Light emitting keyed keyboard
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsNobuyuki Kamei, Tohru Nakanishi, Akihiko Kitanaka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
As it is often difficult for users of a keyboard to adequately identify and select the correct keys in a keyboard where the light is inadequate, it is desirable to provide a keyboard capable that allows a user to better see keys of the keyboard even in environments where there is not sufficient light to see the keys (e.g., in an airplane). A keyboard of the present invention comprises a substrate, a membrane, an elastic member, a cover sheet, a keytop, and light-emitting means for emitting light from the bottom of the substrate to the keytop. The keytop is illuminated and a legend on a key surface can be seen, so that the chance of incorrect key stroke is reduced.
Claims17
A keyboard having a plurality of keys, comprising:
- a substrate having a membrane formed thereon, wherein said membrane comprises contacts for each key;
- an elastic member for each key, formed over the contacts of the membrane;
- a keytop for each key, formed over the elastic member;
- and
- light-emitting means for emitting light from the underside of the substrate to illuminate top surfaces of the keytops, wherein the substrate and the membrane are light transmissive at least at portions corresponding to said top surfaces of said keytops, and the keytops are light transmissive at portions in relation to legends or non-legend areas of the top surfaces of the keytops.
A keyboard having a plurality of keys, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a circuit board having contacts for each key, formed over the substrate;
- an elastic member for each key, formed over the contacts of the board and having an electrically conductive member for providing electrical continuity between the contacts;
- a keytop for each key formed over the elastic member;
- and
- light-emitting means for emitting light from the underside of the substrate to the illuminate top surfaces of keytops, wherein the substrate and the circuit board are light transmissive at least at portions in relation to the top surfaces of the keytops, and the keytops are light transmissive at portions corresponding to legends or non-legend areas of the top surfaces of the keytops.
A keyboard having a plurality of keys, configured in combination with a notebook computer, comprising:
- a substrate having a membrane formed thereon, wherein said membrane comprises contacts for each key;
- an elastic member for each key, formed over the contacts of the membrane;
- a plurality of keytops formed over the elastic member, wherein each keytop represents a key on the keyboard;
- and
- light-emitting means comprising a light source for emitting light from the underside of the substrate to illuminate top surfaces of the keytops, and a thermoelectric generating element, wherein the substrate and the membrane are light transmissive at least at portions in relation to top surfaces of said keytops, and the keytops are light transmissive at portions corresponding to legends or non-legend areas of the top surfaces of the keytops.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.