# US 12,119,818 B2 · Photoelectric switch key and keyboard > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,818 B2 - Document ID: US12119818B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/928,776 - Filed: 2020-05-13 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-07 - Assignees: 5-Link Technology Co., Ltd. - Applicants: 5-Link Technology Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jiunnwoei Lian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119818B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/968: using opto-electronic devices - H03K 17/969: having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard - H01H 13/7065: characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards - H03K 17/9631: {using a light source as part of the switch} - H01H 2239/022: with opto-electronic switch - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A photoelectric switch key is provided, which includes a shell, a circuit board, a photosensitive component and a press component. The photosensitive component is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the press component is provided with a light-shielding member. The press component is movably mounted on the shell to enable the light-shielding member to move relative to a light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component. The photosensitive component is capable of receiving external light when the light-shielding member is moved away from the light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component. The light-shielding member is adjacent to and shielding the light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component when the press component is pressed. The light-shielding member is enabled to completely block the external light from irradiating on the photosensitive component when the key is pressed by the user, which achieves the function of the key, and improves the sensitivity of the key. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A photoelectric switch key, comprising: a shell; a circuit board; a photosensitive component, electrically connected to the circuit board; and a press component, provided with a light-shielding member, the press component being movably mounted on the shell to enable the light-shielding member to move relative to a light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component, and wherein the photosensitive component is capable of receiving external light when the light-shielding member is away from the light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component, and wherein the light-shielding member is adjacent to and shielding the light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component when the press component is pressed, and wherein the light-shielding member is provided with a second light-shielding cavity in communication with external environment at one end of the light-shielding member towards the photosensitive component, the second light-shielding cavity is configured to cover the photosensitive component and to shield the light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The photoelectric switch key according to claim 1, wherein the shell is arranged to cover the photosensitive component, the shell is provided with a light-transmitting area that allows light to irradiate onto the photosensitive component, the shell is provided with a first light-shielding cavity, the first light-shielding cavity is provided with a light-transmitting opening at one end of the first light-shielding cavity towards the light-transmitting area, the photosensitive component is located within the first light-shielding cavity, the second light-shielding cavity is configured block light from irradiating onto the photosensitive component through the light-transmitting opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The photoelectric switch key according to claim 2, wherein the press component comprises a press member and a resilient member, the shell is provided with a press cavity, the press member is mounted in the press cavity, the resilient member abuts against the press member and a cavity wall of the press cavity, and the light-shielding member is provided on the press member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The photoelectric switch key according to claim 2, wherein the shell comprises a light-shielding shell and a light-transmitting shell mounted on the light-shielding shell, the first light-shielding cavity is arranged on the light-shielding shell, the light-transmitting shell is transparent to form the light-transmitting area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The photoelectric switch key according to claim 4, wherein the photoelectric switch key further comprises an LED light, the LED light is mounted on and in electrical connection with the circuit board, and the LED light is configured to emit light towards the light-transmitting shell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The photoelectric switch key according to claim 5, wherein the light-shielding shell is provided with a light-guiding cavity, the light-guiding cavity is provided with a light-guiding opening at one end of the light-guiding cavity towards the light-transmitting shell, the LED light is located within the light-guiding cavity and configured to emit light towards the light-transmitting shell through the light-guiding opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The photoelectric switch key according to claim 2, wherein the photosensitive component comprises a photosensitive element, the photosensitive element is mounted on and in electrical connection with the circuit board, the photosensitive element is located within the first light-shielding cavity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The photoelectric switch key according to claim 7, wherein the photosensitive component further comprises a light-guiding member, the light-guiding member is arranged on the photosensitive element and configured to guide light to irradiate onto the photosensitive element through the light transmitting opening. ### Claim 9 A keyboard, comprising: a photoelectric switch key, comprising: a shell; a circuit board; a photosensitive component, electrically connected to the circuit board; and a press component, provided with a light-shielding member, the press component being movably mounted on the shell to enable the light-shielding member to move relative to a light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component, and wherein the photosensitive component is capable of receiving external light when the light-shielding member is away from the light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component, and wherein the light-shielding member is adjacent to and shielding the light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component when the press component is pressed, and wherein the light-shielding member is provided with a second light-shielding cavity in communication with external environment at one end of the light-shielding member towards the photosensitive component, the second light-shielding cavity is configured to cover the photosensitive component and to shield the light-receiving surface of the photosensitive component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The keyboard according to claim 9, wherein the shell is arranged to cover the photosensitive component, the shell is provided with a light-transmitting area that allows light to irradiate onto the photosensitive component, the shell is provided with a first light-shielding cavity, the first light-shielding cavity is provided with a light-transmitting opening at one end of the first light-shielding cavity towards the light-transmitting area, the photosensitive component is located within the first light-shielding cavity, the second light-shielding cavity is configured block light from irradiating onto the photosensitive component through the light-transmitting opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The keyboard according to claim 10, wherein the press component comprises a press member and a resilient member, the shell is provided with a press cavity, the press member is mounted in the press cavity, the resilient member abuts against the press member and a cavity wall of the press cavity, and the light-shielding member is provided on the press member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The keyboard according to claim 10, wherein the shell comprises a light-shielding shell and a light-transmitting shell mounted on the light-shielding shell, the first light-shielding cavity is arranged on the light-shielding shell, the light-transmitting shell is transparent to form the light-transmitting area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The keyboard according to claim 12, wherein the photoelectric switch key further comprises an LED light, the LED light is mounted on and in electrical connection with the circuit board, and the LED light is configured to emit light towards the light-transmitting shell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The keyboard according to claim 13, wherein the light-shielding shell is provided with a light-guiding cavity, the light-guiding cavity is provided with a light-guiding opening at one end of the light-guiding cavity towards the light-transmitting shell, the LED light is located within the light-guiding cavity and configured to emit light towards the light-transmitting shell through the light-guiding opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The keyboard according to claim 10, wherein the photosensitive component comprises a photosensitive element, the photosensitive element is mounted on and in electrical connection with the circuit board, the photosensitive element is located within the first light-shielding cavity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The keyboard according to claim 15, wherein the photosensitive component further comprises a light-guiding member, the light-guiding member is arranged on the photosensitive element and configured to guide light to irradiate onto the photosensitive element through the light transmitting opening.