Patent ID: 8247714
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: H01H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A membrane keyboard, comprising: a plastic key housing comprising a plurality of first openings and a plurality of downward extending stems; a membrane disposed below the key housing and comprising a plurality of second openings and a plurality of dome-shaped insulative elastic members each including a central receptacle and a downward extending peg aligned with the receptacle; a plurality of transparent keys each disposed on the first opening and having a bottom key shaft fitted in the receptacle; a key support plate disposed below the membrane and comprising a plurality of third openings; a plurality of scissor-shaped structures each put on and retained by the elastic member, each scissor-shaped structure having a top secured to the key and a bottom secured to the key support plate; a membrane circuit board disposed below the key support plate and comprising a plurality of spaced bottom LEDs (light-emitting diodes), a plurality of fourth openings, and a plurality of first contacts; an insulative plate disposed below the membrane circuit board and comprising a plurality of fifth openings and a plurality of circular holes each disposed below the first contact; a light guide membrane plate disposed below the insulative plate and comprising a plurality of second contacts each spaced apart from the first contact, and a plurality of top engagement points; and a base plate disposed below the light guide membrane plate, wherein the stem inserts through the second, third, fourth, and fifth openings to engage with the engagement point so that the key housing, the membrane, the key support plate, the membrane circuit board, the insulative plate, and the light guide membrane plate are aligned; and wherein the key housing, the membrane, the key support plate, the membrane circuit board, the insulative plate, and the light guide membrane plate are subsequently subjected to ultrasonic welding to be bound together.