Abstract: A foldable keyboard includes a casing and a plurality of input modules. The casing includes interconnected top and bottom sheets. Each of the top and bottom sheets is made of a flexible material. The top and bottom sheets cooperatively define a plurality of retaining spaces that are spaced apart from each other, and cooperatively form a plurality of foldable sections each being disposed between two adjacent ones of the retaining spaces. The input modules are retained respectively in the retaining spaces.

Abstract: A keyboard device includes a base seat, a circuit board including a plurality of switches, a press key membrane connected to a periphery of the base seat to forma sealed space to enclose the circuit board therein, and a plurality of resilient members. The press key membrane includes a plurality of protrusion units defining a plurality of press zones on the press key membrane. Each of the resilient members is disposed between the press key membrane and a respective one of the switches for deforming to close the respective one of the switches when a respective one of the press zones is pressed and for restoring to open the respective one of the switches when the respective one of the press zone is released.

Abstract: A key structure includes a bottom board having first holes, a membrane circuit board disposed on the bottom board and having second holes that are registered with the first holes, an elastic layer disposed on the membrane circuit board and having third holes that are registered with the second holes, a securing frame, and a key cap. The securing frame is disposed on the elastic layer and has securing members, each extending through a registered set of the third, second and first holes and having an abutting portion abutting against a bottom side of the bottom board to secure the elastic layer, the membrane circuit board, and the bottom board together and closing liquid-tightly the third, second, and first holes.

Abstract: A press key device includes: a key cap, a base plate, a frame, and a restoring unit. The key cap includes a cap portion and a fin portion protruding from the cap portion. The base plate is disposed under the key cap and is formed with a first perforation which has opposite first and second ends in a first horizontal direction. The frame is disposed on the base plate and has a frame portion and a groove which has a limit groove portion. The frame is movable from a first position to a second position and further to a third position so that the fin portion is retained in the limit groove portion to restrain downward movement of the key cap.

Abstract: A backlight module includes: a light guiding plate; at least one light guiding point which is formed on a bottom surface of the light guiding plate; an upper light-permeable thin film disposed on a top surface of the light guiding plate; a lower light-permeable thin film disposed on the bottom surface of the light guiding plate and opposite to the upper light-permeable thin film; and a luminous element from which light beams are incident to the light guiding plate. The upper and lower light-permeable thin films respectively have refractive indices lower than that of the light guiding plate so that a total internal reflection of the light beams occurs between the upper and lower light-permeable thin films.

Abstract: A luminous press key module includes: a key cap; a base plate disposed under the key cap and formed with a base plate opening; a circuit unit disposed between the base plate and the key cap; a restoring unit disposed between the key cap and an upper surface of the circuit unit and abutting against the key cap; and a luminous unit including a luminous element disposed on a lower surface of the circuit unit opposite to the upper surface of the circuit unit.

Abstract: A luminous keyboard includes: a press key unit and a backlight module unit including a light guiding plate, a plurality of light guiding points, an upper light-permeable thin film disposed on a top surface of the light guiding plate, a lower light-permeable thin film disposed on a bottom surface of the light guiding plate, and a luminous element. The upper and lower light-permeable thin films respectively have refractive indices lower than that of the light guiding plate.

Abstract: A press key includes: a base plate; a key cap including a top plate and a frame, the frame having a frame wall that surrounds a frame opening and that is formed with upper journal retention members and upper slide retention members; and a restoring unit including first and second support members. The first and second support members have upper end portions and lower end portions. The first and second support members extend through the frame opening. The upper end portion of the first support member is pivotally retained between the upper journal retention members and the top plate. The upper end portion of the second support member is slidably retained between the upper slide retention members and the top plate.

Abstract: A luminous keyboard includes: a plurality of key caps; a light guiding plate disposed under the key caps; a reflector disposed under the light guiding plate; a masking layer disposed between the key caps and the light guiding plate; a membrane circuit unit disposed under the key caps and on the masking layer; and a luminous unit having a conductive lead, and an illuminant electrically connected to the conductive lead. The conductive lead is made of a material including a conductive polymer gel and a conductive powder and is formed directly on one of the reflector, the masking layer and the membrane circuit unit.

Abstract: A press key includes: a base unit having a metal plate; a position-limiting unit formed with a through hole, the metal plate and the position-limiting unit defining an accommodating space therebetween; a keycap movable between a raised position and a pressed position and including a cap body that corresponds in position to the through hole, and a flange member that extends outwardly from and around the cap body and that abuts against the position-limiting unit when the keycap is at the raised position; and an elastic restoring unit including a scissors-type lever that is connected pivotally to the keycap and the position-limiting unit.

Abstract: A press key includes: a circuit module; a keycap disposed above the circuit module; and an elastic member disposed between the circuit module and the keycap, and including a bowl portion and a leg portion. The bowl portion has a width larger than that of the leg portion and includes a top open end facing the keycap, a bottom wall opposite to the top open end, a first contact extending upwardly from the bottom wall to contact the keycap when the keycap is pressed, and a second contact extending downwardly from the bottom wall to contact the circuit module when the keycap is pressed. The leg portion extends downwardly from the bottom wall and surrounds the second contact.

Abstract: A thin film circuit board device includes a multi-layered circuit unit having an upper circuit layer formed with an upper circuit having at least one first contact part, a lower circuit layer formed with a lower circuit having at least one second contact part disposed beneath the first contact part, and an insulating layer disposed between the upper and lower circuit layers and having at least one through hole. One of the upper and lower circuit layers has at least one preformed protruding portion that protrudes into the through hole toward the other one of the upper and lower circuit layers. One of the first and second contact parts is disposed on the preformed protruding portion so as to be in constant contact with the other one of the first and second contact parts.

Abstract: A lighting keyboard includes a keyboard unit, and a combined circuit and lighting unit. The keyboard unit has a keyboard base, press keys mounted on the keyboard base, and an elastic layer disposed between the press keys and the keyboard base, and having elastic members disposed beneath the press keys. The combined circuit and lighting unit includes a membrane circuit substrate underlying the keyboard base, a first light-blocking layer disposed on top of the membrane circuit substrate, a first reflecting layer underlying the membrane circuit substrate, a backlighting module, and a second light-blocking layer. The backlighting module underlies the first reflecting layer, and cooperates with the first light-blocking layer, the membrane circuit substrate, and the first reflecting layer to define a light passage. The second light-blocking layer underlies the backlighting module. Light generated from the backlighting module is transmitted toward the press keys through the light passage.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a keyboard base, a membrane circuit substrate, and a press key set having a plurality of press keys. Each of the press keys includes: a keycap, a linkage assembly including intersecting first and second link levers, and a first pivot mechanism to interconnect pivotally the first and second link levers, and an elastic element. The first pivot mechanism includes: a female element having a first opening formed in one of upper and lower surfaces of the first link lever; and a flexible male element outwardly protruding from a lateral surface of the second link lever. The male and female elements are configured such that after the male element is elastically deformed to be pressed into the female element via the first opening, the male element is restored to its original form to be limited in the female element.

Abstract: A keyboard with backlighting functionality includes: a membrane circuit substrate having an upper circuit sheet, an insulator sheet, and a lower circuit sheet laminated together in sequence; a press key set having a plurality of press keys that are disposed on the membrane circuit substrate, and that are capable of being pressed so as to cause the membrane circuit substrate to transmit input signals; and at least one light-emitting element mounted onto a lower surface of the upper circuit sheet that faces the insulator sheet. The membrane circuit substrate is configured as a backlighting sheet that allows light from the light-emitting element to propagate therein, and is formed with a plurality of reflecting dots for directing the light that propagates in the membrane circuit substrate toward the press keys of the press key set.

Abstract: A thin film circuit board device includes: a first thin film circuit board having a first protrusion provided with a first conductive contact; a second thin film circuit board having a second protrusion provided with a second conductive contact; and an insulator film disposed between the first and second thin film circuit boards. The first and second protrusions are disposed one above the other. The insulator film is free of a portion that extends between the first and second protrusions. The first and second protrusions are folded together in such a manner that the first and second conductive contacts are brought into contact with each other at the fold thereof.