Patents by Inventor RUI-MING LIAO

RUI-MING LIAO 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: 10211006
    Abstract: An illuminated keyswitch includes a base, a keycap, a lift mechanism, and a light source. The keycap includes a cap body and a light guiding rod. The lift mechanism is connected to between the light guiding rod and the base, such that the keycap can vertically move relative to the base through the lift mechanism. The light source is disposed between the light guiding rod and the base and emits light toward the light guiding rod. The light enters the light guiding rod through an end portion of the light guiding rod and then emits out the light guiding rod from another end portion of the light guiding rod and a side surface adjacent to the another end portion toward the cap body. Thereby, the whole cap body can receives relatively uniform back light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignees: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Rui-Ming Liao, Chih-Chung Yen, Chia-Hung Liu
  • Patent number: 10128063
    Abstract: A keyswitch uses a combination of springs connected in serial for providing a return force to a keycap of the keyswitch. When the keycap moves toward a base of the keyswitch beyond a transition position, one of the springs stops continuously deforming. It leads to an increment of the elastic coefficient of the combination of springs and an increment of the elastic stored energy by the combination of springs. Therefore, during a pressing on the keycap, the keycap can provide a light force feedback and then a heavy force feedback to a user. Further, the keyswitch can use a switch with a lateral motion, which can reduce influence of a resilient force produced by the switch on the up and down movement of the keycap. The keyswitch also can use an elastic piece disposed beside the keycap, which can provide a tactile feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignees: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Rui-Ming Liao, Chih-Chung Yen, Hung-Chieh Lo, Chia-Hung Liu
  • Patent number: 10068726
    Abstract: A keyswitch uses a combination of springs connected in serial for providing a return force to a keycap of the keyswitch. When the keycap moves toward a base of the keyswitch beyond a transition position, one of the springs stops continuously deforming. It leads to an increment of the elastic coefficient of the combination of springs and an increment of the elastic stored energy by the combination of springs. Therefore, during a pressing on the keycap, the keycap can provide a light force feedback and then a heavy force feedback to a user. Further, the keyswitch can use a switch with a lateral motion, which can reduce influence of a resilient force produced by the switch on the up and down movement of the keycap. The keyswitch also can use an elastic piece disposed beside the keycap, which can provide a tactile feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignees: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Rui-Ming Liao, Chih-Chung Yen, Hung-Chieh Lo, Chia-Hung Liu
  • Publication number: 20180137994
    Abstract: A keyswitch uses a combination of springs connected in serial for providing a return force to a keycap of the keyswitch. When the keycap moves toward a base of the keyswitch beyond a transition position, one of the springs stops continuously deforming. It leads to an increment of the elastic coefficient of the combination of springs and an increment of the elastic stored energy by the combination of springs. Therefore, during a pressing on the keycap, the keycap can provide a light force feedback and then a heavy force feedback to a user. Further, the keyswitch can use a switch with a lateral motion, which can reduce influence of a resilient force produced by the switch on the up and down movement of the keycap. The keyswitch also can use an elastic piece disposed beside the keycap, which can provide a tactile feedback to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Rui-Ming Liao, Chih-Chung Yen, Hung-Chieh Lo, Chia-Hung Liu
  • Patent number: 9875866
    Abstract: A keyswitch structure includes a keycap layer having a keycap region and a peripheral region adjacent to the keycap region, a circuit layer disposed under the keycap layer, a haptic actuator electrically connected to the circuit layer, a supporting structure layer being disposed under the circuit layer and having an accommodation space for accommodating the haptic actuator, and an adhesive layer disposed between the keycap layer and the circuit layer corresponding to only the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Rui-Ming Liao, Chih-Ho Hsu
  • Patent number: 9875865
    Abstract: A keyswitch structure includes a keycap layer having a keycap region, a circuit layer disposed under the keycap layer, at least a haptic actuator disposed under the circuit layer and electrically connected to the circuit layer, a cushion layer disposed under the circuit layer and having an accommodation space for accommodating the haptic actuator, a sensing unit disposed under the cushion layer, and a control circuit coupling the sensing unit and the circuit layer, wherein when an external force is applied and delivered through the cushion layer to trigger the sensing unit, the sensing unit outputs a trigger signal, and the control circuit receives the trigger signal and outputs a driving signal to drive the haptic actuator to vibrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Rui-Ming Liao, Hung-Chieh Lo
  • Publication number: 20170221653
    Abstract: A keyswitch uses a combination of springs connected in serial for providing a return force to a keycap of the keyswitch. When the keycap moves toward a base of the keyswitch beyond a transition position, one of the springs stops continuously deforming. It leads to an increment of the elastic coefficient of the combination of springs and an increment of the elastic stored energy by the combination of springs. Therefore, during a pressing on the keycap, the keycap can provide a light force feedback and then a heavy force feedback to a user. Further, the keyswitch can use a switch with a lateral motion, which can reduce influence of a resilient force produced by the switch on the up and down movement of the keycap. The keyswitch also can use an elastic piece disposed beside the keycap, which can provide a tactile feedback to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Rui-Ming Liao, Chih-Chung Yen, Hung-Chieh Lo, Chia-Hung Liu
  • Publication number: 20170221652
    Abstract: An illuminated keyswitch includes a base, a keycap, a lift mechanism, and a light source. The keycap includes a cap body and a light guiding rod. The lift mechanism is connected to between the light guiding rod and the base, such that the keycap can vertically move relative to the base through the lift mechanism. The light source is disposed between the light guiding rod and the base and emits light toward the light guiding rod. The light enters the light guiding rod through an end portion of the light guiding rod and then emits out the light guiding rod from another end portion of the light guiding rod and a side surface adjacent to the another end portion toward the cap body. Thereby, the whole cap body can receives relatively uniform back light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Rui-Ming Liao, Chih-Chung Yen, Chia-Hung Liu
  • Publication number: 20160358724
    Abstract: A keyswitch structure includes a keycap layer having a keycap region, a circuit layer disposed under the keycap layer, at least a haptic actuator disposed under the circuit layer and electrically connected to the circuit layer, a cushion layer disposed under the circuit layer and having an accommodation space for accommodating the haptic actuator, a sensing unit disposed under the cushion layer, and a control circuit coupling the sensing unit and the circuit layer, wherein when an external force is applied and delivered through the cushion layer to trigger the sensing unit, the sensing unit outputs a trigger signal, and the control circuit receives the trigger signal and outputs a driving signal to drive the haptic actuator to vibrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicants: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: RUI-MING LIAO, HUNG-CHIEH LO
  • Publication number: 20160358725
    Abstract: A keyswitch structure includes a keycap layer having a keycap region and a peripheral region adjacent to the keycap region, a circuit layer disposed under the keycap layer, a haptic actuator electrically connected to the circuit layer, a supporting structure layer being disposed under the circuit layer and having an accommodation space for accommodating the haptic actuator, and an adhesive layer disposed between the keycap layer and the circuit layer corresponding to only the peripheral region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicants: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: RUI-MING LIAO, CHIH-HO HSU