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).

  • Publication number: 20210074492
    Abstract: 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 are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Fu Yen
  • Patent number: 10921905
    Abstract: A keyboard module including keys, a frame, a bottom plate, and a backlight assembly is provided. The frame has a key region. Top surfaces of the keys are exposed in the key region. The frame includes a column. The bottom plate is disposed under the frame. The bottom plate includes a bending portion. The backlight assembly is disposed under the bottom plate, and sequentially includes a light shielding sheet, a light guide plate, and a reflector. The light shielding sheet has a first opening. The light guide plate has a second opening. A part of the reflector is exposed by the first opening and the second opening. The column passes through the bending portion and is located in the first opening and the second opening. A bottom surface of the column leans against the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Fu Yen
  • Publication number: 20200403614
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Wei-Pin CHUANG, Ming-Fu YEN, Jian-Jhih CHEN
  • Publication number: 20200402735
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Wei-Pin CHUANG, Ming-Fu YEN, Chih-Jen KUO
  • Publication number: 20200402740
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jian-Jhih Chen, Ming-Fu Yen, Wei-Pin Chuang
  • Publication number: 20200365350
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Hsiang-Sheng Chuang
  • Publication number: 20200350128
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Fu Yen
  • Publication number: 20200343058
    Abstract: A keyboard module including keys, a frame, a bottom plate, and a backlight assembly is provided. The frame has a key region. Top surfaces of the keys are exposed in the key region. The frame includes a column. The bottom plate is disposed under the frame. The bottom plate includes a bending portion. The backlight assembly is disposed under the bottom plate, and sequentially includes a light shielding sheet, a light guide plate, and a reflector. The light shielding sheet has a first opening. The light guide plate has a second opening. A part of the reflector is exposed by the first opening and the second opening. The column passes through the bending portion and is located in the first opening and the second opening. A bottom surface of the column leans against the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Fu Yen
  • Patent number: 10803287
    Abstract: A fingerprint identification module includes a keycap unit and a fingerprint identification chip. The keycap unit has an accommodating space and a first surface corresponding to the accommodating space. The fingerprint identification chip has a second surface. The fingerprint identification chip is disposed in the accommodating space, and at least a portion of the second surface of the fingerprint identification chip abuts against the first surface of the keycap unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chien-Hui Wu, Ming-Fu Yen, Chen-Yu Tsai
  • Patent number: 10763056
    Abstract: A key structure including a keycap, a 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. 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Hsiang-Sheng Chuang
  • Publication number: 20200273642
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Fu Yen
  • Patent number: 10744593
    Abstract: An illuminated film-covered keyboard includes: a backlit keyboard module which includes a plurality of keys that are light-permeable, and at least one backlight source; a frame body disposed on the backlit keyboard module, the frame body including a key area, wherein the top surface of each of the plurality of keys is exposed at the key area; and a cover film disposed at the key area and on top of the top surface of each of the plurality of keys, wherein the cover film includes a light-permeable film, a base color layer, a light-shielding layer that is opaque, and a protection layer disposed on a side of the light-shielding layer opposing the base color layer, and wherein the portions of the light-shielding layer that respectively correspond to each of the plurality of keys are removed so as to form a plurality of light-transparent patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Hong-Chao Kan, Chia-Shiun Wu
  • Publication number: 20200124915
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Lin Chen, Chin-Fa Wu, Wen-Tong Liu, Er-Hao Chen, Ming-Fu Yen
  • Patent number: 10497522
    Abstract: A luminous keyboard comprises a key assembly, a thin-film switch circuit board assembly, a base plate and a light guide plate. The key assembly is disposed on the thin-film switch circuit board assembly. The thin-film switch circuit board assembly is disposed on the base plate. The base plate is disposed on the light guide plate. The base plate and the light guide plate together form an aperture structure. The thin-film switch circuit board assembly includes a thin-film switch circuit board and a light-emitting unit. The thin-film switch circuit board forms a protrusion protruding toward the aperture structure. The light-emitting unit is disposed at the bottom surface of the protrusion and extends downward such that a lower end of the light-emitting unit is lower than a lower surface of the base plate so that the light-emitting unit emits light into the light guide plate directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Chen-Yu Tsai
  • Publication number: 20190318891
    Abstract: A key structure including a keycap, a 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. 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicants: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Hsiang-Sheng Chuang
  • Publication number: 20190237278
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Ming-Fu YEN, Chia-Shiun WU, Hsiang-Sheng CHUANG, Cheng-Hsiung HUANG
  • Patent number: 10325735
    Abstract: The invention provides a key support mechanism and a key module. The key support mechanism is adapted to be disposed between a base plate and a keycap and includes two scissor structures and a first connecting member. The two scissor structures include two first support frames and two second support frames respectively pivotally connected to the two first support frames. Each of the first support frames includes a first side and a second side opposite to each other, a first fixing part located on the first side, and a second fixing part located on the second side. Each of the second support frames includes a third side and a fourth side opposite to each other, a third fixing part located on the third side, and a fourth fixing part located on the fourth side. The two first fixing parts and the two third fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the keycap, and the two second fixing parts and the two fourth fixing parts are respectively adapted to be fixed to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Hsiang-Sheng Chuang
  • Patent number: 10312030
    Abstract: A keypad module, including a bottom plate, a circuit film, a plurality of barricades, an elastic body, a scissor mechanism and a keycap. The circuit film is disposed on the bottom plate and includes a switch. The barricades are disposed upright on the circuit film and surrounds the switch. The elastic body is disposed on the switch. The scissor mechanism is fixed on the bottom plate and disposed at a position close to the switch on the circuit film. The keycap is fixed on the scissor mechanism and covers the switch, the elastic body, the scissor mechanism and the barricades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Chen-Yu Tsai
  • Publication number: 20190131088
    Abstract: A luminous keyboard comprises a key assembly, a thin-film switch circuit board assembly, a base plate and a light guide plate. The key assembly is disposed on the thin-film switch circuit board assembly. The thin-film switch circuit board assembly is disposed on the base plate. The base plate is disposed on the light guide plate. The base plate and the light guide plate together form an aperture structure. The thin-film switch circuit board assembly includes a thin-film switch circuit board and a light-emitting unit. The thin-film switch circuit board forms a protrusion protruding toward the aperture structure. The light-emitting unit is disposed at the bottom surface of the protrusion and extends downward such that a lower end of the light-emitting unit is lower than a lower surface of the base plate so that the light-emitting unit emits light into the light guide plate directly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: MING-FU YEN, CHEN-YU TSAI
  • Publication number: 20190122022
    Abstract: A fingerprint identification module includes a keycap unit and a fingerprint identification chip. The keycap unit has an accommodating space and a first surface corresponding to the accommodating space. The fingerprint identification chip has a second surface. The fingerprint identification chip is disposed in the accommodating space, and at least a portion of the second surface of the fingerprint identification chip abuts against the first surface of the keycap unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: CHIEN-HUI WU, MING-FU YEN, CHEN-YU TSAI