Luminescent membrane keyboard with light guide interlayer

Abstract

The utility model discloses a light-emitting membrane keyboard with a light guide interlayer. The light-emitting membrane keyboard comprises keys, a first layer, a second layer, the light guide interlayer and at least one insulation pad. The key is provided with a convex block; the first layer comprises a first circuit film and a first electrode layer which are attached to each other; the second layer comprises a second circuit film and a second electrode layer which are attached to each other; the light guide interlayer is provided with at least one opening and is stacked between the first layer and the second layer, the key is arranged outside the first layer or the second layer, and the bump of the key corresponds to the opening; the insulating pad is arranged between the first circuit film and the first electrode layer, so that a first lug boss is formed on the first layer, and the first lug boss and the second layer are spaced and opposite to each other in the opening. Therefore, a better light guide effect can be achieved, the original pressing hand feeling can be maintained, and the aperture of the opening does not need to be enlarged.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a light-emitting thin film keyboard, in particular to a light-emitting thin film keyboard with a light guide layer. BACKGROUND

[0002] Regarding the thin film keyboard, a layer is arranged between an upper layer and a lower layer, and the layer of insulating material is provided with an opening, and the keys are arranged on the upper layer, so that when the keys are pressed, the protrusions of the keys will be pressed against the upper layer, and the upper layer will be concave to contact the lower layer to conduct.

[0003] However, the conventional light-emitting thin film keyboard has poor light guide effect or no light guide at all, which leads to the need for additional light guide structure.

[0004] In order to achieve better light guide effect, the layer must be made of material with good light guide effect, but the layer made of such material has a problem of being too thick, which leads to longer pressing stroke, so the opening of the layer must be enlarged, otherwise the thin film will be damaged after long-term use by the user. However, another problem is that the opening of the layer is enlarged, which changes the pressing feeling, which is a big problem to be overcome for the light-emitting thin film keyboard.

[0005] Therefore, how to overcome the problems of the prior art is a big problem to be solved by the present inventor. CONTENT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present application provides a light-emitting thin film keyboard with a light guide layer, which has better light guide effect and maintains the original pressing feeling.

[0007] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present application provides a light-emitting thin film keyboard with a light guide layer, which comprises: a key having a protrusion; a first layer comprising a first circuit film and a first electrode layer, the first electrode layer being attached to the first circuit film; a second layer comprising a second circuit film and a second electrode layer, the second electrode layer being attached to the second circuit film; a light guide layer provided with at least one opening, the light guide layer being arranged between the first layer and the second layer and the three layers being arranged in layers, the key being arranged outside one of the first layer and the second layer, and the protrusion corresponding to the opening; and at least one insulating pad, the insulating pad being arranged between the first circuit film and the first electrode layer, the first layer forming a first protruding portion in the opening by arranging the insulating pad, and the first protruding portion and the second layer being spaced apart from each other in the opening.

[0008] Preferably, the two insulating pads are respectively arranged between the first circuit film and the first electrode layer and between the second circuit film and the second electrode layer, the first layer forms a first protrusion in the opening via one of the two insulating pads, the second layer forms a second protrusion in the opening via the other of the two insulating pads, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are spaced apart from each other.

[0009] Preferably, one of the two insulating pads supports the first electrode layer to form the first protrusion in the first layer, and the other of the two insulating pads supports the second electrode layer to form the second protrusion in the second layer.

[0010] Preferably, the first protrusion protrudes toward the second protrusion relative to the first electrode layer, and the second protrusion protrudes toward the first protrusion relative to the second electrode layer.

[0011] Preferably, a first distance is formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer via the light guide layer, and a second distance is formed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

[0012] Preferably, the bump, the first protrusion, and the second protrusion are located on the same straight line.

[0013] Preferably, the light guide layer has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0014] Preferably, the light guide layer is a polycarbonate layer.

[0015] Preferably, the light guide layer has a plurality of thickness edges, and the light source emits light toward one of the thickness edges.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present application has the following advantages: better light guiding effect, original pressing feeling, and no need to expand the opening diameter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other object features and advantages of the present application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present application, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout, and the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, with emphasis being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present application.

[0018] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a light-emitting film keyboard according to the present application before pressing.

[0019] Figure 2Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light-emitting thin film keyboard of the present application after being pressed.

[0020] Reference numerals:

[0021] 1: first layer

[0022] 11: first circuit film

[0023] 12: first electrode layer

[0024] 2: second layer

[0025] 21: second circuit film

[0026] 22: second electrode layer

[0027] 3: light guide spacer

[0028] 31: opening

[0029] 32: thickness side

[0030] 4: first insulating pad

[0031] 5: second insulating pad

[0032] 7: key

[0033] 71: key cap

[0034] 72: elastomer

[0035] 73: bump

[0036] D1: spacer thickness

[0037] D2: pressing distance

[0038] L: light-emitting source

[0039] P1: first protruding part

[0040] P2: second protruding part DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In the present specification, many specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of specific embodiments of the present application; however, one skilled in the art should know that the purpose of the present application can still be achieved without one or more of these specific details; in other cases, well-known details are not shown or described to avoid obscuring the main technical features of the present application. The detailed description and technical content of the present application are described below in conjunction with the drawings; however, the accompanying drawings are provided for reference and illustration only, and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0042] The present application provides a light-emitting thin film keyboard with a light guide spacer, as shown in Figure 1As shown, the key 7 is capable of emitting light through the irradiation of at least one light source L. The light-emitting membrane keyboard with a light-guiding partition layer (hereinafter referred to as the light-emitting membrane keyboard) of the present application comprises a membrane switch assembly (not shown) and at least one key 7. The membrane switch assembly comprises a first layer 1, a second layer 2, a light-guiding partition layer 3, and a pair of insulating pads (including a first insulating pad 4 and a second insulating pad 5). It should be noted that in the membrane switch assembly, each element is not marked with an element symbol on the front side and the back side as described below.

[0043] As shown, the key 7 comprises a key cap 71, an elastic body 72, and a bump 73 connected to each other. The key 7 is supported on the membrane switch assembly by the elastic body 72, and the bump 73 is located in the middle of the elastic body 72. Figure 1

[0044] The first layer 1 comprises a first circuit film 11 and a first electrode layer 12. The first electrode layer 12 is arranged on the first circuit film 11 in a flat and pasted manner.

[0045] The second layer 2 comprises a second circuit film 21 and a second electrode layer 22. The second electrode layer 22 is arranged on the second circuit film 21 in a flat and pasted manner.

[0046] The aforementioned pair of insulating pads, including the first insulating pad 4 and the second insulating pad 5, are both insulating materials that are not conductive.

[0047] The first insulating pad 4 is arranged between the first circuit film 11 and the first electrode layer 12. Specifically, the first insulating pad 4 is first arranged on one side of the first circuit film 11, and then the first electrode layer 12 is arranged on the same side in a flat and pasted manner, so that the first electrode layer 12 forms a first protruding portion P1 that protrudes relative to the first layer 1 at the position where the first insulating pad 4 is arranged.

[0048] The second insulating pad 5 is arranged between the second circuit film 21 and the second electrode layer 22. Specifically, the second insulating pad 5 is first arranged on one side of the second circuit film 21, and then the second electrode layer 22 is arranged on the same side in a flat and pasted manner, so that the second electrode layer 22 also forms a second protruding portion P2 that protrudes relative to the second layer 2 at the position where the second insulating pad 5 is arranged. The first electrode layer 12 of the first layer 1 and the second electrode layer 22 of the second layer 2 are spaced apart from and face each other.

[0049] In detail, the first insulating pad 4 props up the first electrode layer 12 in the first layer 1 towards the second protruding portion P2, and the first electrode layer 12 forms the first protruding portion P1 by being thus propped up; the second insulating pad 5 props up the second electrode layer 22 in the second layer 2 towards the first protruding portion P1, and the second electrode layer 22 forms the second protruding portion P2 by being thus propped up.​

[0050] The light guide spacer layer 3 is an insulating material and is disposed between the first layer 1 and the second layer 2, i.e., the first layer 1, the second layer 2 and the light guide spacer layer 3 are stacked with each other, so that the light guide spacer layer 3 is sandwiched between the first layer 1 and the second layer 2 to form a first spacing between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 22 via the light guide spacer layer 3.

[0051] The light guide spacer layer 3 has one side and another side opposite to each other and a plurality of thickness edges 32 connected between the one side and the another side, and the light guide spacer layer 3 is provided with at least one opening 31 penetrating from the one side to the another side of the light guide spacer layer 3, and the first protruding portion P1 and the second protruding portion P2 are both located in the opening 31 and spaced apart from each other, and the protruding direction of the first protruding portion P1 relative to the first layer 1 is opposite to the protruding direction of the second protruding portion P2 relative to the second layer 2. The first protruding portion P1 and the second protruding portion P2 have a second spacing therebetween, and the second spacing is smaller than the first spacing, and the second spacing is a pressing spacing D2 when the user presses.

[0052] It should be noted that, in order to provide better light guide effect, the light guide spacer layer 3 can be made of polycarbonate (PC). The light guide spacer layer 3 made of PC material has better light guide effect, and the thickness of the light guide spacer layer 3 (i.e., the spacer thickness D1, and the spacer thickness D1 is equal to the first spacing) is thicker than the thickness of the light guide plate made of PET (Polyethyleneterephthalate).

[0053] The aforementioned key 7 is disposed on the membrane switch assembly and supported on the first circuit membrane 11 or the second circuit membrane 21 by the elastic body 72, and in this embodiment, the first circuit membrane 11 is taken as an example for description, and the protruding block 73 corresponds to the opening 31, and preferably, the protruding block 73, the first protruding portion P1 and the second protruding portion P2 are located on the same straight line.

[0054] The aforementioned light emitting source L is correspondingly disposed on one of the thickness edges 32 of the light guide spacer layer 3, so that the light from the light emitting source L can enter the light guide spacer layer 3 from the thickness edge 32.

[0055] As shown in Figure 2 , in this way, when the user presses the key cap 71, the elastic body 72 will be elastically compressed, and the protruding block 73 will be pressed against the membrane switch assembly to form a depression, so that the first protruding portion P1 and the second protruding portion P2 are in contact with each other via the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 22 to be conductive.

[0056] Therefore, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, although the light guide layer 3 has a thickness D1 (between 0.05-0.3mm, preferably 0.15mm) which is thicker than the thickness (0.038mm) of the PET light guide plate, resulting in a longer pressing stroke, the present application can still shorten the distance (i.e. pressing distance D2) between the first protrusion P1 and the second protrusion P2 to 0.038mm by adding the first insulating pad 4 and the second insulating pad 5 in the first layer 1 and the second layer 2, so that the pressing stroke remains the same as usual, and the aperture 31 does not need to be enlarged. Therefore, the light emitting film keyboard of the present application can have a better light guide effect and maintain the original (usual) pressing feeling.

[0057] It should be noted that in other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the light emitting film keyboard of the present application can be provided with a plurality of keys 7, and therefore must include a corresponding number of pairs of insulating pads and a corresponding number of openings 31.

[0058] In still other embodiments not shown in the drawings, only one of the first insulating pad 4 and the second insulating pad 5 can be provided, so that only the first layer 1 (or only the second layer 2) can form the first protrusion P1 (or the second protrusion P2) in the opening 31. In this still other embodiment, although only the first protrusion P1 (or only the second protrusion P2) is provided, as long as the first protrusion P1 (or the second protrusion P2) has sufficient protruding length, the aforementioned purposes and effects of the present application can still be achieved.

[0059] In summary, the light emitting film keyboard with a light guide layer of the present application can achieve the intended purposes and effects, and solve the problems of the prior art, and therefore a patent application is proposed.

[0060] The above description is only the preferred embodiments of the present application, and cannot limit the scope of the present application. Any equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims of the present application shall still fall within the scope of the present application. The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any manner, and to avoid a lengthy description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as the combinations of the technical features do not contradict each other, they shall be considered as falling within the scope of the present application. The present application can have other embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and essence of the present application. However, these corresponding changes and modifications shall still fall within the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A light emitting membrane keypad having a light guiding spacer, characterized in that, The utility model relates to a button, a first layer, a second layer, a light guide layer, at least one insulating pad and at least one light source. The button has a protrusion. The first layer comprises a first circuit film and a first electrode layer, and the first electrode layer is attached to the first circuit film. The second layer comprises a second circuit film and a second electrode layer, and the second electrode layer is attached to the second circuit film. The light guide layer has at least one opening, and the light guide layer is arranged between the first layer and the second layer. The button is arranged outside one of the first layer and the second layer, and the protrusion corresponds to the opening. The first layer forms a first protrusion in the opening by arranging the insulating pad.

2. The lighted membrane keypad with light guiding barrier layer as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The first protrusion and the second layer are spaced apart from each other in the opening.

3. The lighted membrane keypad with light guiding barrier layer as claimed in claim 2, wherein, One of the two insulating pads supports the first electrode layer in the first layer to form the first protrusion.

4. The light guide barrier rib lighted membrane keypad of claim 2 wherein, The other one of the two insulating pads supports the second electrode layer in the second layer to form the second protrusion.

5. The light guide barrier rib lighted membrane keypad of claim 2 wherein, The first protrusion protrudes towards the second protrusion relative to the first electrode layer.

6. The light guide barrier rib lighted membrane keypad of claim 2 wherein, The second protrusion protrudes towards the first protrusion relative to the second electrode layer.

7. The light guide barrier rib lighted membrane keypad of claim 1 wherein, A first distance is formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer through the light guide layer.

8. The light guide barrier rib lighted membrane keypad of claim 1 wherein, A second distance is formed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

9. The light guide barrier rib lighted membrane keypad of claim 1 wherein, The second distance is smaller than the first distance. The protrusion, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are on the same straight line. The thickness of the light guide layer is 0.05mm-0.3mm. The light guide layer is a polycarbonate layer. The light guide layer has multiple thickness edges, and the light source emits light towards one of the thickness edges.

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