thin film 31, at least one of the contact sheets 33, 34 and the insulating sheet 35 is disposed below the keycaps 24a, and the surface of this sheet has a light-diffusing pattern 42.

[0072] In such a keyboard device 12C, such as Figure 6 As shown, light L from light source 48 is guided by thin film 31 and irradiates keycap 24a. In keyboard device 12C, the upper surface 33a of the upper contact sheet 33 located on the uppermost layer of thin film 31 is also covered by light-reflecting layer 36. Therefore, the light L introduced into thin film 31 is reflected, diffused, and efficiently guided within the light-transmitting thin film 31. This light L is diffusely reflected by the light-diffusing pattern 42 provided at the thin film 31 below each keycap 24a, causing the keycap 24a to emit light. As a result, keyboard device 12C suppresses light leakage caused by light L introduced into thin film 31, which reduces the amount of light, and enables each keycap 24a to emit light with sufficient light.

[0073] In particular, the light-emitting module 32A of the keyboard device 12C does not have the light guide member 44 and the reflection plates 45, 46. From the light source 48 toward the key top 24a, the light L is guided only via the film 31. In other words, the keyboard device 12C does not need to provide the light guide member 44 and the reflection plates 45, 46 by using the film 31 as the light guide member. Therefore, compared with the keyboard devices 12A, 12B described above, the keyboard device 12C can greatly reduce the thickness. In addition, the keyboard device 12C can reduce the number of components corresponding to the light guide member 44 and the like, and the product cost can be reduced.

[0074] The keyboard device 10C can have a hole portion 52B which is opened at the lower surface 34a of the film 31 and which penetrates the base plate 30. The light source 48 is inserted into the hole portion 52B. The light irradiation surface 48a of the light source 48 is directed toward the inner wall surface of the hole portion 52B formed in the film 31. Therefore, the keyboard device 10C can surely secure the incident surface of the light L from the light source 48 with respect to the film 31 which functions as the light guide member.

[0075] The hole portion 52B penetrates the base plate 30, the lower contact sheet 34, and the spacer sheet 35, and the hole bottom can be closed by the upper contact sheet 33. In addition, the light irradiation surface 48a can be directed toward the end surfaces 34b, 35b of the lower contact sheet 34 and the spacer sheet 35 which form the inner wall surface of the hole portion 52B. Thus, the film 31 can surely secure the incident surface of the light L from the light source 48, and it is possible to avoid the case where the light source 48 is exposed above the keyboard device 12C to impair the appearance.

[0076] With respect to the film 31, the upper contact sheet 33, the lower contact sheet 34, and the spacer sheet 35 are disposed below the key top 24a, and the light diffusion pattern 42 can be provided on each surface of the respective sheets 33 to 35. In this way, the light amount of the light L diffused from the film 31 toward each key top 24a can be sufficiently secured. In particular, the film 31 has a three-layer structure. Therefore, in the case where the light diffusion pattern 42 is provided only on the surface of the lowermost lower contact sheet 34, it is difficult to cause the light L which has passed through the spacer sheet 35 and the upper contact sheet 33 above to reach the key top 24a. In this regard, by providing the light diffusion pattern 42 in all of the three layers, the light amount of the light L reaching each key top 24a can be increased.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 6, the light diffusion pattern 42 provided on the film 31 disposed below the key top 24a can also change the arrangement density according to the distance from the light source 48 to each key top 24a. For example, in the case where the distance from the light source 48 to the key top 24a is short, the arrangement density of the light diffusion pattern 42 can be increased. In the case where the distance from the light source 48 to the key top 24a is long, the arrangement density of the light diffusion pattern 42 can be decreased. Figure 7 Figure 7 ​In the illustrated example, seven light diffusion patterns 42 are arranged below the key top 24a on the left side of the light source 48, and ten light diffusion patterns 42 are arranged below the key top 24a on the left side of the key top 24a. In this way, the film 31 can increase the arrangement density of the light diffusion patterns 42 at the lower side of the key top 24a farther from the light source 48 than at the lower side of the key top 24a closer to the light source 48. In this way, the key top 24a at a position farther from the light source 48 can also emit light with sufficient light quantity.

[0078] However, in the keyboard device 12C, for example, the height of the light source 48 can be set to 0.4 mm, the thickness of the base plate 30 can be set to 0.2 mm, and the thicknesses of the contact sheets 33, 34 can be set to 0.07 mm and 0.06 mm, respectively. In addition, the thickness of the flexible substrate 50 is, for example, 0.1 mm. In this way, in the keyboard device 12C, the depth of the hole portion 52B becomes 0.33 mm, and the height of the light source 48 cannot be inserted into the hole portion 52B as a whole. Therefore, in the keyboard device 12C, the difference (0.07 mm) between the height of the light source 48 and the depth of the hole portion 52B is eliminated, and, for example, the thickness of the lower contact sheet 34 can be increased from 0.07 mm to 0.17 mm. In this way, the light source 48 can be inserted into the hole portion 52B, and further, the incident surface of the light L with respect to the film 31 can be ensured. In other words, in the keyboard device 12C, the thickness of the lower contact sheet 34 can be made larger than the thickness of the upper contact sheet 33.

[0079] As another method of eliminating the above difference (0.07 mm), it is also conceivable to change the thicknesses of the upper contact sheet 33 or the spacer sheet 35. However, if the thickness of the upper contact sheet 33 is forcibly increased, the flexibility is hindered, and the smooth switching operation of the film 31 can be hindered. If the thickness of the spacer sheet 35 is increased, the stroke required for the switching operation of the contact sheets 33, 34 is increased. Therefore, it is preferable to increase the thickness of the lower contact sheet 34 as described above.

[0080] As described above, in the keyboard device 12C, the light from the light source 48 can be guided to each key top 24a by the film 31 alone instead of the light guide member 44 and the reflection plates 45, 46. Here, the film 31 has a conductive pattern at the lower surface 33b of the upper contact sheet 33 and the upper surface 34c of the lower contact sheet 34. In addition, the spacer sheet 35 has a hole portion at each position for contacting the contact sheets 33, 34. Therefore, although the film 31 has a light-transmissive property in all of the three layers, there is a possibility that the light quantity is reduced compared to a general light guide plate (light guide member 44).

[0081] The structure in which the light diffusion pattern 42 is provided on the surface of each of the upper contact sheet 33, the lower contact sheet 34, and the spacer sheet 35 under the key top 24a described above is a structure for further increasing the amount of light in the keyboard device 12C. The same is true of the structure in which the density of the light diffusion pattern 42 provided at the film 31 is changed depending on the distance from the light source 48 described above. Hereinafter, the description will be made with reference to Figure 8 and Figure 9 The other structure examples capable of further increasing the amount of light in the keyboard device 12C will be described in turn.

[0082] Figure 8 is a schematic side sectional view of the light source 48 and the vicinity thereof in the keyboard device 12C provided with the film 31 having the bulging portion 60. Figure 8 In order to ensure easy visibility of the drawing, the illustration of the sectional lines of each constituent element and the illustration of the light reflection layer 36 and the decorative layer 37 are appropriately omitted, and the description will be made with reference to Figure 9 The same is true of

[0083] Figure 8 The keyboard device 12C illustrated in the drawing has the bulging portion 60 at a part of the film 31. The bulging portion 60 is a portion in which the part of the upper contact sheet 33 in which the bottom surface of the hole portion 52B is bulged upward. The bulging height of the bulging portion 60 bulged upward can be set to be equal to or more than the thickness of the upper contact sheet 33, for example. Thus, in the case where the vertical direction of the keyboard device 12C is taken as a reference, the upper surface 48c of the light source 48 can be set to a height position equal to or higher than the upper surface 33a of the upper contact sheet 33 except for the bulging portion 60 (the same height or higher). Specifically, as illustrated in Figure 8 , the height HI of the upper surface 48c of the light source 48 can be set to be equal to or more than the height H2 of the upper surface 33a of the upper contact sheet 33. Figure 8 In the drawing, the height HI is approximately the same height as the height H2, but the height HI can also be set to a position higher than the height H2.

[0084] Thus, the keyboard device 12C is provided with the bulging portion 60, and thus the light irradiation surface 48a of the light source 48 can be set to a height position facing the upper contact sheet 33. Thus, the keyboard device 12C causes the light L from the light source 48 to be smoothly incident on the upper contact sheet 33 via the bulging portion 60 as illustrated in Figure 8 Figure 8 ​Therefore, the keyboard device 12C provided with the bulging portion 60 can further increase the light amount of the light L straightly passing through the upper contact point sheet 33, and further increase the light amount to each key top 24a. In addition, by providing the bulging portion 60, the keyboard device 12C can eliminate the difference between the height of the light source 48 and the depth of the hole portion 52B, for example, without making the thickness of the lower contact point sheet 34 greater than the thickness of the upper contact point sheet 33.

[0085] Figure 9 is a schematic side sectional view of the light source 48 and its peripheral portion in the keyboard device 12C provided with the film 31 having the curved portion 62.

[0086] Figure 9 The keyboard device 12C illustrated in FIG. 6 has the curved portion 62 in a part of the film 31. The curved portion 62 can be configured by bending a part of the inner wall surface of the hole portion 52B of the lower contact point sheet 34 and the spacer sheet 35 downward. The curved portion 62 is, for example, a portion bent downward in a crank shape at a predetermined distance from the end surface 34b, 35b of the lower contact point sheet 34 and the spacer sheet 35. Figure 9 The reference numeral 30d in FIG. 6 is double-sided tape for fixing and stabilizing the end portion of the curved portion 62 to the base plate 30. The film 31 has the curved portion 62, and thereby can form the gap G between the upper contact point sheet 33 and the spacer sheet 35 and the lower contact point sheet 34 bent by the curved portion 62. Thus, the light irradiation surface 48a can face the curved portion 62 and the gap G.

[0087] Therefore, the keyboard device 12C provided with the curved portion 62 can further increase the light amount of the light L straightly passing through the upper contact point sheet 33, and further increase the light amount to each key top 24a. In addition, by providing the bulging portion 60, the keyboard device 12C can eliminate the difference between the height of the light source 48 and the depth of the hole portion 52B, for example, without making the thickness of the lower contact point sheet 34 greater than the thickness of the upper contact point sheet 33. Figure 9 Therefore, the keyboard device 12C provided with the curved portion 62 can further increase the light amount of the light L straightly passing through the upper contact point sheet 33, and further increase the light amount to each key top 24a. In addition, by providing the bulging portion 60, the keyboard device 12C can eliminate the difference between the height of the light source 48 and the depth of the hole portion 52B, for example, without making the thickness of the lower contact point sheet 34 greater than the thickness of the upper contact point sheet 33. Figure 9 In the embodiment, the curved portion 62 is used in combination with the bulging portion 60, but the curved portion 62 can be applied to a structure not provided with the bulging portion 60.

[0088] In addition, the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be freely changed within the scope not departing from the gist of the present application.

Claims

1. A keyboard device comprising a light source and a plurality of keycaps capable of emitting light using light emitted from the light source, characterized in that it comprises: A base plate that supports the keycap on its upper surface; and A thin film having an upper contact sheet, a lower contact sheet, and a separating sheet sandwiched between the upper contact sheet and the lower contact sheet, wherein the thin film is laminated on the upper surface of the substrate plate. The upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the insulating sheet are light-transmitting. A light-reflecting layer is provided on the upper surface of the upper contact sheet. For the film, at least one of the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the isolation sheet is partially disposed below the keycap, and the surface of the portion disposed below the keycap has a light-diffusing pattern.

2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It has a hole that opens on the lower surface of the film and penetrates the substrate plate. The light source is inserted into the hole. The light source has a transverse light irradiation surface facing the inner wall surface of the aperture formed on the thin film.

3. The keyboard device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hole extends through the base plate, the lower contact sheet, and the insulating sheet. The bottom of the hole is blocked by the upper contact sheet.

4. The keyboard device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The light-irradiating surface faces the end faces of the lower contact sheet and the insulating sheet at the inner wall surface forming the hole.

5. The keyboard device according to claim 2, characterized in that, It has a flexible substrate for mounting the light source. The flexible substrate is stacked on the lower surface of the base plate.

6. The keyboard device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, The upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the insulating sheet of the film are disposed below the keycap. The light diffusion patterns are respectively disposed on the surfaces of the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the isolation sheet located below the keycap.

7. The keyboard device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The thickness of the lower contact sheet is greater than the thickness of the upper contact sheet.

8. The keyboard device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The portion of the upper contact sheet that forms the bottom surface of the hole has an upwardly bulging portion. The upper part of the light source is inserted into the bulge. With the vertical direction of the keyboard device as a reference, the upper surface of the light source is positioned above the upper surface of the upper contact sheet, excluding the bulge.

9. The keyboard device according to claim 3 or 7, characterized in that, The film has a curved portion, which forms a gap between the insulating sheet and the upper contact sheet due to the local downward bending of the inner wall surface of the hole formed by the insulating sheet and the lower contact sheet. The light-illuminating surface of the light source faces the curved portion.

10. The keyboard device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It has a light guide component stacked on the lower surface side of the substrate plate. The film has a through hole below the keycap to allow light guided by the light guide component to pass through the keycap. For the thin film, at least one of the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the insulating sheet has an extension extending toward the inside of the through hole, and the light-diffusing pattern is provided on the extension.

11. The keyboard device according to claim 10, characterized in that, It has a hole that extends through the light guide component and the substrate, and the bottom surface of the hole is formed by the thin film. The light source is inserted into the hole.

12. The keyboard device according to claim 11, characterized in that, Multiple light sources are provided. A portion of the multiple light sources is inserted into the hole and has an upward-facing light-irradiating surface that faces the bottom surface of the hole.

13. An electronic device, characterized in that, have: Casing; and A keyboard device having a light source and multiple keycaps capable of emitting light using light emitted from the light source, and facing the upper surface of the housing. The keyboard device includes: A base plate that supports the keycap on its upper surface side; as well as A thin film having an upper contact sheet, a lower contact sheet, and a separating sheet sandwiched between the upper contact sheet and the lower contact sheet, wherein the thin film is laminated on the upper surface of the substrate plate. The upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the insulating sheet are light-transmitting. A light-reflecting layer is provided on the upper surface of the upper contact sheet. For the film, at least one of the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the isolation sheet is partially disposed below the keycap, and the surface of the portion disposed below the keycap has a light-diffusing pattern.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, characterized in that, The keyboard device includes a hole that opens on the lower surface of the thin film and extends through the substrate. The light source is inserted into the hole. The light source has a transverse light irradiation surface facing the inner wall surface of the aperture formed on the thin film.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14, characterized in that, The upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the insulating sheet of the film are disposed below the keycap. The light diffusion patterns are respectively disposed on the surfaces of the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the isolation sheet located below the keycap.

16. The electronic device according to claim 13, characterized in that, It has a light guide component stacked on the lower surface side of the substrate plate. The film has a through hole below the keycap to allow light guided by the light guide component to pass through the keycap. For the thin film, at least one of the upper contact sheet, the lower contact sheet, and the insulating sheet has an extension extending toward the inside of the through hole, and the light-diffusing pattern is provided on the extension.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, characterized in that, It has a hole that extends through the light guide component and the substrate, and the bottom surface of the hole is formed by the thin film. The light source is inserted into the hole.

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