Patents by Inventor Ming-Fu Yen
Ming-Fu Yen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11887791Abstract: A key module includes a bottom plate, a circuit layer, a key cap, a supporting structure, a touch member, and a flexible circuit board. The bottom plate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The circuit layer is disposed on the first surface and has a first opening. The key cap is disposed above the circuit layer and covers the first opening. The supporting structure is disposed between the bottom plate and the key cap. The touch member is disposed at the key cap. The flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the touch member and passes through the first opening to extend next to the second surface of the bottom plate. When the key cap moves downward relative to the bottom plate, a portion of the flexible circuit board located between the key cap and the bottom plate is bent.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Jian-Jhih Chen, Ming-Fu Yen, Wei-Pin Chuang
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Patent number: 11830683Abstract: A key structure is provided. The key structure includes a base plate, a keycap, a positioning element and a rod. The base plate has a through hole. The positioning element is engaged with the through hole. A projection area of the positioning element on the base plate along a lifting direction of the keycap is larger than an area of the through hole.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Cheng-Kun Liao, En-Huei Wang, Ming-Fu Yen
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Publication number: 20230307196Abstract: A key module and a keyboard are disclosed. The key module includes a bottom plate including a first opening; a keycap disposed on the bottom plate, and including a visible region corresponding to the first opening; a flexible component disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap, and including a second opening corresponding to the visible region; a support structure connected between the bottom plate and the flexible component, and including a third opening corresponding to the visible region; a circuit layer disposed between the bottom plate and the flexible component, and including a fourth opening corresponding to the visible region; and a pattern modulator disposed below the bottom plate, and including a pattern region corresponding to the visible region.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Cheng-Kun Liao, Ming-Fu Yen, Cheng-Hsiung Huang
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Patent number: 11462371Abstract: A key structure is provided. The key structure includes a base plate, a membrane switch circuit, a key cap and a balance bar. The base plate includes a mounting portion. The membrane switch circuit is arranged on the base plate. The key cap is disposed above the membrane switch circuit. The balance bar is arranged between the base plate and the key cap. The balance bar includes a rod body and a first link part, the rod body is connected to the key cap, and the first link part is pivotally arranged corresponding to the mounting portion and connected to the base plate. An opaque area is formed in the overlap range of the orthographic projection of the membrane switch circuit and the key cap.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Inventor: Ming-Fu Yen
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Publication number: 20220189716Abstract: The disclosure provides a key structure, including a first electrode, a key cap, and a restoration member. The key cap is disposed on the first electrode. The restoration member is disposed between the key cap and the first electrode. The key cap or the restoration member has a second electrode. A sensing signal is generated by the second electrode with the key cap or the restoration member moving relative to the first electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2021Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Chun-Chieh Huang, Ming-Fu Yen, Che Hung Wu, Juo-Tau Lee, Ta-Ching Lu, Chieh-Liang Hsiao, Wei-Pin Chuang
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Patent number: 11315745Abstract: A key structure, including a keycap, a scissor component, an elastomer, an optical switch, a shading portion, and a circuit board, is provided. The scissor component is formed of a first and a second supporter. The circuit board has two first and two second limiting units. The keycap has two third and two fourth limiting units. The first supporter is rotatably or slidably connected to the first and the third limiting units. The second supporter is rotatably or slidably connected to the second and the fourth limiting units. The keycap is disposed on the circuit board through the scissor component. The elastomer is interposed between the circuit board and the keycap. The optical switch includes an emitter and a receiver. The shading portion is disposed on the first or the second supporter to block a light signal transmitted between the emitter and the receiver.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Inventors: Wei-Pin Chuang, Ming-Fu Yen, Chih-Jen Kuo
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Patent number: 11295910Abstract: A keyboard structure including a base, at least one key and an electronic element is provided. The key is disposed on the base and sequentially includes a cap, a limiting structure, an elastic member and a membrane switch from top to down, wherein the elastic member is disposed on the membrane switch, the cap is disposed on the elastic member, and the limiting structure connects the cap and the base, such that the cap is configured to move relative to the base in a vertical direction. The electronic element is disposed on the membrane switch and is surrounded by an electrostatic protection zone, wherein the membrane switch has a hole corresponding to the electrostatic protection zone.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Wei-Pin Chuang, Cheng-Hsiung Huang, Min-Chuan Shao, Han-Yang Hsu, Jian-Jhih Chen, Hsin-Fu Liu
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Patent number: 11257637Abstract: A key structure including a keycap, a bottom plate, a supporting element disposed on the bottom plate a backlight module, and a thin film circuit board is provided. The bottom plate includes a body and a plurality of protrusions, wherein the body has a plurality of openings, and the protrusions protrude from a first surface of the body and are disposed around the openings. At least two of the protrusions have different heights. The backlight module is disposed on a second surface of the body, wherein the first surface and the second surface are opposite surfaces. The thin film circuit board and the keycap are disposed on the first surface of the body, and the thin film circuit board is located between the keycap and the bottom plate, and the protrusions are located within an orthographic projection range of the keycap and do not contact the supporting element.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventor: Ming-Fu Yen
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Publication number: 20220044888Abstract: A key structure is provided. The key structure includes a base plate, a membrane switch circuit, a key cap and a balance bar. The base plate includes a mounting portion. The membrane switch circuit is arranged on the base plate. The key cap is disposed above the membrane switch circuit. The balance bar is arranged between the base plate and the key cap. The balance bar includes a rod body and a first link part, the rod body is connected to the key cap, and the first link part is pivotally arranged corresponding to the mounting portion and connected to the base plate. An opaque area is formed in the overlap range of the orthographic projection of the membrane switch circuit and the key cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventor: Ming-Fu YEN
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Patent number: 11239036Abstract: The disclosure provides a key assembly, including: a baseplate, having a top surface and a recess groove recessed from the top surface, in which the recess groove is a blind hole; a hook, disposed on the baseplate, and extending upward from the top surface to form a hole between the hook and the top surface, in which an orthographic projection range of the hook and an orthographic projection range of the recess groove do not overlap each other; a key cap, disposed on the baseplate; an elastic member, disposed between the key cap and the baseplate; a link bar, connecting the key cap and the baseplate, in which the link bar has an extension portion passing through the hole; and a membrane, disposed on the top surface of the baseplate, in which the membrane covers at least part of the recess groove, and the extension portion abuts the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Wei-Pin Chuang
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Patent number: 11158469Abstract: A framework structure and a keyboard device are provided. The framework structure is applicable to a keyboard module. The keyboard module includes multiple standard keys and multiple function keys. The framework structure includes a frame and a rib portion. The frame correspondingly surrounds the keyboard module. The rib portion is formed in the frame and divides the area in the frame into a first region and a second region. The first region corresponds to the area defined by the standard keys of the keyboard module, and the second region corresponds to the function keys of the keyboard module.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Inventors: Min-Chuan Shao, Cheng-Hsiung Huang, Ming-Fu Yen, Jian-Jhih Chen
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Patent number: 11158470Abstract: A luminous key comprises a key cap, a bottom plate, a first circuit component and a second circuit component. The key cap comprises a body, an extension part and a light exiting part. The extension part is disposed at the periphery of the body. The light exiting part is disposed on the body. The bottom plate has a through hole. The first circuit component has a first layer, a second layer and a light emitting unit. The first layer is disposed on the second layer. The light emitting unit is disposed between the first layer and the second layer, and the light emitting unit is corresponding to the through hole. The second circuit component is disposed between the key cap and the bottom plate. A lifting structure is disposed between the key cap and the bottom plate. Light adjusting structures define a light adjusting region. An orthographic projection of the light adjusting region towards the second layer covers at least a portion of the light emitting unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Hsiang-Sheng Chuang
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Patent number: 11087935Abstract: A key switch structure and an assembling method thereof are provided. The key switch structure includes a bottom plate, a keycap, a supporting assembly, first connectors, and second connectors. The keycap is disposed on the bottom plate. The supporting assembly is disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap. The first connectors disposed on the bottom plate are integrally formed and directly bonded to the upper surface of the bottom plate, wherein the first connectors and the bottom plate are made of different materials. The second connectors are disposed on the keycap. The supporting assembly is connected to the bottom plate and the keycap through the first connectors and the second connectors.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Chia-Shiun Wu, Hsiang-Sheng Chuang, Cheng-Hsiung Huang
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Publication number: 20210210293Abstract: A keyboard structure including a base, at least one key and an electronic element is provided. The key is disposed on the base and sequentially includes a cap, a limiting structure, an elastic member and a membrane switch from top to down, wherein the elastic member is disposed on the membrane switch, the cap is disposed on the elastic member, and the limiting structure connects the cap and the base, such that the cap is configured to move relative to the base in a vertical direction. The electronic element is disposed on the membrane switch and is surrounded by an electrostatic protection zone, wherein the membrane switch has a hole corresponding to the electrostatic protection zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Ming-Fu YEN, Wei-Pin CHUANG, Cheng-Hsiung HUANG, Min-Chuan SHAO, Han-Yang HSU, Jian-Jhih CHEN, Hsin-Fu LIU
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Publication number: 20210208692Abstract: A framework structure and a keyboard device are provided. The framework structure is applicable to a keyboard module. The keyboard module includes multiple standard keys and multiple function keys. The framework structure includes a frame and a rib portion. The frame correspondingly surrounds the keyboard module. The rib portion is formed in the frame and divides the area in the frame into a first region and a second region. The first region corresponds to the area defined by the standard keys of the keyboard module, and the second region corresponds to the function keys of the keyboard module.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Min-Chuan SHAO, Cheng-Hsiung HUANG, Ming-Fu YEN, Jian-Jhih CHEN
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Publication number: 20210210291Abstract: A key structure is provided. The key structure includes a base plate, a keycap, a positioning element and a rod. The base plate has a through hole. The positioning element is engaged with the through hole. A projection area of the positioning element on the base plate along a lifting direction of the keycap is larger than an area of the through hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2020Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Cheng-Kun LIAO, En-Huei WANG, Ming-Fu YEN
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Patent number: 11048119Abstract: A keyboard device and an operating method thereof are provided. The keyboard device includes a microcontroller, a drive circuit, a backlight module, and a plurality of key units. The microcontroller is coupled to a computer device. A detection module of the computer device detects an input mode of the computer device. The plurality of key units is disposed on the backlight module. The plurality of key units each has a plurality of character symbols corresponding to different input modes. The microcontroller outputs a control signal to the drive circuit according to the input mode. The drive circuit drives the backlight module according to the control signal to selectively illuminate one of the plurality of character symbols of each of at least a portion of the plurality of key units.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Chun-Lin Chen, Chin-Fa Wu, Wen-Tong Liu, Er-Hao Chen, Ming-Fu Yen
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Patent number: 11011328Abstract: A key module, a keyboard and an electronic device using same are provided. The key module includes a substrate, a light receiver, a light emitter and a lifting mechanism. The light receiver is disposed on and electrically connected with the substrate. The light emitter is disposed on and electrically connected with the substrate and disposed opposite to the light receiver. The lifting mechanism is disposed on the substrate and includes an interrupting portion, wherein the interrupting portion is movable to a region between the light receiver and the light emitter.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Inventors: Wei-Pin Chuang, Ming-Fu Yen, Jian-Jhih Chen
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Patent number: 10978260Abstract: The disclosure provides a base plate adapted for disposing a support unit. The base plate includes a thermally sensitive material plate and a connecting member. The connecting member includes a junction part joined to the thermally sensitive material plate, and a connection part extending from the junction part. The connection part protrudes from a surface of the thermally sensitive material plate. A key assembly, an illuminated key input device, and a manufacturing method of the base plate are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventor: Ming-Fu Yen
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Publication number: 20210090826Abstract: The disclosure provides a key assembly, including: a baseplate, having a top surface and a recess groove recessed from the top surface, in which the recess groove is a blind hole; a hook, disposed on the baseplate, and extending upward from the top surface to form a hole between the hook and the top surface, in which an orthographic projection range of the hook and an orthographic projection range of the recess groove do not overlap each other; a key cap, disposed on the baseplate; an elastic member, disposed between the key cap and the baseplate; a link bar, connecting the key cap and the baseplate, in which the link bar has an extension portion passing through the hole; and a membrane, disposed on the top surface of the baseplate, in which the membrane covers at least part of the recess groove, and the extension portion abuts the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology CorporationInventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Wei-Pin Chuang