Patents by Inventor Mitsuo Horiuchi

Mitsuo Horiuchi 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).

  • Patent number: 11955297
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a base plate and a backlight module. The base plate has a short axis direction and a long axis direction, and the base plate includes at least one long slit. The long slit is disposed on the base plate along the short axis direction. The backlight module is disposed on the base plate. The backlight module includes a shielding sheet, a light guide plate and a reflecting sheet. An upper surface of the shielding sheet faces toward the base plate. The light guide plate is disposed on a lower surface of the shielding sheet. The reflecting sheet is disposed below the light guide plate. The reflecting sheet includes a plurality of first slits. When the length of the base plate is adjusted along the long axis direction, the reflective sheet is adjusted and moved along with the base plate by expansion of the first slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Ping-Ju Kuo
  • Patent number: 11923155
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a base plate, a plurality of keys and a backlight module. The base plate has a short-axis direction and a long-axis direction. The keys are disposed on the base plate. The backlight module is disposed on the base plate and includes a shielding sheet, a light guide plate and a reflecting sheet. The light guide plate is disposed on a lower surface of the shielding sheet. The light guide plate includes a plurality of light guide structures corresponding to the keys respectively. Each of the light guide structures includes a ring portion and at least one bend line portion. The bend line portion connects to the ring portion, and the ring portion is formed by a plurality of bending portions. The reflecting sheet is disposed below the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Ping-Ju Kuo
  • Publication number: 20230420198
    Abstract: A key structure includes a base plate, a keycap, a connecting assembly, a protrusion and a limiting member. The connecting assembly includes a first frame and a second frame pivotally connected to each other. Two opposite ends of the first frame are movably connected to the base plate and the keycap, respectively, and two opposite ends of the second frame are movably connected to the base plate and the keycap, respectively, to drive the keycap upward and downward relative to the base plate. The protrusion is disposed on a sidewall of the first frame or a sidewall of the second frame. The limiting member corresponds in position to the protrusion. When the keycap is at a maximum height, the protrusion abuts against the limiting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: MITSUO HORIUCHI, CHIA-HSIN CHEN
  • Patent number: 11747546
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a base plate, a plurality of keys and a backlight module. The base plate has a short axis direction and a long axis direction. The keys are disposed on the base plate along the long axis direction, and the keys are arranged to form a plurality of rows. The backlight module is disposed on the base plate and includes a shielding sheet, a light guide plate and a reflecting sheet. The light guide plate is disposed on a lower surface of the shielding sheet. The light guide plate includes a plurality of long openings, and each of the long openings has at least one long side. The long side is parallel to the long axis direction, and each of the long openings has a central axis. The central axis is located between two adjacent rows on which the keys are disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Ping-Ju Kuo
  • Patent number: 11631555
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate, a keycap on the substrate, a first link member connected between the substrate and the keycap and is adjacent to the first side portion of the keycap, and a second link member connected between the substrate and the keycap and is adjacent to the second side portion of the keycap. The two first short swing arms of the first link member are respectively connected to two ends of the first pivot arm of the first link member. A length of each first short swing arm is less than half of a length of the first pivot arm. The two second short swing arms of the second link member are respectively connected to two ends of the second pivot arm of the second link member. A length of each second short swing arm is less than half of a length of the second pivot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, He-Kai Zhang, Chih-Hao Chen
  • Publication number: 20230053991
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a base plate, a plurality of keys and a backlight module. The base plate has a short axis direction and a long axis direction. The keys are disposed on the base plate. The backlight module is disposed on the base plate and includes a shielding sheet, a light guide plate and a reflecting sheet. The light guide plate is disposed on a lower surface of the shielding sheet. The light guide plate includes a plurality of light guide structures corresponding to the keys respectively. Each of the light guide structures includes a ring portion and at least one bend line portion. The bend line portion connects to the ring portion, and the ring portion is formed by a plurality of bending portions. The reflecting sheet is disposed below the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: MITSUO HORIUCHI, CHIA-HSIN CHEN, PING-JU KUO
  • Publication number: 20230056218
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a base plate, a plurality of keys and a backlight module. The base plate has a short axis direction and a long axis direction. The keys are disposed on the base plate along the long axis direction, and the keys are arranged to form a plurality of rows. The backlight module is disposed on the base plate and includes a shielding sheet, a light guide plate and a reflecting sheet. The light guide plate is disposed on a lower surface of the shielding sheet. The light guide plate includes a plurality of long openings, and each of the long openings has at least one long side. The long side is parallel to the long axis direction, and each of the long openings has a central axis. The central axis is located between two adjacent rows on which the keys are disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: MITSUO HORIUCHI, CHIA-HSIN CHEN, PING-JU KUO
  • Publication number: 20230053436
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a base plate and a backlight module. The base plate has a short axis direction and a long axis direction, and the base plate includes at least one long slit. The long slit is disposed on the base plate along the short axis direction. The backlight module is disposed on the base plate. The backlight module includes a shielding sheet, a light guide plate and a reflecting sheet. An upper surface of the shielding sheet faces toward the base plate. The light guide plate is disposed on a lower surface of the shielding sheet. The reflecting sheet is disposed below the light guide plate. The reflecting sheet includes a plurality of first slits. When the length of the base plate is adjusted along the long axis direction, the reflective sheet is adjusted and moved along with the base plate by expansion of the first slits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: MITSUO HORIUCHI, CHIA-HSIN CHEN, PING-JU KUO
  • Publication number: 20220254582
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate, a keycap on the substrate, a first link member connected between the substrate and the keycap and is adjacent to the first side portion of the keycap, and a second link member connected between the substrate and the keycap and is adjacent to the second side portion of the keycap. The two first short swing arms of the first link member are respectively connected to two ends of the first pivot arm of the first link member. A length of each first short swing arm is less than half of a length of the first pivot arm. The two second short swing arms of the second link member are respectively connected to two ends of the second pivot arm of the second link member. A length of each second short swing arm is less than half of a length of the second pivot arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, He-Kai Zhang, Chih-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 11152166
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate and keycaps disposed on the substrate. The substrate includes a long slit and an elastic bridge member. The long slit divides the substrate into a first plate having a first side edge and a second plate having a second side edge opposite to the first side edge. A gap is between the first side edge and the second side edge. The elastic bridge member is connected between the first side edge and the second side edge. The first plate is movable relative to the second plate. The first side edge includes a first bridge seat. The second side edge includes a second bridge seat. The elastic bridge member is connected between the first bridge seat and the second bridge seat. The elastic bridge member includes a wedge portion connected to an inner corner between the elastic bridge member and the first bridge seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Chi-Hung Cheng
  • Patent number: 11127545
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate and keycaps disposed on the substrate. The substrate includes a long slit and an elastic bridge component. The long slit divides the substrate into a first plate having a first side edge and a second plate having a second side edge opposite to the first side edge. A gap is between the first side edge and the second side edge. The elastic bridge component is connected between the first side edge and the second side edge. The first plate is movable relative to the second plate. The first side edge includes two first bridge connections. The second side edge includes two second bridge connections. The elastic bridge component includes a first elastic bar connected between the first bridge connections, a second elastic bar connected between the second bridge connections, and a connecting member connected between the first elastic bar and the second elastic bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Chi-Hung Cheng
  • Patent number: 11107649
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate, a connection hook, a keycap, and a connecting member. The substrate has a top surface including an assembly area. The connection hook is disposed on the assembly area and includes a fixed seat fixed on the substrate, a standing portion, and a reinforcement block. The standing portion is extending from the fixed seat and extending in a direction away from the fixed seat. A hook portion is laterally extending from a top end of the standing portion, the hook portion has a bottom edge. The reinforcement block is connected to the standing portion and the bottom edge. The keycap is disposed on the assembly area. The connecting member is connected between the keycap and the assembly area. The connecting member includes a shaft slidably pivoted at the bottom edge. An inner side of the shaft includes an avoidance groove corresponding to the reinforcement block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Po-Hsin Li
  • Patent number: 11094480
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate, a membrane circuit board, a flexible printed circuit board, a first fixing board, and a second fixing board. The substrate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side edge. The substrate further includes an offset protrusion protruding from the top surface and forms a recessed area on the bottom surface. The membrane circuit board is disposed on the top surface. The membrane circuit board includes an outlet area correspondingly disposed on the offset protrusion. The flexible printed circuit board is disposed on the bottom surface. The flexible printed circuit board includes a fixed portion, a folded portion, and an electrical connection end. The fixed portion is received in the recessed area. The first fixing board is correspondingly disposed on the offset protrusion. The second fixing board is correspondingly received in the recessed area and assembled with the first fixing board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Po-Hsin Li
  • Patent number: 11037742
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate, keycaps, and a frame. The substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface and includes a welding-fixing portion. The welding-fixing portion includes a through hole and an arch-shaped bridge member. The arch-shaped bridge member is connected in the through hole and divides the through hole into partition holes. The arch-shaped bridge member has an arch portion and bridge bases. The arch portion protrudes from the top surface to form a recessed portion. The frame is disposed on the top surface and includes hollow holes respectively corresponding to the keycaps. The frame includes a welding member, and the welding member includes welding posts and a welding-fixing base. The welding posts respectively pass through spaces between the edge portion of the through hole and the arch-shaped bridge member. The welding-fixing base is received and fixed in the through hole and the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Po-Hsin Li
  • Patent number: 10886081
    Abstract: The keyboard device includes a substrate, a key, a first elastic member, and a second elastic member. The substrate includes a top surface having an assembly area. The assembly area has a pivoting base including a standing portion and an extension portion extending from the standing portion. The key is liftably disposed over the assembly area. A pivoting hook is extending from the bottom of the key toward the assembly area, and one end of the pivoting hook includes a pivoting portion. The first elastic member and the second elastic member are disposed on the assembly area and elastically abutted against the bottom of the key, so that the pivoting portion is abutted against and pivoted to the extension portion, and a liftable distance is maintained between the extension portion and the bottom of the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Hsin Li, Chia-Hsin Chen, Mitsuo Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20200402746
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate, a membrane circuit board, a flexible printed circuit board, a first fixing board, and a second fixing board. The substrate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side edge. The substrate further includes an offset protrusion protruding from the top surface and forms a recessed area on the bottom surface. The membrane circuit board is disposed on the top surface. The membrane circuit board includes an outlet area correspondingly disposed on the offset protrusion. The flexible printed circuit board is disposed on the bottom surface. The flexible printed circuit board includes a fixed portion, a folded portion, and an electrical connection end. The fixed portion is received in the recessed area. The first fixing board is correspondingly disposed on the offset protrusion. The second fixing board is correspondingly received in the recessed area and assembled with the first fixing board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Mitsuo HORIUCHI, Chia-Hsin CHEN, Po-Hsin LI
  • Publication number: 20200402744
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate, a connection hook, a keycap, and a connecting member. The substrate has a top surface including an assembly area. The connection hook is disposed on the assembly area and includes a fixed seat fixed on the substrate, a standing portion, and a reinforcement block. The standing portion is extending from the fixed seat and extending in a direction away from the fixed seat. A hook portion is laterally extending from a top end of the standing portion, the hook portion has a bottom edge. The reinforcement block is connected to the standing portion and the bottom edge. The keycap is disposed on the assembly area. The connecting member is connected between the keycap and the assembly area. The connecting member includes a shaft slidably pivoted at the bottom edge. An inner side of the shaft includes an avoidance groove corresponding to the reinforcement block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Mitsuo HORIUCHI, Chia-Hsin CHEN, Po-Hsin LI
  • Publication number: 20200402745
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes a substrate, keycaps, and a frame. The substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface and includes a welding-fixing portion. The welding-fixing portion includes a through hole and an arch-shaped bridge member. The arch-shaped bridge member is connected in the through hole and divides the through hole into partition holes. The arch-shaped bridge member has an arch portion and bridge bases. The arch portion protrudes from the top surface to form a recessed portion. The frame is disposed on the top surface and includes hollow holes respectively corresponding to the keycaps. The frame includes a welding member, and the welding member includes welding posts and a welding-fixing base. The welding posts respectively pass through spaces between the edge portion of the through hole and the arch-shaped bridge member. The welding-fixing base is received and fixed in the through hole and the recessed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Po-Hsin Li
  • Patent number: 10871809
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a keyboard including a base plate, membrane circuit board, a plurality of keys and a frame. The base plate includes a plurality of assembly areas and a first opening. The first opening is disposed between some said assembly areas. The membrane circuit board is disposed above the base plate. The membrane circuit board includes a second opening corresponding in position to the first opening, respectively. The frame is disposed above the base plate, and the membrane circuit board is disposed between the base plate and the frame. The frame blocks the first and second openings. The frame includes receiving portions corresponding in position to the assembly areas. The keys pass through the receiving portions and are fixed to the assembly areas of the base plate, respectively. Gaps between the frame and keys, the first and second openings jointly form an air current channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Pai-Hsiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10840037
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a substrate, a limit connecting member, a keycap, and a liftable connecting member. The assembly area of the substrate includes a long fixation hole having two short sides, a first long side, and a second long side. A portion of the bottom surface of the substrate is further recessed to form a long bottom groove, and two ends of the long bottom groove are near to the two short sides. The limit connecting member is disposed on the assembly area and includes a fixed seat in the long fixation hole and a standing portion extending from the fixed seat. The fixed seat includes a lower wing plate correspondingly fixed in the long bottom groove. The keycap is disposed on the assembly area. The liftable connecting member is connected between the keycap and the assembly area and includes a shaft disposed on the limit connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Horiuchi, Chia-Hsin Chen, Po-Hsin Li