# US 2019/0318891 A1 · Key structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0318891 A1 - Document ID: US20190318891A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/358,733 - Filed: 2019-03-20 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-16 - Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited; Lite-On Technology Corporation - Applicants: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited; Lite-On Technology Corporation - Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen; Hsiang-Sheng Chuang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318891A1 ## CPC - H01H 13/83: characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements - G02B 6/0011: {the light guides being planar or of plate-like form} - G05G 1/02: Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons - G05G 25/00: Other details or appurtenances of control mechanisms, e.g. supporting intermediate members elastically - G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device} - H01H 3/125: {using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser} - G02B 6/0021: {for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses} - G02B 6/006: {to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like} - G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position} - G06F 1/1662: {Details related to the integrated keyboard} - H01H 2219/062: Light conductor - H01H 2231/002: Calculator, computer - 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) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A key structure, comprising: a keycap; a bottom plate, comprising 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; a backlight module, disposed on a second surface of the body, wherein the first surface and the second surface are opposite surfaces; and a thin film circuit board, disposed on the first surface of the body and located between the keycap and the bottom plate, wherein the protrusions are located within an orthographic projection range of the keycap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The key structure according to claim 1, wherein the body has a plurality of protrusion dispositioning ports, and the protrusions are correspondingly disposed in the protrusion dispositioning ports. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The key structure according to claim 1, wherein a material of the protrusions is the same as a material of the body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The key structure according to claim 1, wherein a material of the protrusions is different from a material of the body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The key structure according to claim 2, wherein each of the protrusion dispositioning ports is separated from the corresponding one of the openings by a predetermined distance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The key structure according to claim 1, wherein the backlight module comprises a light source and a light guide plate, wherein the light source is disposed at a side of the light guide plate or in a through hole of the light guide plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The key structure according to claim 1, wherein the backlight module comprises a light source, which is disposed within the orthographic projection range of the keycap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The key structure according to claim 1, further comprising a rubber dome disposed between the thin film circuit board and the keycap and located within a range surrounded by the protrusions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The key structure according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting element, disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap and located within a range surrounded by the protrusions ### Claim 10 A key structure, comprising: a keycap; a bottom plate, located below the keycap; at least one protrusion, disposed on the bottom plate and extending toward the keycap, and an assembly region being defined by the least one protrusion; a supporting element, disposed on the bottom plate and located in the assembly region; and a backlight module, disposed below the bottom plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The key structure according to claim 10, wherein the at least one protrusion is located within an orthographic projection range of the keycap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The key structure according to claim 10, further comprising a thin film circuit board and a rubber dome, the thin film circuit board is disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap, and the rubber dome is disposed on the thin film circuit board. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The key structure according to claim 10, wherein the bottom plate has a plurality of openings located in the assembly region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The key structure according to claim 10, wherein the bottom plate has a plurality of fixing portions disposed in the assembly region, and the supporting element is pivoted to the fixing portions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The key structure according to claim 10, wherein a surface of the at least one protrusion has a light absorbing material.