U.S. patent number 7,196,693 [Application Number 10/734,755] was granted by the patent office on 2007-03-27 for lighting keyboard and lighting module thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Compal Electronics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Feng-Cheng Chang, Chung-Chi Chien, Szu-Jung Peng.
United States Patent |
7,196,693 |
Chien , et al. |
March 27, 2007 |
Lighting keyboard and lighting module thereof
Abstract
A lighting keyboard and lighting module for a keyboard is
disclosed. The lighting module comprises a light source, a
backlight plate having a surface with light-reflective protrusions
and a light-reflecting plate. In one embodiment, the thickness of
the backlight plate varies linearly and the light source is located
on the thicker side of the backlight plate. The light-reflecting
plate reflects light beams reflected from the surface with
light-reflective protrusions of the backlight plate and renders the
keyboard illuminated.
Inventors: |
Chien; Chung-Chi (Taipei,
TW), Peng; Szu-Jung (Taipei, TW), Chang;
Feng-Cheng (Taipei, TW) |
Assignee: |
Compal Electronics, Inc.
(Taipei, TW)
|
Family
ID: |
34653436 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/734,755 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2003 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20050128188 A1 |
Jun 16, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/168;
345/169 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/0202 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09G
5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;345/156,168-170
;362/84,85 ;341/22 ;340/407.1 ;708/142 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Osorio; Ricardo
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Birch, Stewart, Kolasch &
Birch, LLP.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lighting module of a keyboard, said lighting module
comprising: at least one light source; a light guide having a
light-scattering surface, said light source locating on a first
side of said light guide and said light-scattering surface
scattering light beams from said light source, wherein said light
guide has a thickness which decreases linearly from said first side
of said light guide, and said light-scattering surface has a
plurality of light-scattering protrusions having a density
decreasing from said first side of said light guide; and a
reflector disposing under said light guide, said reflector
reflecting said light beams from said light-scattering surface to
illuminate a keyboard.
2. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 1 further
comprising a second light source located on a second side of said
light guide opposite to said first side of said light guide.
3. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 1, wherein
said light source comprises light-emitting diodes.
4. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 1, wherein
said light guide has a thickness which decreases linearly from said
first side of said light guide.
5. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 1, wherein
said light-scattering surface has a plurality of light-scattering
protrusions.
6. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 5, wherein
said light-scattering protrusions have a shape of hemisphere.
7. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 5, wherein
said light-scattering protrusions have a shape of cube.
8. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 5, wherein
said light-scattering protrusions are formed by printing.
9. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 5, wherein
said light-scattering protrusions are formed by injection
molding.
10. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 1 further
comprising a second light source located on a second side of said
light guide opposite to said first side of said light guide, and
said light guide has a constant thickness, and said
light-scattering surface has a plurality of light-scattering
protrusions having a constant density.
11. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 1, wherein
said light guide are made of poly(methyl methacrylate, PMMA).
12. The lighting module of a keyboard according to claim 1 further
comprising a control circuit for controlling said light source.
13. A lighting module of a keyboard, said lighting module
comprising: a light source; a light guide having a light-scattering
surface and a thickness which decreases linearly from a first side
of said light guide, said light source locating on said first side
of said light guide and said light-scattering surface comprising a
plurality of light-scattering protrusions having a density
decreasing from said first side of said light guide to scatter
light beams from said light source; and a reflector disposing under
said light guide, said reflector reflecting said light beams from
said light-scattering surface to illuminate a keyboard.
14. A lighting keyboard, said lighting keyboard comprising: a
keyboard; and a lighting module disposed under said keyboard
comprising: at least one light source; a light guide having a
light-scattering surface, said light source locating on a first
side of said light guide and said light-scattering surface
scattering light beams from said light source, wherein said light
guide has a thickness which decreases linearly from said first side
of said light guide, and said light-scattering surface has a
plurality of light-scattering protrusions having a density
decreasing from said first side of said light guide; and a
reflector disposing under said light guide, said reflector
reflecting said light beams from said light-scattering surface to
illuminate said keyboard.
15. The lighting keyboard according to claim 14, wherein said
keyboard comprises a keyboard of a notebook personal computer.
16. The lighting keyboard according to claim 14, wherein said
keyboard comprises an independent keyboard used in desktop personal
computers.
17. The lighting keyboard according to claim 14, further comprising
a second light source located on a second side of said light guide
opposite to said first side of said light guide.
18. The lighting keyboard according to claim 14, wherein said light
source comprises light-emitting diodes.
19. The lighting keyboard according to claim 14, wherein said light
guide has a thickness which decreases linearly from said first side
of said light guide.
20. The lighting keyboard according to claim 14, wherein said
light-scattering surface has a plurality of light-scattering
protrusions.
21. The lighting keyboard according to claim 20, wherein said
light-scattering protrusions have a shape of hemisphere.
22. The lighting keyboard according to claim 20, wherein said
light-scattering protrusions have a shape of cube.
23. The lighting keyboard according to claim 14 further comprising
a second light source located on a second side of said light guide
opposite to said first side of said light guide, and said light
guide has a constant thickness, and said light-scattering surface
has a plurality of light-scattering protrusions having a constant
density.
24. The lighting keyboard according to claim 14, wherein said light
guide are made of poly(methyl methacrylate, PMMA).
25. The lighting keyboard according to claim 14 further comprising
a control circuit for controlling said light source.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting keyboard and lighting
module thereof, and more particularly to a lighting keyboard and
lighting module thereof which are low cost and easy for
production.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a top view of a conventional lighting module
for a keyboard is shown. The lighting module utilizes
light-emitting diodes 102 as a light source, a plurality of optical
fibers 104 to transmit light which are arranged under the keyboard
106. The light-emitting diodes 102 are controlled by a circuit
board to provide light beams transmitted by the optical fibers 104
to illuminate the keypads 108 of the keyboard 106. However, the use
of optical fibers would increase the production cost since the
optical fibers are expensive. Moreover, the large number, tiny size
and high-density arrangement of the optical fibers further increase
the complexity and cost of the keyboard production.
Referring to FIG. 2, another conventional lighting module for a
keyboard is shown. This lighting module utilizes an
electroluminescent 204 which is inserted into the module of the
keyboard to light the keyboard. As shown in the figure, the
electroluminescent 204 is disposed between an aluminum plate 206 of
the keyboard and a upper housing 202 of the keyboard, wherein the
aluminum plate 206 has a circuit board and a plurality of keypads
208 thereon. The keyboard is lightened by the light from the
electroluminescent 204 through the exits of the upper housing 202.
The keyboard may be lightened by the light from the
electroluminescent 204 through the exits of the upper housing 202
and the keypads 208. The use of the electroluminescent 204 would
increase the complexity of the keyboard production and keyboard
components because the upper housing 202 and the keypads 208 must
be redesigned or at least modified in order to accommodate the
electroluminescent 204. The use of the lighting module shown in
FIG. 2 will also increases the complexity and cost of the keyboard
production and further has drawbacks such as assembling and
disassembling inconvenience.
Thus it is necessary to provide a new lighting module and lighting
keyboard to resolve the drawbacks of the conventional lighting
keyboard set forth. It is towards those goals that the present
invention is specifically directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a low
production cost lighting keyboard and a lighting module
thereof.
It is another object of this invention to provide a lighting
keyboard and lighting module thereof which are easy to be
manufactured.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a lighting
keyboard and lighting module thereof which are easy to assemble and
disassemble.
To achieve these objects, and in accordance with the purpose of the
invention, the invention provides a lighting module of a keyboard.
In one embodiment, the lighting module comprises at least one light
source, a light guide having a light-scattering surface and a
reflector disposing under the light guide. The light source is
located on a first side of the light guide and the light-scattering
surface scatters light beams from the light source. The reflector
reflects the light beams from the light-scattering surface to
illuminate a keyboard. In one embodiment of the light guide, the
light guide has a thickness which decreases linearly from the first
side of the light guide, and the light-scattering surface has a
plurality of light-scattering protrusions having a density
decreasing from the first side of the light guide. The lighting
module can further include a second light source located on a
second side of the light guide opposite to the first side of the
light guide, and the light guide has a constant thickness, and the
light-scattering surface has a plurality of light-scattering
protrusions having a constant density.
The invention also provides a lighting keyboard. In one embodiment
of this invention, the lighting keyboard comprises a keyboard and a
lighting module disposed under the keyboard comprising at least one
light source, a light guide having a light-scattering surface and a
reflector disposing under the light guide. The light source is
located on a first side of the light guide and the light-scattering
surface scatters light beams from the light source. The reflector
reflects the light beams from the light-scattering surface to
illuminate the keyboard. In one embodiment of the light guide, the
light guide has a thickness which decreases linearly from the first
side of the light guide, and the light-scattering surface has a
plurality of light-scattering protrusions having a density
decreasing from the first side of the light guide. The lighting
keyboard can further comprise a second light source located on a
second side of the light guide opposite to the first side of the
light guide, and the light guide has a constant thickness, and the
light-scattering surface has a plurality of light-scattering
protrusions having a constant density.
Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a top view of a conventional lighting module for a
keyboard;
FIG. 2 shows another conventional lighting module for a
keyboard;
FIG. 3A shows one embodiment of a lighting keyboard and a lighting
module thereof of the claimed invention;
FIG. 3B shows another embodiment of a lighting keyboard and a
lighting module thereof of the claimed invention;
FIG. 3C shows another embodiment of a lighting keyboard and a
lighting module thereof of the claimed invention; and
FIG. 4 shows a notebook personal computer having a lighting
keyboard and a lighting module of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
It is to be understood and appreciated that the process steps and
structures described below do not cover a complete process flow and
structure. The present invention can be practiced in conjunction
with various fabrication techniques that are used in the art, and
only so much of the commonly practiced process steps are included
herein as are necessary to provide an understanding of the present
invention.
The present invention will be described in detail with reference to
the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are
in greatly simplified form and they are not drawn to scale.
Moreover, dimensions have been exaggerated in order to provide a
clear illustration and understanding of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3A, one embodiment of a lighting keyboard and a
lighting module thereof of the claimed invention is shown. In this
embodiment of a lighting module of the claimed invention, the
lighting module comprises a light source 306, a light guide 308
having a light-scattering surface and a reflector 312. In one
embodiment, the light guide 308 has a thickness which varies
linearly and the light source 306 is located on the thicker side of
the light guide 308 (wedge shape). The reflector 312 reflects light
scattered from the light-scattering surface of the light guide 308
to lighten a keyboard 302. The light source 306 comprises
light-emitting diodes or other light source. The light guide 308
comprises a light guide of a liquid crystal display panel, but not
limited to the light guide used in a liquid crystal display panel.
The reflector 312 comprises a reflective plate with a smooth and
flat surface, such as a white plastic plate/sheet. In one
embodiment, the light-scattering surface of the light guide 308
comprises a plurality of light-scattering protrusions 310 and the
density of the light-scattering protrusions 310 varies with the
thickness of the light guide 308. The density or number of the
light-scattering protrusions 310 on the thicker side of the light
guide 308 is smaller than the density or number of the
light-scattering protrusions 310 on the thinner side of the light
guide 308 so that the lighting module can generate a uniform
illumination. FIGS. 3A and 3B show embodiments of the
light-scattering protrusions 310 having a shape of hemisphere. The
shape of the light-scattering protrusions 310 is not limited to a
hemisphere, the light-scattering protrusions 310 can also have
other shapes such as a cube. The light source 306 is controlled by
a control circuit 314 which is formed on a printed circuit
board.
In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, the light sources 306
are located on the two side of the light guide 308 and the density
or arrangement of the light-scattering protrusions 310 is constant
or uniform. The material of the light guide 308 comprises acrylic
resin or poly(methyl methacrylate, PMMA) and other transparent
polymer or materials. The light-scattering protrusions 310 can be
formed by printing and injection molding. The control circuit 314
is controlled and powered by a switch (not shown).
In another embodiment, the thickness of the light guide 308 can be
constant or non-linear. The density or arrangement of the
light-scattering protrusions 310 can be constant or uniform, and
the light sources 306 are located on the two sides of the light
guide 308 as shown in FIG. 3C.
FIG. 4 shows a notebook personal computer having a lighting
keyboard and a lighting module of the invention, wherein the light
source 306 is located on one side of the keyboard 302. FIG. 4 also
shows a touch pad 316 and keypads 318. The lighting keyboard of the
invention can be an independent keyboard device as an input
apparatus for desktop personal computers or personal digital
assistant devices or a built-in input device for a notebook
personal computer.
The invention combines a light source comprising light-emitting
diodes, a light guide and a reflector to form a lighting module
which can be disposes on the backside of a keyboard. The lighting
module is easy and convenient to assemble and disassemble. In one
embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the light guide
varies linearly and the light source is located on the thicker side
of the light guide. The light guide has a light-scattering surface
having a plurality of light-scattering protrusions to scatter the
light beam from the light source. The density or arrangement of the
light-scattering protrusions is higher on the thinner side of the
light guide so that a uniform illumination can be generated. The
light-scattering protrusions face the reflector and scatter the
light beam from the light source to the reflector. The reflector
reflects the light beam through the light guide into the keyboard
and illuminate the keypads. In another embodiment, two light
sources are located on the two sides of the light guide having a
wedge shape and the density or arrangement of the light-scattering
protrusions are constant or uniform. In another embodiment, the
thickness of the light guide is constant and two light sources are
located on the two sides of the light guide and the density or
arrangement of the light-scattering protrusions are constant or
uniform.
Other embodiments of the invention will appear to those skilled in
the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the
invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification
and examples to be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope
and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following
claims.
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