Lighted electronic keyboard

A keyboard comprising:

• a circuit board;
• a light source mounted on said circuit board for emitting light;
• at least one depressible key mounted for movement between a rest position and a depressed position, said key having a body part formed of a light diffusing and transmitting material, said light source being located beneath said key, said body part receiving light directly from said light source, and a key cap mounted on said body part;
• a photoelectric member mounted on said circuit board at a distance from said light source, said photoelectric member producing a change in electrical signal depending on the amount of light reaching it, at least a portion of the light reaching said photoelectric member being diffused through said body part when said key is in said rest position;
• and
• a light barrier positioned between said light source and said photoelectric member when said key is in the depressed position, said barrier shielding said photoelectric member from the light directly emitted from said light source and from the light diffused through said body part when said key is in the depressed position;
• reflective surface means arranged above said light source and between said key cap and said body part for reflecting light from said light source into said body part, said reflecting surface means including a first reflecting surface arranged at a first edge of said body part to reflect the light from said light source at substantially a 90.degree. angle into said body part, and a second reflecting surface arranged at a second edge of said body part located opposite said first edge to reflect the light from said body at substantially a 90.degree. angle towards said photoelectric member when the key is in its rest position, said light barrier comprising a substantially vertical wall attached to said circuit board and arranged to be located between said body part and said second reflecting surface when said key is in the depressed position.

A keyboard comprising:

• a circuit board;
• a light source mounted on said circuit board for emitting light;
• at least one depressible key mounted for movement between a rest position and a depressed position, said key having a body part formed of a light diffusing and transmitting material, said light source being located beneath said key, said body part receiving light directly from said light source, and a key cap mounted on said body part;
• a photoelectric member mounted on said circuit board at a distance from said light source, said photoelectric member producing a change in electrical signal depending on the amount of light reaching it, at least a portion of the light reaching said photoelectric member being diffused through said body part when said key is in said rest position;
• and
• a light barrier positioned between said light source and said photoelectric member when said key is in the depressed position, said barrier shielding said photoelectric member from light directly emitted from said light source and from light diffused through said body part when said key is in the depressed position, said light barrier being formed as a non-transparent shading surface at a lower edge of said body part above said photoelectric member, said shading surface being a surface of a recess formed at said lower edge of said body part and contoured to surround said photoelectric member when said key is in the depressed position, and
• reflective surface means arranged above said light source and between said key cap and said body part for reflecting light from said light source into said body part.