Abstract:
An electronic device includes a keyboard module and a cover. The cover defines a keyboard area. A support beam is located under the keyboard module. The support beam extends through the keyboard area. The support beam can replace present supporting board. Space under the keyboard module can be increased.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device with a keyboard. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A supporting structure is generally secured to a bottom portion of a keyboard, especially a keyboard of a notebook, to prevent the keyboard from elastically deforming when the keyboard is tapped. Generally, the supporting structure is a supporting plate made of metal or plastic. However, the supporting plate occupies a substantial volume in the notebook chassis. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of one embodiment of an electronic device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a support beam of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  viewed from a different aspect. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the electronic device of  FIG. 3 , taken along a line V-V. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the support beam in a second embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the support beam in a third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of an electronic device. The electronic device comprises a keyboard module  10 , a cover  30 , and a support beam  50 . The electronic device may be notebook computer, for example. 
         [0015]    The keyboard module  10  can comprise a keyboard plate  15  and a base plate  12  adhered to a bottom surface of the keyboard plate  15 . The keyboard plate  15  comprises a plurality of keycaps  152 . The keyboard plate  15  is substantially rectangular and comprises a top edge  155  and a bottom edge  156 . The top edge  155  and the bottom edge  156  are two long edges of the keyboard plate  15 . The base plate  12  comprises a plurality of touch switches (not shown) corresponding to the plurality of keycaps  152 . The keyboard module  10  may be a membrane keyboard module, for example. 
         [0016]    The cover  30  defines a keyboard area  31 . The keyboard area  31  is substantially rectangular and comprises a frame  32  located in the keyboard area  31 . 
         [0017]      FIGS. 2 and 5  show that a cross section of the support beam  50  is a curved structure. In one embodiment, the support beam  50  extends straight, and the cross section of the support beam  50  is “U” shaped. The support beam  50  comprises a supporting piece  51  and two flanges  53  extending from opposite edges of the supporting piece  51 . A first mounting portion  62  extends from each end of the support beam  50 . A plurality of second mounting portions  64  is located between the first mounting portions  62  and extend from the support beam  50  in the opposite direction of the first mounting portions  62 . 
         [0018]      FIGS. 3-5  show that in assembly, the keyboard module  10  is received in the keyboard area  31 . The first mounting portion  62  extends outside of the base board  12 . The first mounting portion  62  is secured to the frame  32  by screws or other securing methods. The second mounting portions  64  are secured to the frame  32  through the base board  12 . The support beam  50  is substantially parallel to the top edge  155  and the bottom edge  156  of the keyboard plate  15 . The supporting piece  51  abuts the base board  12 . The flanges  53  extend away from the keyboard module  10 . Thus, the support beam  50  supports the keyboard module  10 . 
         [0019]    In the illustrated embodiment, the installation position of the support beam  50  can be adjusted as required. For example, if the plurality of keyboard caps  152  is adjacent to the bottom edge  156 , a distance between the support beam  50  and the bottom edge  156  is smaller than a distance between the support beam  50  and the top edge  155 . 
         [0020]    In other embodiments, the support beam  50  can be secured to the top edge  155  or the bottom edge  156 . The support beam  50  can be slanted relative to the top edge  155  and the bottom edge  156 . The support beam  50  can define a curved structure. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 6-7  show that in other embodiments, a cross section of the support beam  80 ,  90  can be other curved structures, such as “L” shaped, “D” shaped, and waved. 
         [0022]    The number of the support beams  50  can be two or more to add strength to the keyboard module  10 . The two or more supporting beams  50  can be substantially parallel to each other to support the keyboard module  10  cooperatively. 
         [0023]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and the arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure, to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.