KEYBOARD DEVICE

Abstract

A keyboard device includes a wiring board with plural key switches, plural key structures corresponding to the plural key switches, and an anti-ghosting unit. Each of the plural key structures includes a keycap, a scissors-type connecting element and a light-emitting element. The light-emitting element is located under the keycap. At least a part of the scissors-type connecting element is arranged between the keycap and the wiring board. The keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the wiring board. The anti-ghosting unit is disposed on the wiring board or electrically connected with the wiring board. The anti-ghosting unit is used for avoiding key conflict between at least two of the plural key structures.

Claims

1. A keyboard device, comprising: a wiring board comprising plural key switches; plural key structures corresponding to the plural key switches, wherein each of the plural key structures comprises a keycap, a scissors-type connecting element and a light-emitting element, wherein the light-emitting element is located under the keycap, at least a part of the scissors-type connecting element is arranged between the keycap and the wiring board, and the keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the wiring board; and an anti-ghosting unit disposed on the wiring board or electrically connected with the wiring board, wherein the anti-ghosting unit avoids key conflict between at least two of the plural key structures.

2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising a base plate under the wiring board, wherein the scissors-type connecting element is connected between the base plate and the keycap.

3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit board under the base plate, wherein the anti-ghosting unit comprises at least one diode, and the at least one diode is disposed on the circuit board.

4. The keyboard device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one diode comprises plural diodes corresponding to the plural key structures.

5. The keyboard device according to claim 3, wherein the light-emitting element is disposed on the circuit board.

6. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the anti-ghosting unit comprises at least one diode, and the at least one diode is disposed on the wiring board.

7. The keyboard device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one diode comprises plural diodes corresponding to the plural key structures.

8. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the anti-ghosting unit comprises an anti-ghosting circuit pattern, and the anti-ghosting circuit pattern comprises at least two conductive lines, wherein the at least two conductive lines are separated from each other and electrically connected with at least two of the plural key switches, respectively.

9. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting element is disposed on the wiring board.

10. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the wiring board is a membrane wiring board with an upper film layer and a lower film layer, wherein a first circuit pattern is formed on the upper film layer, a second circuit pattern is formed on the lower film layer, the first circuit pattern comprises plural upper contacts, and the second circuit pattern comprises plural lower contacts, wherein each of the upper contacts and the corresponding lower contact are separated from each by a spacing distance and collectively defined as the corresponding membrane switch.

11. The keyboard device according to claim 10, wherein each of the plural key structures further comprises an elastic element with a contacting part, and the elastic element is arranged between the keycap and the wiring board, wherein while the keycap is depressed, the elastic element is compressed and the key switch is pushed by the contacting part, wherein when the keycap is not depressed, the keycap is returned to an original position in response to an elastic force of the elastic element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a conventional keyboard device;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a portion of a membrane wiring board of the conventional keyboard device of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional keyboard device with a mechanical key structure;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the mechanical switch of the conventional keyboard device of FIG. 3 when a keycap of the mechanical key structure is depressed;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view illustrating a keyboard device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a portion of a membrane wiring board of the keyboard device of FIG. 5;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating a keyboard device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view illustrating a keyboard device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0029] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view illustrating a keyboard device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030] Please refer to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view illustrating a keyboard device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a portion of a membrane wiring board of the keyboard device of FIG. 5. The keyboard device 3A comprises plural key structures 32, a wiring board 34, a base plate 33 and a circuit board 31. Each of the plural key structures 32 comprises a keycap 321, a scissors-type connecting element 322, an elastic element 323 and a light-emitting element 324. The scissors-type connecting element 322 is connected between the keycap 321 and the base plate 33. Moreover, the scissors-type connecting element 322 comprises a first frame 3221 and a second frame 3222. The second frame 3222 is pivotally coupled to the first frame 3221. Consequently, the first frame 3221 and the second frame 3222 can be swung relative to each other. The elastic element 323 is arranged between the keycap 321 and the membrane wiring board 34. Moreover, the elastic element 323 comprises a contacting part 3231.

[0031] In this embodiment, the wiring board 34 is a membrane wiring board 34. The wiring board 34 is arranged between the base plate 33 and the keycaps 321. The wiring board 34 comprises an upper film layer 342, a lower film layer 341 and an intermediate film layer 343. The intermediate film layer 343 is arranged between the upper film layer 342 and the lower film layer 341. A first circuit pattern 3421 is formed on a bottom surface of the upper film layer 342. The first circuit pattern 3421 comprises plural upper contacts 34211 corresponding to the plural key structures 32. A second circuit pattern 3411 is formed on a top surface of the lower film layer 341. The second circuit pattern 3431 comprises plural lower contacts 34111 corresponding to the plural upper contacts 34211. In addition, the intermediate film layer 343 comprises plural perforations 3431 corresponding to the plural upper contacts 34211 and the plural lower contacts 34111. Each of the upper contacts 34211 and the corresponding lower contact 34111 are collectively defined as a membrane switch 344.

[0032] While the keycap 321 of any key structure 32 is depressed and moved downwardly relative to the base plate 33, the first frame 3221 and the second frame 3222 of the scissors-type connecting element 322 are switched from an open-scissors state to a stacked state. Moreover, as the keycap 321 is moved downwardly to compress the elastic element 323, the corresponding upper contact 34211 is contacted with and triggered by the contacting part 3231 of the elastic element 323. Consequently, the corresponding upper contact 34211 is penetrated through the corresponding perforation 3431 and contacted with the corresponding lower contact 34111. Under this circumstance, the corresponding membrane switch 344 is electrically conducted. When the keycap 321 of the key structure 32 is no longer depressed, the keycap 321 is moved upwardly relative to the base plate 33 in response to an elastic force of the elastic element 323. Meanwhile, the first frame 3221 and the second frame 3222 are switched from the stacked state to the open-scissors state again, and the keycap 321 is returned to its original position. Due to the scissors-type connecting element 322, the keycap 321 is not loosened or rocked while the keycap 321 is moved upwardly or downwardly. Consequently, the tactile feel of operating the keycap 321 is enhanced.

[0033] The base plate 33 is located over the circuit board 31. Moreover, the base plate 33 comprises plural base plate openings 331 corresponding to the plural key structures 32. The plural light-emitting elements 324 are disposed on the circuit board 31 and aligned with the corresponding key structures 32. The light-emitting elements 324 acquire electric power from the circuit board 31, and thus the light-emitting elements 324 provide the light beams. The light beams from each light-emitting element 324 are projected onto the corresponding keycap 321 through the corresponding base plate opening 331 and the wiring board 34 sequentially. Consequently, the keycap 321 is illuminated. The locations of the light-emitting elements 324 may be varied according to the practical requirements. For example, the light-emitting elements 324 are aligned with the symbols (not shown) of the corresponding keycaps 321. Consequently, the illuminating effect of the keycaps 321 will be enhanced. In accordance with a feature of the present invention, each light-emitting element 324 can be selectively turned on or turned off. That is, according to the user's requirement, the illuminating functions corresponding to the keycaps 321 of specified key structures 32 are enabled, and the illuminating functions corresponding to the keycaps 321 of the other key structures 32 are disabled.

[0034] Moreover, the keyboard device 3A further comprises an anti-ghosting unit corresponding to the plural key structures 32. In an embodiment, the anti-ghosting unit comprises plural diodes 35. The diodes 35 are electrically connected with the corresponding key switches 344 for blocking the current in the reverse direction. Due to the diodes 35, the key conflict problem of plural key structures 32 is avoided. That is, the diodes 35 are disposed on the circuit board 31 and electrically connected with the corresponding key switches 344 to block the interaction between the corresponding key switches 344. Consequently, even if the keycaps 321 of plural key structures 32 are simultaneously depressed, the keyboard device 3A can recognize the keycaps 321 of the depressed key structures 32. In other words, the keyboard device 3 has the anti-ghosting function. The principles of using the diodes 35 to achieve the anti-ghosting function are well known to those skilled in the art, and are not redundantly described herein. In the above embodiment, all key structures 32 are electrically connected with the corresponding diodes 35. It is noted that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, in another embodiment, some key structures 32 are electrically connected with the corresponding diodes 35.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating a keyboard device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. For succinctness, only one key structure and associated components are shown in FIG. 7. The keyboard device of this embodiment also comprises plural elastic elements and a base plate, but the elastic elements and the base plate are not shown. The components of the keyboard device 3B of this embodiment similar to those of the first embodiment are not redundantly described herein. In the first embodiment, the circuit board 31 is located under the wiring board 34 of the keyboard device 3A. In comparison with the first embodiment, the keyboard device 3B of this embodiment is not equipped with the circuit board 31. Correspondingly, the plural diodes 35 and the plural light-emitting elements 324 corresponding to the plural key structures 32 are disposed on the top surface of the wiring board, disposed within the wiring board 34 or disposed on the bottom surface of the wiring board 34.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view illustrating a keyboard device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. For succinctness, only two key structures and associated components are shown in FIG. 8. The keyboard device of this embodiment also comprises plural elastic elements and a base plate, but the elastic elements and the base plate are not shown. The components of the keyboard device 3C of this embodiment similar to those of the second embodiment are not redundantly described herein. In comparison with the second embodiment, the anti-ghosting unit comprises an anti-ghosting circuit pattern 36. The anti-ghosting circuit pattern 36 comprises plural conductive lines 361a and 361b corresponding to the plural key structures 32. The conductive lines 361a and 361b are electrically connected with the corresponding key switches 344. Every two adjacent conductive lines 361a and 361b are separated from each other. Consequently, even if the keycaps 321 of plural key structures 32 are simultaneously depressed, the keyboard device 3C can recognize the keycaps 321 of the depressed key structures 32.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view illustrating a keyboard device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. For succinctness, only one key structure and associated components are shown in FIG. 9. The keyboard device of this embodiment also comprises plural scissors-type connecting elements and a base plate, but the scissors-type connecting elements and the base plate are not shown. The components of the keyboard device 3D of this embodiment similar to those of the second embodiment are not redundantly described herein. In comparison with the second embodiment, the wiring board is replaced by a circuit board 37. The key switches 344 are disposed on the circuit board 37. The types of the key switches 344 are not restricted to the above-mentioned key switches (i.e., the membrane switches). While the key switch 344 is depressed by the corresponding keycap 321, the key switch 344 is electrically conducted. Similarly, the plural diodes 35 and the plural light-emitting elements 324 corresponding to the plural key structures 32 are disposed on the circuit board 37.

[0038] From the above descriptions, the keyboard device of the present invention has many advantages. Firstly, the keycap is not loosened or rocked while each keycap is moved upwardly or downwardly. Secondly, the illuminating function of each key structure is selectively enabled or disabled. Thirdly, all key structures have no conflict problems. Fourthly, the locations of the light-emitting elements and the anti-ghosting unit may be varied according to the practical requirements, so that the illuminating efficacy of the keycap is enhanced.

[0039] 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.