Abstract:
The present invention relates to an illuminant human interface device, and more particularly to a housing structure assembly. A housing structure assembly for carrying an input device includes a housing structure, a light source and an input device. The housing structure includes an input device carrying area and a light-transmissive layer. The light-transmissive layer has a light incident plane and a light exit plane, and the light exit plane is located in the input device carrying area. The light source is adjacent to the light incident plane, and the light source emits a light ray. The light ray enters the light-transmissive layer through the light incident plane and then exits the housing structure through the light exit plane. The input device is located on the light exit plane. The housing structure for carrying the input device provides a backlight for the input device after being combined with the light source, thus reducing the repair and replacement costs of the input device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an illuminant human interface device, and more particularly to a light-transmissive housing structure and an assembly of the light-transmissive housing structure and an input device. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally speaking, for achieving a diversity of keyboards applied in laptop computers or mobile phones, a light-emitting input device has become a favorite trend. Taking a laptop computer as an example, the laptop computer equipped with a light-emitting keyboard is now available in the market. The laptop computer equipped with the light-emitting keyboard has a switch for controlling the brightness of the light rays emitted by the light-emitting keyboard, which enables the user to adjust the luminous quantity of the light-emitting keyboard at will in different situations and environments. 
         [0005]    In addition, the laptop computer equipped with the light-emitting keyboard may have a light source sensor, and light source sensor is connected to a switch of the light-emitting keyboard. The light source sensor may control to turn on the switch of the light-emitting keyboard when sensing that the ambient brightness is smaller than a standard value, or control to turn off the switch of the light-emitting keyboard when sensing that the ambient brightness is greater than the standard value. 
         [0006]    Generally, the conventional light-emitting keyboard structure is composed of a base plate, a membrane circuit board, an elastic element, a keycap, a light source, and a light guiding plate. The light guiding plate is placed on the base plate and the membrane circuit board, and the light source is placed between the membrane circuit board and the light guiding plate. The light ray emitted by the light source is guided by the light guiding plate, such that the keycap generates a light-emitting effect. 
         [0007]    However, the conventional light-emitting keyboard structure has the light-emitting mechanism built therein, in which the light-emitting mechanism is composed of the light source and the light guiding plate. Therefore, the cost of the conventional light-emitting keyboard is much higher than the traditional keyboard without the light-emitting function. For example, presently, the price of the light-emitting keyboard structure is around a double of the traditional keyboard without the light-emitting function. If the input device needs repair and replacement, usually, the light-emitting keyboard and the built-in light-emitting mechanism are replaced together, so the repair cost or replacement cost is increased. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the above problem, the present invention is a housing structure for carrying an input device and an assembly of the housing structure and the input device, so as to solve the problem of high repair cost or replacement cost caused by the repair or replacement of the light-emitting keyboard. 
         [0009]    The housing structure assembly for carrying an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention has a housing structure. The housing structure has an input device carrying area for carrying an input device, and the input device may be a mechanical keyboard or a touch panel. The housing structure comprises a light-transmissive layer. The material of the light-transmissive layer may be acrylic or polycarbonate. The light-transmissive layer has a light incident plane and a light exit plane, and the light exit plane is located in the input device carrying area. After a light ray enters the light-transmissive layer through the light incident plane, the light ray is scattered in the light-transmissive layer. Then, the light ray comes out of the housing structure through the light exit plane to serve as a backlight of the input device. 
         [0010]    The housing structure assembly for carrying the input device according to an embodiment of the present invention further comprises a light reflecting layer. The light-transmissive layer has a bottom surface, and the bottom surface is opposite to the light exit plane and forms an acute angle with the light exit plane. The light incident plane connects the light exit plane and the bottom surface and faces the bottom surface. The light reflecting layer covers the bottom surface, i.e., is located beneath the light-transmissive layer. In addition, the light ray may be reflected to the light exit plane by the light reflecting layer covering the bottom surface of the light-transmissive layer, and uniformly scattered on the light exit plane. 
         [0011]    The housing structure assembly for carrying the input device according to an embodiment of the present invention further comprises a light reflecting layer. The light-transmissive layer has a bottom surface, and the bottom surface is opposite to the light exit plane and may also be parallel to the light exit plane. The light incident plane connects the light exit plane and the bottom surface and faces the bottom surface. The light reflecting layer covers the bottom surface, i.e., is located beneath the light-transmissive layer. In addition, energy of the light ray exiting through the light exit plane may be enhanced by the light reflecting layer covering the bottom surface of the light-transmissive layer. 
         [0012]    The housing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a light shielding layer. The light shielding layer surrounds the light-transmissive layer and exposes the light exit plane. The light shielding layer and the light-transmissive layer may be combined in a manner of plastic double ejection, close fit or In-Mold Roller (IMR) injection molding. 
         [0013]    The housing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a light shielding layer. The light shielding layer may also be laminated on the light-transmissive layer, and the light shielding layer has a through hole exposing the light exit plane. The through hole may be filled up with a transparent plastic material. The light shielding layer and the light-transmissive layer may be combined in a manner of plastic double ejection, hot melt or IMR injection molding. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, the housing structure assembly for carrying the input device according to an embodiment of the present invention further comprises a light source and an input device. The light source is adjacent to the light incident plane, and the light source emits a light ray. The light ray enters the light-transmissive layer through the light incident plane and then exits the housing structure through the light exit plane. The input device is located on the light exit plane. 
         [0015]    In the housing structure assembly for carrying the input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the input device is a mechanical keyboard. 
         [0016]    In the housing structure assembly for carrying the input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the input device is a touch panel. 
         [0017]    According to the housing structure assembly for carrying the input device of the above embodiments of the present invention, since the housing structure having the light-transmissive layer may provide a backlight function for the input device after being combined with the light source, the input device does not need a built-in backlight module. Therefore, the housing structure having the light-transmissive layer may reduce the manufacturing cost of the input device and the repair and replacement costs. 
         [0018]    These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications therein may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1A  is a sectional structure view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 1B  a sectional structure view of another mechanical keyboard embodiment of the housing structure assembly for carrying the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 1C  is a top view of the housing structure in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2A  is a sectional structure view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2B  is a sectional structure view of another mechanical keyboard embodiment of the housing structure assembly for carrying the input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2C  is a top view of the housing structure in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3A  is a sectional structure view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3B  is a sectional structure view of another mechanical keyboard embodiment of the housing structure assembly for carrying the input device according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a sectional structure view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a sectional structure view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a sectional structure view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a sectional structure view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are schematic views of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device  100  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The housing structure assembly for carrying the input device  100  comprises a housing structure  110 , a light source  120  and an input device. The light source  120  may be a light-emitting diode (LED). 
         [0033]    The housing structure  110  has an input device carrying area  113 . The input device is disposed on the housing structure  110  and is disposed in the input device carrying area  113 . For the convenience of illustration, the input device of this embodiment is, for example, a mechanical keyboard  830 . 
         [0034]    The mechanical keyboard  830  comprises multiple keycaps  832 , multiple actuation elements  834  and a carrier plate  836 . The carrier plate  836  has a carrier top surface  838  and a carrier bottom surface  837  opposite to the carrier top surface  838 . The actuation elements  834  are assembled on the carrier top surface  838 . Each keycap  832  is assembled with one actuation element  834 . The mechanical keyboard  830  is configured in the input device carrying area  113 , and the carrier bottom surface  837  of the carrier plate  836  in the mechanical keyboard  830  is connected to the housing structure  110  of the carrying input device. In addition, the material of the carrier plate  836  is a light-transmissive material, which allows the light ray to pass, for example the carrier plate  836  in  FIG. 1A . Or, the carrier plate  836  may have a plurality of irregular through holes  839  penetrating the carrier plate  836  from the carrier top surface  838  to the carrier bottom surface  837 , which allows the light ray to pass, for example the carrier plate  836  in  FIG. 1B . 
         [0035]    Furthermore, the housing structure  110  further comprises a light-transmissive layer  114 , and the mechanical keyboard  830  is located on the light-transmissive layer  114 . The material of the light-transmissive layer  114  may be acrylic or polycarbonate. The light-transmissive layer  114  has a light incident plane  119 , a light exit plane  115  and a bottom surface  117 . The light exit plane  115  is located in the input device carrying area  113 . The bottom surface  117  is opposite to the light exit plane  115  and forms an acute angle  118  with the light exit plane  115 . Moreover, the light incident plane  119  connects the light exit plane  115  and the bottom surface  117  and faces the bottom surface  117 . 
         [0036]    The light source  120  is adjacent to the light incident plane  119 . When the light source  120  emits a light ray  122 , the light ray  122  enters the light-transmissive layer  114  through the light incident plane  119 , and is scattered in the light-transmissive layer  114 . Finally, the light ray  122  exits the housing structure  110  through the light exit plane  115 . Since the mechanical keyboard  830  is disposed in the input device carrying area  113 , the light ray  122  exiting the housing structure  110  through the light exit plane  115  may serve as a backlight of the mechanical keyboard  830 .  FIG. 1C  is a top view of the housing structure  110  in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . Referring to  FIG. 1C , the housing structure  110  may further comprise a light shielding layer  112 . The light shielding layer  112  surrounds the light-transmissive layer  114  and exposes the light exit plane  115 . The light shielding layer  112  and the light-transmissive layer  114  may be combined in a manner of double ejection or close fit. In addition, the light shielding layer  112  and the light-transmissive layer  114  may be combined in a manner of IMR, i.e., the light shielding layer  112  and the light-transmissive layer  114  are made of the transparent plastic, and is formed by injecting the plastic into a mould by a plastic injection molding machine. At the same time, the membrane is transferred on the outer surface of the light shielding layer  112 , thereby blocking the light ray from exiting the light shielding layer  112 . 
         [0037]    The light ray  122  enters the light-transmissive layer  114  through the light incident plane  119 , then reaches the light exit plane  115  from the light-transmissive layer  114 , and finally comes out. The energy of the light ray  122  is attenuated and scattered in this course, and a part of the light ray  122  may exit the housing structure  110  through the bottom surface  117 . Therefore, the housing structure assembly for carrying the input device  100  may further comprise a light reflecting layer  116 , and the light reflecting layer  116  covers the bottom surface  117  from below. The light reflecting layer  116  covering the bottom surface  117  of the light-transmissive layer  114  reflects a part of the light ray  112  originally exiting through the bottom surface  117  back, so as to enhance the energy of the light ray  122  exiting the light exit plane  115 . Furthermore, the bottom surface  117  of the light-transmissive layer  114  may have a micro recess or is printed with an optical ink dot. Both the micro recess and the printing of the optical ink dot may enhance the part of light ray  112  reflected to the bottom surface  117 , thereby improving the ratio of the light ray  122  exiting the light exit plane  115 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are schematic views of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device  200  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The housing structure assembly for carrying the input device  200  comprises a housing structure  210 , a light source  220  and an input device. The light source  220  may be an LED. 
         [0039]    The housing structure  210  has an input device carrying area  213 . The input device is disposed on the housing structure  210 , and is disposed in the input device carrying area  213 . For the convenience of illustration, the input device of this embodiment is, for example, a mechanical keyboard  830 . Since the structure of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the details of the same parts are not described again, and only the part of the second embodiment that differs from the first embodiment is illustrated herein. 
         [0040]    The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that the housing structure  210  further comprises a light-transmissive layer  214 , and the light-transmissive layer  214  has a light incident plane  219 , a light exit plane  215  and a bottom surface  217 . The light exit plane  215  is located in the input device carrying area  213 . The bottom surface  217  is opposite to the light exit plane  215  and parallel to the light exit plane  215 . In addition, the light incident plane  219  connects the light exit plane  215  and the bottom surface  217 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 2C  is a top view of the housing structure  210  in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Referring to  FIG. 2C , since the relative position of the light shielding layer  212  and the light-transmissive layer  214  of the housing structure  210  in the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the details will not be described again herein. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic views of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device  300  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The housing structure assembly for carrying the input device  300  comprises a housing structure  310 , a light source  320  and an input device. The light source  320  may be an LED. 
         [0043]    The housing structure  310  has an input device carrying area  313 . The input device is disposed on the housing structure  310 , and is disposed in the input device carrying area  313 . For the convenience of illustration, the input device of this embodiment is, for example, a mechanical keyboard  830 . Since the structure of the third embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the details of the same parts are not described again, and only the part of the third embodiment that differs from the first embodiment is illustrated herein 
         [0044]    The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that the housing structure  310  further comprises a light-transmissive layer  314 , and the light-transmissive layer  314  has a light incident plane  319 , a light exit plane  315  and a bottom surface  317 . The light exit plane  315  is located in the input device carrying area  313 . The bottom surface  317  is opposite to the light exit plane  315  and parallel to the light exit plane  315 . In addition, the light incident plane  319  connects the light exit plane  315  and the bottom surface  317 . The housing structure  310  further comprises a light shielding layer  312 , which is laminated on the light-transmissive layer  314 , and the light shielding layer  312  has a through hole  318  exposing the light exit plane  315 . The through hole  318  may also be filled up with a transparent plastic material. The light shielding layer  312  and the light-transmissive layer  314  may be combined in a manner of double ejection or hot melt. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4A  is a schematic view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device  400  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The housing structure assembly for carrying the input device  400  comprises a housing structure  410 , a light source  420  and an input device. The light source  420  may be an LED. In this embodiment, the input device is a touch panel  930 . The structure of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, while the difference lies in that the input device of this embodiment is the touch panel  930  instead of the mechanical keyboard  830 , so the details of the structure will not be described again herein. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device  500  according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The housing structure assembly for carrying the input device  500  comprises a housing structure  510 , a light source  520  and an input device. The light source  520  may be an LED. In this embodiment, the input device is a touch panel  930 . The structure of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, while the difference lies in that the input device of this embodiment is the touch panel  930  instead of the mechanical keyboard  830 , so the details of the structure will not be described again herein. 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device  600  according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The housing structure assembly for carrying the input device  600  comprises a housing structure  610 , a light source  620  and an input device. The light source  620  may be an LED. In this embodiment, the input device is a touch panel  930 . The structure of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the third embodiment, while the difference lies in that the input device of this embodiment is the touch panel  930  instead of the mechanical keyboard  830 , so the details of the structure will not be described again herein. 
         [0048]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a housing structure assembly for carrying an input device  700  according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The housing structure assembly for carrying the input device  700  comprises a touch panel  930 , a backlight module  720  and a housing structure  710 . The touch panel  930  and the backlight module  720  are laminated, and the touch panel  930  is located above the backlight module  720 . The housing structure  710  has an input device carrying area  713  for carrying the touch panel  930  and the backlight module  720 . The touch panel  930  and the backlight module  720  are located in the input device carrying area  713 . The backlight module  720  is formed by a light-transmissive layer, a light shielding layer, a reflecting layer and a light source. The light-transmissive layer has a light incident plane and a light exit plane. The light shielding layer has a light exit hole. The light source provides a light ray that enters the light-transmissive layer, and the light ray is scattered in the light-transmissive layer and then exits through the light exit plane. The light ray exiting through the light exit plane passes through the light exit hole of the light shielding layer to the touch panel  930 . The light ray is the backlight of the touch panel  930 . The reflecting layer may be laminated beneath the light-transmissive layer, for enhancing the strength of the backlight. 
         [0049]    In the housing structure assembly for carrying the input device according to the embodiments of the present invention, the housing structure has a light-transmissive layer. Since the housing structure having the light-transmissive layer may provide a backlight function for the input device after being combined with the light source, the input device does not need an extra backlight module, thus reducing the manufacturing cost of the input device and the repair cost.