# US 2013/0278448 A1 · Illumination module and illuminated keyboard having the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0278448 A1 - Document ID: US20130278448A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/451,365 - Filed: 2012-04-19 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-19 - Assignees: Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Shu I Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278448A1 ## CPC - H01H 13/83: characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements - H01H 2219/044: Edge lighting of layer - H01H 2219/062: Light conductor - H01H 2219/064: Optical isolation of switch sites - 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 An illuminated keyboard includes a first housing and a second housing having a slot, and between the first housing and the second housing, an illumination module, a circuit board, a shield member and a plurality of keys are disposed therein in sequence. The illumination module includes a cover and a luminescence unit, light generated by the luminescence unit is transmitted into a trough of the cover and then travels from a light incident surface to a light emitting surface of the cover. The keys respectively are inserted in a plurality of openings of the shield member, and the light from the light emitting surface projected on the keys through the circuit board and the openings of the shield member and then pass through the slot of the second housing. This prevents brightness non-uniformity of keys and light leakage between adjacent keys of the keyboard. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An illumination module for a keyboard having a plurality of keys, the illumination module comprising: a cover comprising: a transparent plate made of a light transparent material and comprising a light incident surface and a light emitting surface; and a plurality of frames disposed on sides of the transparent plate, the frames adjacent to each other being connected to form a trough; a luminescence unit disposed on one of the frames; and a shield member disposed on the light emitting surface of the transparent plate and having a plurality of openings, each of the keys of the keyboard is inserted via each one of openings formed on the shield member, and the light is projected on the keys through the openings, wherein the light is transmitted from the luminescence unit through the frames into the trough and subsequently travels from the light incident surface to the cover via the light emitting surface of the transparent plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The illumination module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the frames are made of a light transparent material and coated with a shading material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The illumination module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the frames are made of a shading material, and at least one of the frames has a cavity for mounting the luminescence unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The illumination module of claim 1, further comprising a reflector covering the trough and connected to the plurality of the frames and located facing the light incident surface of the cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The illumination module of claim 1, wherein the light emitting surface of the cover is a polished mirror surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The illumination module of claim 1, wherein the light incident surface of the cover is a textured prism surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The illumination module of claim 1, wherein the shield member further comprises a plurality of sidewalls disposed along sides of the openings, and the sidewalls adjacent to each other are connected. ### Claim 8 An illuminated keyboard comprising: a first housing; an illumination module disposed on the first housing, comprising: a cover comprising: a transparent plate made of a light transparent material and having a light incident surface and a light emitting surface; and a plurality of frames disposed on sides of the transparent plate, and the frames adjacent to each other are connected to form a trough; a luminescence unit disposed on one of the frames, wherein light is transmitted from the luminescence unit through the frames into the trough and subsequently travels from the light incident surface to the cover via the light emitting surface of the transparent plate; a circuit board made of a light transparent material, disposed on the light emitting surface of the cover, and electrically provided with a plurality of trigger switches; a shield member disposed on the circuit board and having a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of the trigger switches respectively; and a plurality of keys respectively inserted in the plurality of the openings of the shield member, and the light is projected on the keys after passing through the circuit board and the plurality of the openings; and a second housing covering the shield member, the circuit board and the illumination module and having a slot facing the plurality of the openings of the shield member, through which the light is transmitted out of the second housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The illuminated keyboard of claim 8, wherein the plurality of the frames are made of a light transparent material and coated with a shading material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The illuminated keyboard of claim 8, wherein the plurality of the frames are made of a shading material, and at least one of the frames has a cavity for mounting the luminescence unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The illuminated keyboard of claim 8, further comprising a reflector covering the trough and connected to the plurality of the frames and located facing the light incident surface of the cover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The illuminated keyboard of claim 8, wherein the shield member further comprises a plurality of sidewalls disposed along sides of the openings, and the sidewalls adjacent to each other are connected.