Luminous keyboard

Abstract

The utility model provides a luminous keyboard which comprises a backlight module, a film circuit board arranged above the backlight module, a substrate arranged above the film circuit board and provided with a plurality of first openings, a polyester film arranged above the substrate, and a plurality of key units arranged on the substrate. The polyester film is formed with a plurality of second openings facing the first openings, respectively. Each key unit comprises a supporting module, a key cap and an elastic piece. Each elastic piece is provided with an elastic body which abuts between the key cap and the polyester film, and a protruding column which extends downwards from the elastic body and faces the film circuit board. By integrating and modularizing the film circuit board and the backlight module and arranging the film circuit board and the backlight module below the substrate, the film circuit board can be prevented from being holed so as to improve the water resistance and salt mist corrosion resistance of the film circuit board.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to a keyboard, in particular to a light-emitting keyboard. BACKGROUND

[0002] A prior art light-emitting keyboard comprises a backlight module, a substrate disposed above the backlight module, a thin film circuit board disposed above the substrate, and a plurality of key modules disposed on the substrate. The substrate has a plurality of hook modules. The thin film circuit board has a plurality of openings for the hook modules to pass through. Each key module has a scissors leg structure disposed on the substrate corresponding to the hook module, a key cap disposed on the scissors leg structure, and an elastic body disposed between the key cap and the thin film circuit board. When each key cap is pressed, the elastic body presses the thin film circuit board to generate an electronic signal.

[0003] The thin film circuit board needs to be opened at positions corresponding to the hook modules of the substrate. Therefore, when the thin film circuit board is coated with glue, bubbles or lines may be generated due to uneven coating, which reduces the waterproof and salt mist corrosion resistance of the thin film circuit board, resulting in poor yield of the thin film circuit board and reducing the production efficiency of the light-emitting keyboard. SUMMARY

[0004] The utility model aims to provide a light-emitting keyboard that can improve at least one of the aforementioned shortcomings.

[0005] The utility model discloses a light-emitting keyboard, comprising a backlight module, a thin film circuit board, a substrate, a polyester film, and a plurality of key units. The thin film circuit board is disposed above the backlight module. The substrate is disposed above the thin film circuit board and has a plurality of first openings. The polyester film is disposed above the substrate and has a plurality of second openings facing the first openings, respectively. The key units are disposed on the substrate and correspond to the second openings, respectively. Each key unit comprises a support module disposed on the substrate, a key cap disposed on the support module, and an elastic member disposed between the key cap and the thin film circuit board. Each elastic member has an elastic body abutting between the key cap and the polyester film, and a protruding column extending downward from the elastic body. Each protruding column faces the thin film circuit board through the corresponding first opening and the corresponding second opening.

[0006] In the utility model, the lower end of each protruding column is adjacent to the corresponding second opening, so that the key cap and the thin film circuit board are separated by the elastic body and the polyester film, and the electronic signal generated by the key cap is not affected by the thin film circuit board.

[0007] The utility model discloses a light-emitting keyboard, each elastic body has the top of the abutment in respective corresponding keycap, and the cover portion that extends from the top and abuts to the polyester film, each convex column extends from respective corresponding top and is surrounded by respective corresponding cover portion.

[0008] The utility model discloses a light-emitting keyboard, the film circuit board includes upper circuit layer, the lower circuit layer below the upper circuit layer, the middle layer between the upper circuit layer and the lower circuit layer, a plurality of upper conductive parts arranged on the bottom surface of the upper circuit layer, and a plurality of lower conductive parts arranged on the top surface of the lower circuit layer, the middle layer is formed with a plurality of through holes, the upper conductive part is located in the through hole respectively, the lower conductive part is located in the through hole respectively, each upper conductive part faces respective corresponding lower conductive part, and the first opening of the substrate is located above the through hole of the middle layer respectively.

[0009] The utility model discloses a light-emitting keyboard, the substrate includes the plate body formed with the first opening, and a plurality of hook modules arranged on the plate body, each support module is scissors legs and is arranged in respective corresponding hook module.

[0010] The utility model discloses a light-emitting keyboard, the backlight module includes light guide plate, the reflection plate below the light guide plate, the flexible circuit board below the reflection plate, and a plurality of light emitting components arranged on the flexible circuit board, a plurality of first through holes are formed on the light guide plate, a plurality of second through holes respectively facing the first through hole are formed on the reflection plate, and each light emitting component is located in respective corresponding first through hole and respective corresponding second through hole.

[0011] The utility model discloses a light-emitting keyboard, the lower surface of the film circuit board is formed with a plurality of mounting grooves, the backlight module has a printed circuit board, and a plurality of light emitting components arranged on the printed circuit board and located in the mounting groove respectively.

[0012] The utility model discloses a light-emitting keyboard, the lower surface of the film circuit board is formed with a plurality of mounting grooves, the backlight module has a printed circuit board, and a plurality of light emitting components arranged on the printed circuit board and located in the mounting groove respectively. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 It is the three-dimensional combination drawing of the first embodiment of the utility model light-emitting keyboard;

[0014] Figure 2 It is the sectional view of the first embodiment;

[0015] Figure 3 is an incomplete partial enlarged view selected from Figure 2 ;

[0016] Figure 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the light-emitting keyboard of the present application; and

[0017] Figure 5 is an incomplete partial enlarged view selected from Figure 4 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments.

[0019] Before the present application is described in detail, it is to be noted that like components have been designated with like numerals in the various drawings.

[0020] Referring to Figures 1 to 3 , a first embodiment of the light-emitting keyboard of the present application comprises a backlight module 1, a thin film circuit board 2 disposed above the backlight module 1, a substrate 3 disposed above the thin film circuit board 2, a polyester film 4 disposed above the substrate 3, and a plurality of key units 5 disposed on the substrate 3. For simplicity of the drawing and convenience of description, only one of the key units 5 is shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 .

[0021] Referring to Figure 2 , and Figure 3 , the backlight module 1 comprises a light-transmitting light guide plate 11, a reflecting plate 12 disposed below the light guide plate 11, a flexible circuit board 13 disposed below the reflecting plate 12, and a plurality of light-emitting elements 14 disposed on the flexible circuit board 13 (only one of the light-emitting elements 14 is shown in Figure 2 ). The light guide plate 11 has a plurality of first through holes 111 formed thereon. The reflecting plate 12 has a plurality of second through holes 121 formed thereon, each of which faces a corresponding one of the first through holes 111. Each of the light-emitting elements 14 is located within a corresponding one of the first through holes 111 and a corresponding one of the second through holes 121 (only one of the first through holes 111 and one of the second through holes 121 are shown in Figure 2 ). Specifically, each of the light-emitting elements 14 is a light-emitting diode (LED).

[0022] The thin-film circuit board 2 includes an upper circuit layer 21, a lower circuit layer 22 located below the upper circuit layer 21, a partition layer 23 located between the upper circuit layer 21 and the lower circuit layer 22 and having multiple through holes 231, multiple upper conductive portions 24 disposed on the bottom surface of the upper circuit layer 21 and respectively located in the through holes 231, and multiple lower conductive portions 25 disposed on the top surface of the lower circuit layer 22 and respectively located in the through holes 231. The upper circuit layer 21, the partition layer 23, and the lower circuit layer 22 are made of transparent PET material, and the upper circuit layer 21 and the lower circuit layer 22 are respectively provided with silver paste circuits. Each upper conductive portion 24 faces its corresponding lower conductive portion 25. In this embodiment, the thin-film circuit board 2 is glued to the light guide plate 11 of the backlight module 1 and integrated with the backlight module 1 into a modular component.

[0023] The substrate 3 includes a plate body 31, a plurality of first openings 32 formed in the plate body 31, and a plurality of hook modules 33 disposed in the plate body 31. Figure 2 Only one of the first openings 32 and one of the hook modules 33 are shown in the image. The first openings 32 are located above the through holes 231 of the intermediate partition 23. Specifically, the substrate 3 is made of metal.

[0024] The polyester film 4 has a plurality of second openings 41 respectively facing the first opening 32. Figure 2 Only one of the second openings 41 is shown in the image. Specifically, the polyester film 4, the substrate 3, the upper circuit layer 21, the middle partition layer 23, the lower circuit layer 22, the thin film circuit board 2, the light guide plate 11, and the reflector 12 are stacked from top to bottom and bonded together with adhesive.

[0025] The button units 5 are disposed on the substrate 3 and correspond to the second opening 41 respectively. Each button unit 5 includes a support module 51 disposed on the substrate 3, a keycap 52 disposed on the support module 51, and an elastic member 53 disposed between the keycap 52 and the thin film circuit board 2.

[0026] Each of the support modules 51 is a scissor-type and is disposed on its corresponding hook module 33. Each of the elastic elements 53 has an elastic body 531 abutting between the keycap 52 and the polyester film 4, and a protrusion 532 extending downward from the elastic body 531. Each of the elastic bodies 531 has a top 533 abutting against its corresponding keycap 52, and a cover portion 534 extending downward from the top 533 and abutting against the polyester film 4. Each protrusion 532 extends downward from its corresponding top 533 and is surrounded by its corresponding cover portion 534. Specifically, each cover portion 534 is glued to the polyester film 4, and the lower end of each protrusion 532 is adjacent to its corresponding second opening 41 and faces the film circuit board 2 through its corresponding first opening 32 and its corresponding second opening 41.

[0027] Each keycap 52 can move up and down relative to the substrate 3 via its corresponding support module 51 and press the elastic member 53, so that its corresponding protrusion 532 abuts against the thin film circuit board 2 and its corresponding upper conductive part 24 is electrically connected to its corresponding lower conductive part 25, thereby generating an electronic signal.

[0028] In this embodiment, the length of each protrusion 532 is 1.8 mm and the diameter of each protrusion 532 is 1.32 mm. By lengthening and thickening each protrusion 532, when each keycap 52 is pressed, the corresponding protrusion 532 can easily abut against the thin film circuit board 2 to achieve press electrical conduction and maintain good press feedback.

[0029] See Figure 4 ,and Figure 5 This is a second embodiment of the illuminated keyboard of the present invention. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the backlight module 1' has a printed circuit board 11' and a plurality of light-emitting elements 12' disposed on the printed circuit board 11' and respectively located in the mounting groove 26. Figure 4 Only one of the light-emitting elements 12' is shown in the image. A plurality of mounting grooves 26 are formed on the lower side of the thin-film circuit board 2. Figure 4 Only one of the mounting slots 26 is shown in the image. The light-emitting elements 12' are respectively located in the mounting slots 26. Since the thin-film circuit board 2 of the second embodiment is also disposed below the substrate 3 and integrated with the backlight module 1, the second embodiment also has the effect of integrating the thin-film circuit board 2 and the backlight module 1 into a modular component as in the first embodiment.

[0030] In summary, the advantages of the light-emitting keyboard are as follows.

[0031] I. By integrating the thin film circuit board 2 and the backlight module 1 into a module and arranging the module below the substrate 3, the thin film circuit board 2 can be free of openings, the actual available space on the thin film circuit board 2 is increased, the thin film circuit board 2 can be uniformly coated with glue, the glue distribution is uniform, the generation of glue bubbles or lines is avoided, the waterproof and salt mist corrosion resistance of the thin film circuit board 2 is improved, and the manufacturing yield of the thin film circuit board 2 is improved. Moreover, when mass producing the light-emitting keyboard, the parts above the substrate 3 can be first manufactured and stored, and then the thin film circuit board 2 and the backlight module 1 are attached to the lower side of the substrate 3 before delivery, so that the production efficiency of the light-emitting keyboard is further improved.

[0032] II. By avoiding openings in the thin film circuit board 2, the adhesion between the upper circuit layer 21, the middle separation layer 23 and the lower circuit layer 22 is improved, and the waterproof and salt mist corrosion resistance of the thin film circuit board 2 is also improved.

[0033] III. By extending the length of each protruding column 532, the lower end of each protruding column 532 is adjacent to the corresponding first opening 32, the pressing stroke of each keycap 52 is reduced, and each upper conductive part 24 and the corresponding lower conductive part 25 is more easily conductive. Moreover, by thickening each protruding column 532, the length of each protruding column 532 is extended while maintaining its supportability, so that good pressing feedback is maintained.

[0034] The above is only an embodiment of the present utility model, which cannot limit the scope of the present utility model. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the specification of the present utility model are still within the scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A light-emitting keyboard comprising a backlight module, a thin film circuit board, a substrate, a polyester film, and a plurality of key units; characterized in that, The thin film circuit board is disposed above the backlight module, the substrate is disposed above the thin film circuit board and is formed with a plurality of first openings, the polyester film is disposed above the substrate and is formed with a plurality of second openings respectively facing the first openings, the key units are disposed on the substrate and respectively correspond to the second openings, each of the key units comprises a support module disposed on the substrate, a key cap disposed on the support module, and an elastic member disposed between the key cap and the thin film circuit board, each of the elastic members has an elastic body abutting between the key cap and the polyester film, and a protruding column extending downward from the elastic body, each of the protruding columns faces the thin film circuit board through the respective corresponding first opening and the respective corresponding second opening.

2. The lighted keyboard of claim 1, wherein, The lower end of each of the protruding columns is adjacent to the respective corresponding second opening.

3. The lighted keyboard of claim 1, wherein, Each of the elastic bodies has a top portion abutting the respective corresponding key cap, and a cover portion extending downward from the top portion and abutting the polyester film, each of the protruding columns extends downward from the respective corresponding top portion and is surrounded by the respective corresponding cover portion.

4. The lighted keyboard of claim 1, wherein, The thin film circuit board comprises an upper circuit layer, a lower circuit layer located below the upper circuit layer, a partition layer located between the upper circuit layer and the lower circuit layer, a plurality of upper conductive portions disposed on the bottom surface of the upper circuit layer, and a plurality of lower conductive portions disposed on the top surface of the lower circuit layer, the partition layer is formed with a plurality of through holes, the upper conductive portions are respectively located in the through holes, the lower conductive portions are respectively located in the through holes, each of the upper conductive portions faces the respective corresponding lower conductive portion, and the first openings of the substrate are respectively located above the through holes of the partition layer.

5. The lighted keyboard of claim 1, wherein, The substrate comprises a plate body formed with the first openings, and a plurality of hook modules disposed on the plate body, each of the support modules is a scissors leg and is disposed in the respective corresponding hook module.

6. The lighted keyboard of claim 1, wherein, The backlight module comprises a light guide plate, a reflective plate located below the light guide plate, a flexible circuit board located below the reflective plate, and a plurality of light emitting members disposed on the flexible circuit board, the light guide plate is formed with a plurality of first through holes, the reflective plate is formed with a plurality of second through holes respectively facing the first through holes, and each of the light emitting members is located in the respective corresponding first through hole and the respective corresponding second through hole.

7. The lighted keyboard of claim 1, wherein, The lower side surface of the thin film circuit board is formed with a plurality of mounting grooves, the backlight module has a printed circuit board, and a plurality of light emitting members disposed on the printed circuit board and respectively located in the mounting grooves.

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