Glow in the dark keyboard members for illuminating a keyboard

#The present invention relates to providing keyboard members that can glow in the dark for illuminating a keyboard.

#In the prior art keyboards it is difficult to discern the symbol appearing on the top of the key member under poor lighting conditions.

#Many people use their computers in the evening in places where illumination may not be proper for typing. Many persons take their computers away from their offices and homes, on trains, planes and other means of travel. Some persons type in their bedrooms at night but do not want to disturb other persons by putting a light on. Therefore it is important to come up with a way of illuminating the keyboard of a computer or typewriter to assist a person in seeing the keys.

#In an embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard members are constructed of a substantially non-deformable material, the key members depressably positioned within the keyboard housing. The key members include at least twenty-six key members having letters displayed thereon.

#Conventional keyboards include a plurality of key members which display symbols, such as alphanumeric keys, on their top surfaces. Moreover, typical modem keyboards for both electric typewriters and computers utilize a make and break electrical circuit which is activated by depression of a key member for identifying a particular symbol embedded on the top of the key member.

#A typical computer has a keyboard, central processing unit and monitor. By pressing key members on the keyboard, one sends signals to the central processing unit instructing the computer to perform various functions. A typical keyboard includes a housing. The keyboard further includes a plurality of key members and a diaphragm having elastic diaphragm projections for biasing the key members to a normally upward position. A typical computer keyboard further includes a circuit board which is disposed below the key members and diaphragm. The circuit board includes first and second printed wiring layers which include engraved or embedded electrical circuits. The printed wiring layers are separated by an insulator or dielectric layer. The insulator layer includes a plurality of holes so that depression downwardly of the key members causes the diaphragm projection to be forced downwardly upon the printed wiring layer so that printed wiring layers can come in contact to open and close distinctive electrical switches through the holes of the insulator layer. Each of these electrical switches correspond to different key members so that the keyboard operator can depress key members either individually or in combination to send various signals to the computer's central processing unit.