Patent Publication Number: US-2018053611-A1

Title: Light color changeable illuminated keyboard

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a computer keyboard, and more particularly to a light color changeable illuminated keyboard. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, a computer keyboard is equipped with light-emitting elements (e.g., light emitting diodes) under keys in order to achieve the lighting purpose. The light-emitting elements are installed within the keyboard to emit light beams to the surroundings. After the light beams pass through character regions of the keys, the character regions of the keys are illuminated. Consequently, even if the keyboard is used in a dim environment, the user can view the character regions of the keyboard clearly. That is, the keyboard with the light-emitting elements is more convenient to the user. 
     However, the conventional computer keyboard still has some drawbacks. For example, since the light beams from the light-emitting elements of the conventional computer keyboard usually have a single light color, the light beams passing through the character regions of the keys have the same light color. If a key comprises plural character regions, the plural character regions are illuminated simultaneously. That is, the character regions of the same key cannot be selectively illuminated or not illuminated. Consequently, when the keyboard is used in a dim environment, the user is readily confused about the illuminated characters regions. 
     In other words, the conventional technologies need to be further improved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For solving the drawbacks of the conventional technology, the present invention provides a light color changeable illuminated keyboard. The user can switch the color light of the illuminated keyboard according to the practical requirements. Moreover, the character regions of the same key can be selectively illuminated or not illuminated. Consequently, the specified character regions can be recognized more easily. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light color changeable illuminated keyboard. The light color changeable illuminated keyboard includes a circuit layer, a supporting plate, plural keys, a bicolor light-emitting element, a switching key and a control unit. The supporting plate is located under the circuit layer. The plural keys are located over the circuit layer and connected with the supporting plate. Each of the plural keys includes a keycap, a light-transmission part, a connecting element and an elastic element. The keycap is located over the circuit layer. The light-transmission part is formed on a top surface of the keycap. The keycap is connected with the supporting plate through the connecting element. The bicolor light-emitting element is located below the key, and emits a first color light or a second color light continuously. The first color light or the second color light is outputted from the keycap through the light-transmission part. The switching key is disposed on the circuit layer to trigger the circuit layer to generate a pressing signal. The control unit is electrically connected with the switching key and the bicolor light-emitting element. When the pressing signal is received by the control unit, a switching signal is generated by the control unit and transmitted to the bicolor light-emitting element. If the switching key is pressed down when the first color light is continuously emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element, the pressing signal is transmitted from the switching key to the control unit, and the control unit generates the switching signal in response to the pressing signal. In response to the switching signal, the bicolor light-emitting element stops emitting the first color light and emits the second color light continuously. 
     In an embodiment, if the switching key is pressed down when the second color light is continuously emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element, the pressing signal is transmitted from the switching key to the control unit, and the control unit generates a restoring signal in response to the pressing signal. In response to the restoring signal, the bicolor light-emitting element stops emitting the second color light but emits the first color light continuously. 
     In an embodiment, if the control unit receives the pressing signal when the control unit detects that the first color light is continuously emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element, the control unit generates the switching signal, and the first color light is changed to the second color light in response to the switching signal. If the control unit receives the pressing signal when the control unit detects that the second color light is continuously emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element, the control unit generates the restoring signal and the second color light is restored to the first color light in response to the restoring signal. 
     In an embodiment, the first color light and the second color light have different colors. 
     In an embodiment, the light-transmission part includes a first color filtering pattern and a second color filtering pattern. The first color light is outputted from the keycap through the first color filtering pattern. The second color light is outputted from the keycap through the second color filtering pattern. 
     In an embodiment, the first color light is not allowed to pass through the second color filtering pattern, and the second color light is not allowed to pass through the first color filtering pattern. 
     In an embodiment, a color of the first color filtering pattern corresponds to a color of the first color light, and a color of the second color filtering pattern corresponds to a color of the second color light. 
     In an embodiment, the first color filtering pattern and the second color filtering pattern are formed on the keycap by a bicolor spraying process. 
     In an embodiment, the first color filtering pattern and the second color filtering pattern are formed on the keycap by a bicolor injection molding process. 
     In an embodiment, the bicolor light-emitting element is located below the key and disposed on the circuit layer, wherein the first color light or the second color light travels in a direction from the circuit layer to the key. After the first color light or the second color light passes through the light-transmission part, the first color light or the second color light is outputted from the keycap. 
     In an embodiment, the light color changeable illuminated keyboard further includes a light guide plate. The light guide plate is located under the supporting plate. The first color light or the second color light emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element is introduced into the light guide plate and guided to a region under the key. After the first color light or the second color light passes through the light-transmission part, the first color light or the second color light is outputted from the keycap. 
     In an embodiment, the supporting plate includes an opening. After the first color light or the second color light passes through the opening, the first color light or the second color light passes through the keycap. 
     In an embodiment, the bicolor light-emitting element is a bicolor light emitting diode. 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a light color changeable illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a key of the light color changeable illuminated keyboard according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating the relationship between the bicolor light-emitting element and the control unit in a normal working state; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating the relationship between the bicolor light-emitting element and the control unit in a switching state; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating the relationship between the bicolor light-emitting element and the control unit in a restoring state; 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates an optical path of the first color light corresponding to the key of the illuminated keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates an optical path of the second color light corresponding to the key of the illuminated keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a key of a light color changeable illuminated keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  schematically illustrates an optical path of the first color light corresponding to the key of the illuminated keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  schematically illustrates an optical path of the second color light corresponding to the key of the illuminated keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments and accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a light color changeable illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a key of the light color changeable illuminated keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the light color changeable illuminated keyboard  1  comprises a circuit layer  10 , a supporting plate  20 , plural keys  30 , a bicolor light-emitting element  40 , a switching key  51  and a control unit  52 . The supporting plate  20  is located under the circuit layer  10 . The plural keys  30  are located over the circuit layer  10  and connected with the supporting plate  20 . When one of the plural keys  30  is pressed, the circuit layer  10  is triggered to generate a corresponding key signal (not shown). The bicolor light-emitting element  40  is below the plural keys  30 . Moreover, the bicolor light-emitting element  40  emits a first color light  41  (see  FIG. 3 ) or a second color light  42  (see  FIG. 4 ) continuously. The switching key  51  is located over the circuit layer  10 . When the switching key  51  is pressed down, a pressing signal  511  (see  FIG. 4 ) is generated. The bicolor light-emitting element  40  and the switching key  51  are electrically connected with a control unit  52 . In an embodiment, the control unit  52  is included in a computer host  50 . After the pressing signal  511  is transmitted to the control unit  52 , the control unit  52  generates a switching signal  521  (see  FIG. 4 ) in response to the pressing signal  511 . After the switching signal  521  is received by the bicolor light-emitting element  40 , the color light emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element  40  is switched from the first color light  41  to the second color light  42  or switched from the second color light  42  to the first color light  41 . It is noted that the control unit  52  is not restricted to be included in the computer host  50 . For example, in another embodiment, the control unit is included in the main body of the illuminated keyboard. 
     In this embodiment, the illuminated keyboard  1  further comprises a light guide plate  43 . The light guide plate  43  is located under the supporting plate  20 . The light guide plate  43  is used for guiding the first color light  41  or the second color light  42 . Moreover, the supporting plate  20  further comprises an opening  21 . The first color light  41  or the second color light  42  is transmissible through the opening  21 . 
     For succinctness, only one key  30  will be described as follows. Each key  30  comprises a keycap  31 , a light-transmission part  32 , a connecting element  33  and an elastic element  34 . The light-transmission part  32  comprises a first color filtering pattern  321  and a second color filtering pattern  322 . The keycap  31  is located over the circuit layer  10 . The light-transmission part  32  is formed on a top surface  311  of the keycap  311 . After the first color light  41  or the second color light  42  passes through the light-transmission part  32 , the first color light  41  or the second color light  42  is outputted from the keycap  31 . The connecting element  33  is located under the keycap  31 . The keycap  31  is connected with the supporting plate  20  through the connecting element  33 . The elastic element  34  is located under the keycap  31  and disposed on the circuit layer  10 . When the keycap  31  is pressed down to push the elastic element  34 , the elastic element  34  is moved downwardly to trigger the circuit layer  10  to generate the key signal. The bicolor light-emitting element  40  continuously emits the first color light  41  or the second color light  42  to the light guide plate  43 . After the first color light  41  or the second color light  42  is transmitted within the light guide plate to the region under the key  30 , the first color light  41  or the second color light  42  passes through the opening  21  of the supporting plate  20  and the circuit layer  10 . After the first color light  41  or the second color light  42  passes through the first color filtering pattern  321  or the second color filtering pattern  322  of the light-transmission part  32 , the first color light  41  or the second color light  42  is outputted from the keycap  31 . 
     The procedures of switching the bicolor light-emitting element  40  under control of the control unit  52  will be illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 .  FIG. 3  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating the relationship between the bicolor light-emitting element and the control unit in a normal working state.  FIG. 4  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating the relationship between the bicolor light-emitting element and the control unit in a switching state.  FIG. 5  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating the relationship between the bicolor light-emitting element and the control unit in a restoring state. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 . In the normal working state, the bicolor light-emitting element  40  emits the first color light  41 . Since the switching key  51  of the illuminated keyboard  1  is not pressed down, the control unit  52  of the computer host  50  does not receive or generate the corresponding signals. Under this circumstance, the bicolor light-emitting element  40  emits the first color light  41  continuously. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4 . When the switching key  51  is pressed down by a user U, the pressing signal  511  is generated. In response to the pressing signal  511 , the control unit  52  of the computer host  50  generates the switching signal  521  to the bicolor light-emitting element  40 . In response to the switching signal  521 , the bicolor light-emitting element  40  stops emitting the first color light  41  but emits the second color light  42 . After the bicolor light-emitting element  40  emits the second color light  42 , if the switching key  51  is not pressed down by the user U and no other signal is received by the control unit  52 , the bicolor light-emitting element  40  emits the second color light  42  continuously. Under this circumstance, the first color light  41  is not emitted. 
       FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a procedure of restoring the second color light  42  to the first color light  41 . If the user U presses down the switching key  51  again to generate the pressing signal  511  when the bicolor light-emitting element  40  emits the second color light  42  continuously, the control unit  52  generates a restoring signal  522  in response to the pressing signal  511 . In response to the restoring signal  522 , the bicolor light-emitting element  40  stops emitting the second color light  42  but emits the first color light  41 . 
     If the control unit  52  receives the pressing signal  511  when the control unit  52  detects that the first color light  41  is continuously emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element  40 , the control unit  52  generates the switching signal  521 , and the first color light  41  is changed to the second color light  42  in response to the switching signal  521 . If the control unit  52  receives the pressing signal  511  when the control unit  52  detects that the second color light  42  is continuously emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element  40 , the control unit  52  generates the restoring signal  522  and the second color light  42  is restored to the first color light  41  in response to the restoring signal  522 . In other words, the light color from the bicolor light-emitting element  40  is switched between the first color light  41  and the second color light  42  under control of the control unit  52 . 
     The procedure of allowing the first color light  41  or the second color light  42  to be outputted from the key  30  will be described as follows.  FIG. 6  schematically illustrates an optical path of the first color light corresponding to the key of the illuminated keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  schematically illustrates an optical path of the second color light corresponding to the key of the illuminated keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first color light  41  is outputted from the key  30 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the second color light  42  is outputted from the key  30 . The first color light  41  and the second color light  42  have different colors. Preferably, the colors of the first color light  41  and the second color light  42  are complementary colors. In an embodiment, the first color light  41  has a red color, and the second color light  42  has a green color. In another embodiment, the first color light  41  has a yellow color, and the second color light  42  has a blue color. The color of the first color filtering pattern  321  of the light-transmission part  32  corresponds to the color of the first color light  41 . The color of the second color filtering pattern  322  of the light-transmission part  32  corresponds to the color of the second color light  42 . Consequently, the first color light  41  is outputted from the keycap  31  through the first color filtering pattern  321 , and the second color light  42  is outputted from the keycap  31  through the second color filtering pattern  322 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6  again. The first color light  41  emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element  40  is introduced into the light guide plate  43  and guided to the region under the key  30 . Then, the first color light  41  travels to the region under the keycap  31  through the supporting plate  20  and the circuit layer  10 . Since the color of the first color filtering pattern  321  on the keycap  31  corresponds to the color of the first color light  41 , the first color light  41  is outputted to the surroundings through the first color filtering pattern  321 . Under this circumstance, the first color filtering pattern  321  is illuminated. Since the color of the second color filtering pattern  322  and the color of the first color light  41  are complementary, the first color light  41  is absorbed by the second color filtering pattern  322 . Moreover, since the first color light  41  is not allowed to pass through the second color filtering pattern  322 , the second color filtering pattern  322  is not illuminated. Please refer to  FIG. 7  again. The second color light  42  is emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element  40 . Since the color of the second color filtering pattern  322  corresponds to the color of the second color light  42 , the second color light  42  is outputted to the surroundings through the second color filtering pattern  322 . Under this circumstance, the second color filtering pattern  322  is illuminated. Since the color of the first color filtering pattern  321  and the color of the second color light  42  are complementary, the second color light  42  is absorbed by the first color filtering pattern  321 . Moreover, since the second color light  42  is not allowed to pass through the first color filtering pattern  321 , the first color filtering pattern  321  is not illuminated. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic exploded view illustrating a key of a light color changeable illuminated keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the light color changeable illuminated keyboard comprises a circuit layer  60 , a supporting plate  70 , plural keys  80  and a bicolor light-emitting element  90 . For succinctness, only one key  80  is shown in the drawing. Each key  80  comprises a keycap  81 , a light-transmission part  82 , a connecting element  83  and an elastic element  84 . The light-transmission part  82  comprises a first color filtering pattern  821  and a second color filtering pattern  822 . The circuit layer  60  is located over the supporting plate  70 . The plural keys  80  are located over the circuit layer  60 . The bicolor light-emitting element  90  is located under the key  80  and disposed on the circuit layer  60 . The connecting element  83  is located under the keycap  81 . The keycap  81  is connected with the supporting plate  70  through the connecting element  83 . The elastic element  84  is located under the keycap  81  and disposed on the circuit layer  60 . In comparison with the first embodiment, the bicolor light-emitting element  90  of this embodiment is directly disposed on the circuit layer  60  that is under the keycap  81 . Consequently, the color light emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element  90  travels in the upward direction and passes through the light-transmission part  82  of the keycap  81 . The other components and the operations of the illuminated keyboard of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, and are not redundantly described herein. 
       FIG. 9  schematically illustrates an optical path of the first color light corresponding to the key of the illuminated keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 10  schematically illustrates an optical path of the second color light corresponding to the key of the illuminated keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The bicolor light-emitting element  90  can selectively emit a first color light  91  or a second color light  92 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 9 . The first color light  91  emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element  90  travels to the keycap  81  in the upward direction. Then, the first color light  91  is outputted from the keycap  81  through the first color filtering pattern  821 . Under this circumstance, the first color filtering pattern  821  is illuminated. Since the first color light  91  is not allowed to pass through the second color filtering pattern  822 , the second color filtering pattern  822  is not illuminated. Please refer to  FIG. 10 . The second color light  92  emitted by the bicolor light-emitting element  90  travels to the keycap  81  in the upward direction. Then, the second color light  92  is outputted from the keycap  81  through the second color filtering pattern  822 . Under this circumstance, the second color filtering pattern  822  is illuminated. Since the second color light  92  is not allowed to pass through the second color filtering pattern  822 , the first color filtering pattern  821  is not illuminated. 
     In the above embodiment, the circuit layer  10  or  60  is a light-transmissible and transparent film layer. Consequently, the color light from the bicolor light-emitting element  40  or  90  can pass through the circuit layer  10  or  60 . Moreover, the first color filtering pattern  321  and the second color filtering pattern  322  are formed on the keycap  31  by a bicolor spraying process or a bicolor injection molding process. Similarly, the first color filtering pattern  821  and the second color filtering pattern  822  are formed on the keycap  81  by a bicolor spraying process or a bicolor injection molding process. Preferably, the bicolor light-emitting element  40  or  90  is a bicolor light emitting diode. 
     From the above descriptions, the present invention provides a light color changeable illuminated keyboard. The user can switch the color light of the illuminated keyboard according to the practical requirements. Moreover, the character regions of the same key can be selectively illuminated or not illuminated. Consequently, the specified character regions can be recognized more easily. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications and similar structures.