Physical force capacitive touch sensors having conductive plane and backlighting

A backlit capacitive touch sensor key, comprising:

• a substrate;
• a capacitive sensor plate on the substrate;
• a light source;
• a spacer layer on the substrate, wherein the spacer layer has an opening that surrounds the capacitive sensor plate and the light source;
• a flexible light translucent layer;
• a metal target attached to a face of the flexible light translucent layer proximate to the capacitive sensor plate, wherein the metal target has opening therein to allow light to pass therethrough;
• the flexible light translucent layer is attached to the spacer layer over the capacitive sensor plate and light source, wherein a light transmission cavity is formed between the substrate and the flexible light translucent layer and metal target;
• whereby when the flexible light translucent layer and metal target are biased toward the capacitive sensor plate, a capacitance value of the capacitive sensor plate changes.