LED keyboard of a notebook computer

An LED keyboard of a notebook computer comprises a plurality of interlaced slots, each having a cluster of retaining holes. Roughly at the center of the cluster of retaining holes, there is a flexible body wherein a light-emitting body is installed. Each of the light-emitting bodies has a set of conducting feet extended thereunder, which is kept at a distance from a base. The base further includes a conducting film and a plurality of retaining rings. A scissored foot set is mounted above within each of the slots, having a key cap mounted on the scissored foot set. Thereby, as the key cap is stroked, the scissored foot set will shift downward and the conducting feet will contact with a copper-foil wire on the conducting film, activating the light-emitting body. As the key cap is not stroked, the flexible body will restore the original configuration.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to LED keyboards, more particularly to an LED keyboard of a notebook computer wherein a light-emitting body associated with a key will be brought into electric contact with a conducting film so as to activate the light-emitting body. Therefore, the light-emitting body of a key cap will produce a light of short duration when the key cap is stroked.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a notebook computer11of the prior art has a plurality of key112on a keyboard main body111. Since the arrangement of the keys112associated with a notebook computer11has to be compact, the density and the size of the keys112are high and small, which contribute to the typing errors committed by a user. On the other hand, a user has to be cautious during a typing process so as to illuminate typos. Therefore, a user will become tired of using a notebook computer11after a period of time. And therefore, there will be beneficial that an effect of visual appeal is added to a notebook computer, so that a user will be more motivated to use the computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an LED keyboard of a notebook computer comprising a plurality of interlaced slots, each having a cluster of retaining holes. Roughly at the center of the cluster of retaining holes, there is a flexible body wherein a light-emitting body is installed. Each of the light-emitting bodies has a set of conducting feet extended thereunder, which is kept at a distance from a base. The base further includes a conducting film and a plurality of retaining rings. A scissored foot set is mounted above within each of the slots, having a key cap mounted on the scissored foot set. Thereby, as the key cap is stroked, the scissored foot set will shift downward and the conducting feet will contact with a copper-foil wire on the conducting film, activating the light-emitting body. As the key cap is not stroked, the flexible body will restore the original configuration, and the feet of the light-emitting body will depart from the conducting film, thereby the light-emitting body stopping illuminating. Therefore, the light-emitting body of a key cap will produce a light of short duration when the key cap is stroked, producing an effect of visual appeal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 2,3,4and4-1, the present invention relates to an LED keyboard of a notebook computer. The notebook computer10comprises a screen1, an LED keyboard2in which the key caps21are equipped with respective flexible bodies3and light-emitting bodies4. The LED keyboard2further includes a keyboard main body20, interlaced slots201and a plurality of uniformly arranged retaining holes202within each of the slots201. Roughly at the center of each set of retaining holes202, there is a flexible body3provided with a light-emitting body4therein. Each of the light-emitting bodies4is extended with conducting feet41from the bottom thereon. The light-emitting bodies4are engaged with the inner top walls of respective flexible bodies3, with its flexible feet41held at distance from the inner bottom walls of the cavities defined by the flexible bodies3. The bottom surfaces of the interlaced slots201are provided respectively with conducting films24. Each of the conducting films24is provided with a copper-foil wire25. The bottom surfaces of the conducting films24are each equipped with a base23; each of the bases23is provided with a retaining projections A231and a retaining projections B232, which can go through holes26on the conducting films24and then engage with the retaining holes202within the interlaced slots201. Thereby, the retaining projections A231and the retaining projections B232may become retaining mechanisms within the interlaced slots201. The base23and the conducting film24are stacked together and located beneath the keyboard main body20. A scissored foot set22, consisting of a scissored part A221and a scissored part B222, is mounted above each of the interlaced slots201. The scissored part A221further comprises a pair of projected ears2212formed on two lateral sides thereof, and the scissored part B222further comprises a pair of recesses2222formed on two lateral sides thereof, whereby they can be engaged. Two projected columns2223of the scissored part A221can be engaged with the retaining projections A231of the base23. Further, the projected columns2223of the scissored part B222can be engaged with the retaining projections B232of the base23. Thereby, each of the scissored foot sets22situates within an associated interlaced slot201, capable of contracting or stretching to achieve up and down movements. A key cap21is mounted on each of the scissored foot sets22, the lower face of which is provided with uniformly arranged hook part a211and hook part b212. The hook part a211can be engaged with a short transverse column2211of the scissored part A221, and the hook part b212can be engaged with a long transverse column2221of the scissored part B222, whereby the corresponding screen key cap21can shift up and down in an interlaced slot201of the keyboard main body20. The flexible bodies3support against respective key caps21mounted on the lower inner faces thereof. If one of the key caps21is pushed downward, the corresponding flexible body3will be compressed and deformed, and the scissored foot set22will be collapsed accordingly, whereby the conducting feet41under the light-emitting body4within the flexible body3will move downward to contact the copper-foil wire25on the conducting film24. As the key cap21is not pushed, the flexible body3will restored to the original configuration and the scissored foot set22will be stretched, whereby the conducting feet41of the light-emitting body4will depart from the copper-foil wire25on the conducting film24. To summarize, the light-emitting body4of a key cap21will produce a light of short duration when the key cap21is stroked.

Referring toFIG. 5, it illustrates the first preferred embodiment of the present invention as an LED keyboard of a notebook computer. If a user strokes one of the key caps21, the corresponding flexible body3will be compressed and deformed and the scissored foot set22will be collapsed accordingly, whereby the conducting feet41under the light-emitting body4within the flexible body3will move downward to contact the copper-foil wire25on the conducting film24. The electric signals thus produced by the contact of the conducting feet41with copper-foil wire25will be send to the computer. Further, the light-emitting body4will provide a flash of light of short duration. As the key cap21is not pushed, the flexible body3will restored to the original configuration and therefore the key cap21will return to its original location, whereby the conducting feet41of the light-emitting body4will depart from the copper-foil wire25on the conducting film24. The light-emitting body4will stop illuminating.

Referring toFIG. 6, it illustrates the second preferred embodiment of the present invention as an LED keyboard of a notebook computer. The key caps122of the notebook computer12can receive electromagnetic signals from a cell phone, whereby a predetermined group of the key caps122or those surrounding the keyboard will illuminate as the cell phone is ringing.

Referring toFIG. 7, it illustrates the third preferred embodiment of the present invention as an LED keyboard of a notebook computer. The key caps131of the notebook computer13can receive a predetermined signal from the computer and automatically type letters on the computer screen132, such as “LOVE” inFIG. 7. The corresponding key caps131producing those letters will also illuminate continuously, whereby the keyboard133carries those key caps131will act as a commercial advertisement board, adding extra value to the keyboard133.

Referring toFIG. 8, it illustrates the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention as an LED keyboard of a notebook computer. The keyboard main body141of the notebook computer14is further equipped with a light switch142, a light-intensity increasing switch143, a light-intensity decreasing switch144and an advertisement pattern switch145. If the light switch142is off, the key caps146of the keyboard main body141cannot illuminate. The light-intensity increasing switch143and the light-intensity decreasing switch144can adjust the intensity of the key caps146. The advertisement pattern switch145can control a predetermined group of the key caps146to illuminate, whereby an advertising effect will be achieved.

The advantages of the present invention are summarized as follows. 1. The key caps are made of a material pervious to light, therefore showing the intensity of the light-emitting bodies underneath well. 2. The light-emitting bodies are installed within the key caps, therefore producing a catchy visual effect for the key caps. 3. The advertisement pattern switch added to the keyboard can control a predetermined group of the key caps to illuminate, whereby an advertising effect will be achieved. 4. The key caps of the notebook computer can receive a predetermined signal from the computer and show a selected letters on the computer screen. The associated key caps will illuminate continuously, whereby the keyboard will act as a commercial advertisement board, adding extra value to the keyboard. 5. The key caps of the notebook computer can receive electromagnetic signals from a cell phone, whereby a predetermined group of the key caps or those surrounding the keyboard will illuminate as the cell phone is ringing.