| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080237010 | ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICE - An electrical device is disclosed for use in a wall box having a series of buttons that can either be rocker buttons or push buttons. These buttons can be supported by springboards formed integral with a support board. The springboards are for biasing the series of buttons. Much of the device is housed within a housing formed at a first end by a body and a second end by a strap coupled to the housing. The strap extends beyond the body, wherein this strap can be used to dissipate heat from the device. Inside of the housing can be at least one circuit board which has switches, which can be used to receive instructions from a plurality of buttons. In one embodiment, a plurality of light pipes are adapted so that they are housed at least partially inside of these buttons. At least one portion of the light pipe can be formed as a shaft and adapted to extend out from this housing and down to a light emitter disposed on the circuit board. In at least one embodiment, this light pipe can also include at least one actuator which is used to contact an associated springboard when a button is acted on. This movement causes the springboard to contact an actuator on a TAC switch which then results in an associated set of instructions being sent to the circuit board. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080237011 | KEYPAD ASSEMBLY - Disclosed is a keypad assembly including a light guide panel, light, at least one light extracting pattern provided on the light guide panel so that light propagating inside the light guide panel is directed out of the light guide panel, a switch board having at least one switch; and at least one light source for coupling light to the inside of the light guide panel, wherein the light guide panel has a thickness of 0.03-0.6 mm. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080237012 | KEYBOARD - The keyboard includes a rubber sheet fixed on key tops of a set of key-switch devices. The rubber sheet elastically urges the key tops upward so that they are borne away from the base of the key-switch devices. The rubber sheet is arranged so as to cover the key-switch devices from outside. According to the invention, the cost of a keyboard covered with a dustproof and watertight rubber sheet can be reduced. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080257698 | System and Method for Illuminating a Keyboard or Keypad Input Device - An illuminated keyboard has at least one key carried by a support structure and operable to close an electrical contact on being depressed from above, the at least one key having a translucent top surface, a hollow space under the translucent top surface, and an opening into the hollow space other than through the top surface, and an electroluminescent illuminator comprising a region of electroluminescent material enabled to be inserted into the hollow space through the opening. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080257699 | Keypad assembly - A keypad assembly for radiating light to a key button using a light conductive plate is provided. The keypad assembly having a key pad with key buttons includes: a light conductive plate for advancing light emitted through a side surface thereof into the inside thereof and for radiating light to the key buttons by a reflection pattern; a light emitting element for emitting light through the said side surface of the light conductive plate into the inside of the light conductive plate; and a reflecting plate formed in a side surface of the light conductive plate to which light emitted from the light emitting element is directed to reflect light into the inside of the light conductive plate. Therefore, by reflecting light that would otherwise be discharged outside the keypad assembly to the inside of the light conductive plate using the reflecting plate, the light can be used. Accordingly, a light utilization efficiency can be improved, the quantity of light emitting elements can be reduced, and power consumption can be reduced. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080277253 | Thin Key Sheet - Mobile phones are in a trend of having thinner configuration due to emphasis on the design. Thus, in order to meet this demand, the present invention aims to thin the key sheet portion as much as possible. The present invention provides a thin key sheet | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080296135 | MOVABLE CONTACT ELEMENT AND SWITCH USING THE SAME - A movable contact element including a lower sheet having a bottom surface, to which a substantially dome-shaped movable contact is bonded, is provided. The movable contact is made of a conductive thin metal plate, and an upper sheet with a light reflection property is disposed above the lower sheet. A space is formed between the lower sheet and the upper sheet, and a light transmitting portion is provided at the upper sheet. Light of a light emitting element from the side surface of the sheet propagates through the space between the upper sheet and the lower sheet with a light reflection property, while being reflected in a vertical direction, and lighting is performed through the light transmitting portions. Such a structure can perform lighting without unevenness by using one or two light emitting elements. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080314722 | MOVABLE CONTACT ASSEMBLY AND SWITCH USING THE SAME - A movable contact assembly includes a movable contact having a dome shape, a base sheet contacting an upper surface of the movable contact, a columnar portion provided on an upper surface of the base sheet, and a light guide sheet provided on an upper surface of the columnar portion. The light guide sheet has a light-receiving surface for introducing light into the light guide sheet, and allows the introduced light to be emitted from an upper surface of the light guide sheet. The base sheet includes a dome portion having a concave lower surface, and a flat portion connected with an outer edge of the dome portion. The columnar portion is positioned on the upper surface of the dome portion away from the outer edge of the dome portion of the base sheet. This movable contact assembly provides a switch illuminating its upper surface and being activated easily with a preferable feeling. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090026053 | USER CONTROL INTERFACE - The invention relates to a user control interface comprising a plurality of illuminated symbols such as letters, digits and similar characters being arranged for facilitating input commands from a user and being disposed at a defined area forming part of a top layer facing a user during operation. The user control interface according to the invention comprises a support structure comprising at least one light source emitting light generally in the ultraviolet range in a direction towards said top layer, wherein said symbols are of more than one colour, each colour being provided by means of fluorescent material arranged in said top layer in a design corresponding to said symbols. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090050455 | Electrical Circuit Breaker - In order to increase an ease of operation of a circuit breaker it is provided that, as an operating device for manual actuation of a switching element of the circuit breaker, a touch-sensitive control board is integrated in a housing of the circuit breaker. The touch-sensitive control board provides improved operator control convenience. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090050456 | LIGHT EMITTING KEYPAD COMPRISING LIGHT GUIDE FILM AND LIGHT GUIDE - The present invention provides a light emitting keypad having a very slim light guide film, and a light guide film for a keypad backlight. Particularly, a reflection layer is formed on a lower portion of the light guide film, resulting in more improved luminance. According to the present invention, the introduction of an EL sheet is eliminated, substantial slimness is achieved as compared with a direct illumination type keypad, high luminance is obtained by introducing a reflection layer even though a small number of light sources are used, and a light emitting surface can be provided for intensive light emission onto key regions of a keypad by forming a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the light guide film. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090057117 | BUTTON FOR CONTROL PANEL ASSEMBLY AND CLOTHES HANDLING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed are a button for a control panel assembly and a clothes handling apparatus having the same. In a control panel assembly comprising a control panel having button holes to mount a plurality of buttons and a display window, at least one of the buttons comprises a pressing portion having an optical diffusion portion for diffusing light occurring from a light source disposed at a back of the buttons; a mounting portion for fixing the buttons to a back of the control panel; and a supporting portion for connecting the pressing portion and the mounting portion to each other, and providing an elastic force to the pressing portion. According to this configuration, a larger amount of light occurring from the light source is emitted to a front of the buttons, and a user's convenience is enhanced. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090065337 | Keypad Device and Related Input Device for an Electronic Device - A keypad device for an electronic device includes a substrate, a first light-emitting device coupled to the substrate for generating a first colored light source, a second light-emitting device coupled to the substrate for generating a second colored light source different from the first colored light source, a first transparent board made of a translucent material of a first color for displaying a first symbol, a second transparent board made of a translucent material of a second color, for displaying a second symbol, and a transparent film deployed on the first transparent board and the second transparent board. The first color is a complementary color of the color of the first colored light source, and the second color is a complementary color of the color of the second colored light source. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090090605 | TOUCH SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE PROVIDED WITH SUCH SWITCH - A touch switch for an electrical appliance having a capacitive flat electrode, a light source, a transparent cover and a printed circuit board connected to the electrode is disclosed. The light source is mounted on a face of the printed circuit board opposite the transparent cover and the printed circuit board presents a cut-out for allowing light transmission from the light source towards the transparent cover. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090095607 | SWITCH - A switch of the present invention has a light guide part having optical transparency formed between a light emitting device, which is arranged at an end of a light guide sheet, and a lower surface of the end of the light guide sheet, so that the light from the light emitting device passes through the light guide part and sufficient light can be introduced into the inside of the light guide sheet from the lower surface of the end, whereby a switch capable of realizing bright and satisfactory illumination is obtained with a simple configuration. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090107816 | ILLUMINATED KEY-PAD ASSEMBLY - For a cell-phone or PDA, the rows of key-caps include respective light-strips, which pick up light from respective LEDs surface-mounted on the PCB. The light-strips are sandwiched between the key-caps and the key-switch actuators (whereby the light-strips move with the keys when the keys are depressed). Sockets for receiving the key-caps are co-molded to the light-strips. Sockets are provided in the resilient webs of the keys for receiving under-blocks co-molded to the light-strips. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090107817 | Push button switch with a display device - A push button switch is provided, which has a long life, high stability in operation, an operation force and an operation feeling which do not change from the initial state, and a display device which has a wide viewing angle and is capable of realizing low power consumption. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090127084 | Illuminated Indicator On An Input Device - An input device includes a base. A keycap is coupled to the base by a key guide structure, wherein the keycap defines an aperture. A flexible illumination guide is coupled to the base and is located immediately adjacent the aperture. An illumination device is coupled to the base and is operable to provide illumination through the flexible illumination guide and out of the aperture. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090145733 | MOVABLE CONTACT UNIT WITH LIGHT-GUIDING FUNCTION AND LIGHTED PANEL SWITCH USING THE SAME - The movable contact unit with a light-guiding function has the following structure. An uneven section is formed in a section that is to be lighted on the lower surface of a TPU-made base sheet. A film with a refractive index of light lower than that of the base sheet is disposed beneath the lower surface of the base sheet in a manner that the uneven section is embedded in the film. Besides, an adhesive layer is disposed beneath the film so as to hold a movable contact. The movable contact unit structured above is effectively employed for a lighted panel switch capable of reducing loss in amount of light and providing the section that is to be lighted with required illuminance. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090152083 | KEYPAD ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A keypad assembly ( | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090166163 | Push switch - A push switch includes a base board disposed in a bottom wall of a switch housing, a switch knob which projects or retracts from the switch housing so as to separate or have contact relative to the base board, a partition for zoning an inside portion of the switching housing into a first switching room and a second switching room, a first light source disposed on the base board and positioned in the first switching room, and a second light source disposed on the base board and positioned in the second switching room, the switch knob including a first translucent path for guiding light from the first light source to a surface, a second translucent path for guiding light from the second light source to a surface, and a non-translucent wall disposed between the first and second translucent paths. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090173609 | PROCESS FOR KEYCAPS CAPABLE OF GUIDING LIGHT LATERALLY - A process for keycaps includes the steps of: providing a light-transmitting material; making the light-transmitting material into a keycap body, the keycap body having a light-entering surface, one side of the light-entering surface extending to form a light-exiting surface intersecting with the light-entering surface, a connecting surface being formed between the light-entering surface and the light-exiting surface; and coating a light-shielding layer on the connecting surface to form a light-reflecting surface in the light-shielding layer. Via the above process, a keycap that guides light laterally can be obtained. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090173610 | System and methods for electronic device keyboard illumination - A keyboard may be generally illuminated while also providing for key-specific illumination of one or more particular keys. The keyboard may be generally illuminated using any configuration of any number of suitable illumination sources. The keyboard may selectively illuminate any key or keys together with or apart from the general illumination of other keys. The keyboard may also variably illuminate certain keys to aid the user in navigating the keyboard. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090194401 | LIGHT EMITTING KEYPAD - The present invention provides a light emitting keypad, which can obtain a more uniform light emitting surface and the same effects as or superior effects to conventional light emitting keypads even though a small number of light sources are used as compared with the conventional light emitting keypads, by causing light emitted from light sources arranged in a top view type through a light guide film to be incident into the light guide film and by emitting the light to the outside through the light guide film. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090200146 | LUMINOUS SWITCH AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A luminous switch using an inorganic EL material is provided with a plurality of switch sections so as to reduce acoustic noise. The switch sections are provided with a plurality of protruding parts ( | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090218204 | LUMINOUS MICRO-SWITCH - A luminous micro-switch mainly includes a case which holds a depressing member and at least a first pin and a second pin inside that are spaced from each other. There is a bridging member interposed between the two pins and the depressing member to form electric connection with the first pin in regular conditions and output a signal when the bridging member is connected to the second pin due to depressing of the depressing member. The depressing member has a depressing end which has a holding trough to hold a lighting element which has two conductive terminals to receive electric power to generate light. By holding the lighting element in the holding trough the size of the micro-switch can be made smaller to be used on smaller electronic devices to overcome the bulky problem of conventional micro-switches caused by disposing the lighting element beneath the depressing member. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090242369 | KEYBOARD ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME - A keyboard assembly ( | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090242370 | LIGHT-GUIDING STRUCTURE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME AND LIGHT-EMITTING KEYBOARD USING THE SAME - A light-guiding structure, a method of manufacturing the same and a light-emitting keyboard using the same are provided. The method of manufacturing the light-guiding structure includes the following steps. Firstly, a reflecting plate is placed on a light-guiding plate. Then, a compress-bond process is performed on the light-guiding plate and the reflecting plate by using a die having a die pattern, so that the reflecting plate is fixed onto the light-guiding plate, and a first compressed pattern and a second compressed pattern are formed on the light-guiding plate and the reflecting plate, respectively. The first compressed pattern and the second compressed pattern both correspond to the die pattern. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090260965 | LIGHT-EMITTING MODULE AND KEYBOARD - A keyboard and a light-emitting module therefore are provided. The light-emitting module includes a first light source, a first light guide element, a first reflecting element and a second light source. The first light guide element has a first cavity, and the first light source is disposed in the first cavity. The first reflecting element having at least one opening is disposed under the first light guide element. The second light source is disposed under the first reflecting element, and the light emitted from the second light source passes through the opening. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090266692 | Portable Electronic Device - The present invention has a configuration is one example in which a second body is connected to be rotatable around a rotational axis to a first body. A light emitting element that emits light and a first light guiding member, which propagates light emitted from the light emitting element as well as irradiating light from an irradiating unit, are housed in the first body. A light receiving element that receives light and a second light guiding member, which lets in light from the light collecting portion irradiated by the irradiating unit as well as propagates light in the light receiving element, are housed in the second body. Complimentary location regions of the irradiating units and light collecting portions are multiply provided between the first light guiding member and the second light guiding member, thereby multiply forming propagating paths of light from the irradiating units to the light collecting portions, respectively. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090272638 | Keyboard With Integrated Electroluminescent Illumination - An electroluminescent switch membrane for use in a keyboard associated with an information handling system is disclosed. The electroluminescent switch membrane may include a first and a second sheet of film configured as opposing electrodes of a capacitor. The switch membrane may include an electroluminescent material disposed between the two sheets of film. The switch membrane may include a plurality of conductive traces printed on the first sheet of film. The switch membrane may include a plurality of switches disposed on the first sheet of film, each switch configured to complete a respective circuit with the conductive traces when the switch is depressed. In addition, the electroluminescent switch membrane may be configured to illuminate the keyboard when an electric current is passed through the electroluminescent material. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090277763 | BACKLIGHTED KEY FOR A KEYPAD OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The disclosure relates to a key plunger and a key assembly for a key of an electronic device. The plunger comprises: a stalk made of a first material allowing light to pass through and a body section connected to the top of the plinth. In the plunger, the body section is made of a second material and shaped to fit snugly within an interior of a cap for the key and to extend horizontally about the stalk. The second material is a translucent, light-diffusing material; the first material allows more light to pass therethrough than the second material. The key assembly comprises: a key plunger; a key cap shaped to fit over the key plunger; and a backlight to illuminate an interior of the key cap. The backlight may be located underneath the key plunger and to a side of the stalk. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090283392 | LIGHT GUIDE KEY-PLATE AND LIGHT EMITTING KEYPAD COMPRISING THE SAME - A light guide key-plate and a light emitting keypad comprising the same including a light guide mechanism capable of surface-light emitting laterally incident light, and a plurality of keys formed on the light guide mechanism and capable of emitting light are provided, such that the light emitting keypad is remarkably slimmed over a light emitting keypad using a direct illumination method or a light guide plate using a separate light guide plate, thereby enabling to simplify the manufacturing and assembling processes. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090283393 | Light-emitting keyboard - The present invention is related to a light-emitting keyboard, comprising: a light guide having a light entrance surface, a bottom surface and a light exit surface; a light source provided adjacent to the light entrance surface of the light guide; a first reflector disposed underneath the bottom surface of the light guide to reflect the light originated from the light source to enter into said light guide; a second reflector disposed on top of said light exit surface of the light guide; a membrane circuit board disposed on top of said second reflector, said membrane circuit board being provided with an elastic member; a supporting plate disposed on top of the membrane circuit board; a scissor assembly engaged with said supporting plate and provided thereon; and a keycap supported by said scissor assembly. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090288936 | KEY MODULE - An exemplary key module includes a elastic assembly, a light guide plate, and a key cap. The elastic assembly is including a flat plate and a resilient member. The light guide plate is defining at least one through hole for the resilient member to extend through. The light guide plate is disposed above and in parallel to the flat plate. The key cap is resiliently supported by the resilient member. The light guide plate transmits light through at least a portion of the key cap. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090294266 | Electronic device illumination - Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a printed wiring board, a first light source, a first translucent member, a second light source, and a second translucent member. The printed wiring board includes a first side and a second side. The first light source is connected to the first side of the printed wiring board. The first translucent member is connected to the printed wiring board. The first translucent member is configured to transfer light from the first light source to a surface of the first translucent member. The second light source is connected to the second side of the printed wiring board. The second translucent member is connected to the printed wiring board. The second translucent member is configured to transfer light from the second light source to a surface of the second translucent member. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090308722 | KEYBOARD WITH LIGHTING SYSTEM - An exemplary keyboard is provided. The keyboard includes a light pervious base plate, a plurality of input keys, and at least one light source. The light pervious base plate has a top surface. The plurality of input keys are disposed on the light pervious base plate with bottom sides of the input keys facing the top surface of the light pervious base plate. The at least one light source is encapsulated in the light pervious base plate and optically coupled to the light pervious panel. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090321234 | INPUT KEY - An exemplary key includes a main body and a filling portion. The main body is made of ceramic material. The main body defines a through hole therein. The filling portion fills the through hole. The filling portion is capable of allowing light passing through the filling portion. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100006412 | KEYCAP AND PRESS KEY STRUCTURE USING THE SAME - A keycap and a press key structure along with a keyboard using the same are disclosed. The keycap, being comprised of a top and a bottom having a concave-convex structure formed thereon, is structured for allowing light to pass therethrough. There is a connecting component sandwiched between the keycap and a substrate in a manner that it is pivotally connected to the two in respective for allowing the keycap to move up and down in relative to the substrate. Moreover, there is at least a light source being disposed between the keycap and the substrate for projecting light to the concave-convex structure on the keycap′ bottom and out of the keycap through the top thereof after being uniformly scattered by the concave-convex structure. Thus a press key is constructed. It is noted that by arranging a plurality of the aforesaid press keys in an array, a keyboard is constructed. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100006413 | ILLUMINATED KEYBOARD - The present invention provides an illuminated keyboard. The keyboard includes a base plate; a membrane switch above the base plate; at least one key member above the membrane switch; an electroluminescent sheet between the key member and the membrane switch; and at least one elastic member positioned on the electroluminescent sheet, the electroluminescent sheet supporting the elastic member, wherein when pressing the key member, the elastic member will be pushed to trigger the membrane switch. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100018845 | LIGHT GUIDE PLATE AND ILLUMINATED KEYBOARD - The invention discloses a light guide plate applied to an illuminated keyboard. A plurality of keyswitch modules is installed on the illuminated keyboard. The light guide plate is disposed beneath the keyswitch modules. The light guide plate comprises a main body and a reflective portion printed on a bottom of the main body. A light source is disposed close to the main body of the light guide plate. If the light source emits white light, the color of the reflective portion is different from that of the light source. If the light source emits non-white light, the color of the reflective portion is the same as that of the light source. Accordingly, the luminance will be greatly enhanced. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100038225 | Illumination Type Key Sheet and Illumination Type Key - Object of the present invention is to provide an illumination type key sheet and an illumination type key unit thinned, and capable of securing a stroke when a key top is pressed and obtaining a variety of appearances by applying various decoration means. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100038226 | ILLUMINATED KEYBOARD MODULE - An illuminated keyboard module has a base, a film circuit membrane, a illuminator membrane, multiple supporting frames, multiple keys and multiple illuminator. The film circuit membrane is attached onto the base. The illuminator membrane is attached onto the film circuit membrane and has multiple wires. The multiple supporting frames are attached onto the illuminator membrane and are connected to the base. Each key is attached onto the top of a supporting frame and has a light permitting portion. Each illuminator is attached to the illuminator membrane under a key and electrically connected to the wires. The illuminator irradiates lights going through the light permitting portions of one key to provide satisfying illuminating effect. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100051430 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND BUTTON ASSEMBLY THEREOF - A button assembly is applied to a portable electronic device having a casing. The casing has an opening. The button assembly includes a button and a circuit board. The button is disposed at the opening and has a button body and a cloth-material layer. The cloth-material layer covers at least one portion of the button body and is exposed to a surface of the casing. The circuit board is disposed in the casing. The circuit board has a switch corresponding to the button body. A portable electronic device having the button assembly is also disclosed. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100051431 | INPUT APPARATUS AND KEYSWITCH - The invention provides a keyswitch. The keyswitch comprises a keycap, an adhesive layer, an electroplated layer, and a protecting layer. The adhesive layer has at least one color and covers the keycap. The electroplated layer covers the adhesive layer. After a part of the protecting layer and the electroplate layer is removed, a cave is formed on the keyswitch surface to show the at least one color. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100059349 | Operating Element - An operating element having an actuating element disposed on a linear moving carrier element. The actuating element has a plate-like touch panel that is made of an electrically nonconductive material, which cooperates with a switching element, and wherein an electrically conductive sensor element of a capacitative proximity sensor is disposed. The sensor element is disposed on or in the touch panel. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100065408 | INPUT APPARATUS - The invention provides an input apparatus. The input apparatus comprises a base plate, at least one keyswitch, a light guiding module, and a lighting module. The light guiding module is set under the base plate. The lighting module is set under the light guiding module within the range the base plate covers. The lighting module comprises a circuit board and a plurality of lighting units. The plurality of lighting units are coupled to the circuit board and aligned interlacedly according to different lighting directions of them. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100072047 | KEYPAD ASSEMBLY - An exemplary keypad assembly includes: a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a plurality of fixed contact points formed thereon, an elastic sheet disposed on the PCB, the elastic sheet comprising a base and many switches fixed on the base above the fixed contact points correspondingly; many key buttons, each key button comprising a main portion, and a pressing portion extending downward from the main portion; a light shielding sheet defining a plurality of through holes, the light shielding sheet integrally formed with the key buttons, the key buttons respectively passing through each of the through holes of the light shield sheet. The light shielding sheet with the key buttons is disposed above the elastic sheet, each pressing portion of each key button corresponding to each switch. The keypad assembly has a thin configuration due to a combination configuration of the light shielding sheet and the key buttons. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100089730 | BACKLIGHTING APPARATUS FOR KEYPAD ASSEMBLY - A backlighting apparatus for a keypad assembly is provided. The backlighting apparatus includes a keypad including a plurality of key buttons and a plurality of rubbers, a plurality of Light Emitting Devices (LEDs) for emitting light, a printed circuit board including the LEDs and a plurality of dome switches, and a waveguide portion formed between the rubbers to guide the emitted light to the rubbers provided near the LEDs and the rubbers located far from the LEDs. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100089731 | INPUT APPARATUS AND LIGHT GUIDING PLATE THEREOF - The invention provides a light guiding plate. The light guiding plate is transparent and applied to an input apparatus. A surface of the light guiding plate comprises a first region and a second region. The first region is covered by a non-transparent material. If a light is emitted into the light guiding plate, the light can be emitted out from the second region. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100108482 | ILLUMINATED KEY-PAD ASSEMBLY - For a cell-phone or PDA, the rows of key-caps include respective light-strips, which pick up light from respective LEDs surface-mounted on the PCB. The light-strips are sandwiched between the key-caps and the key-switch actuators (whereby the light-strips move with the keys when the keys are depressed). Sockets for receiving the key-caps are co-molded to the light-strips. Sockets are provided in the resilient webs of the keys for receiving under-blocks co-molded to the light-strips. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100126836 | KEYPAD APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A keypad apparatus for an electronic device permits a thinner construction. The keypad apparatus includes a first light guide plate having key buttons molded in one body attached onto the first light guide plate, a second light guide plate disposed under the first light guide plate, a first light source disposed at one side of the first light guide plate, a second light source disposed at one side of the second light guide plate, and key input switches associated with the key buttons. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100140069 | Light Guiding Sheet and Movable Contact Body Using the Same - A concavo-convex light emitting section provided on an under surface of a base material is formed of a synthetic resin with inorganic oxide dispersed therein. A larger amount of light is reflected by inorganic oxide having a large refractive index and dispersed inside the synthetic resin, to cause a plurality of light emitting sections to emit bright light with a small number of light emitting elements. A light guiding sheet capable of making bright and uniform illumination and a movable contact body using the same are realized with a simple configuration. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100147660 | Keyboard with Backlighting Functionality - A keyboard with backlighting functionality includes: a membrane circuit substrate having an upper circuit sheet, an insulator sheet, and a lower circuit sheet laminated together in sequence; a press key set having a plurality of press keys that are disposed on the membrane circuit substrate, and that are capable of being pressed so as to cause the membrane circuit substrate to transmit input signals; and at least one light-emitting element mounted onto a lower surface of the upper circuit sheet that faces the insulator sheet. The membrane circuit substrate is configured as a backlighting sheet that allows light from the light-emitting element to propagate therein, and is formed with a plurality of reflecting dots for directing the light that propagates in the membrane circuit substrate toward the press keys of the press key set. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100147661 | KEY SHEET, LIGHT BLOCKING EFFECT SHEET, PUSH BUTTON SWITCH AND KEY SHEET MANUFACTURING METHOD - Provided is a key sheet or a lightproof light guiding sheet guiding light efficiently through an interior of the key sheet and preventing light leakage through a periphery of key tops. On a base sheet, a transparent resin layer, and further, a lightproof dark print layer are provided as needed, with at least one of the transparent resin layer and the lightproof dark print layer being formed of a non-corrosive coating liquid. Further, a smooth surface is formed between the base sheet and the dark print layer. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100147662 | LIGHT-EMITTING KEYBOARD - A light-emitting keyboard is disclosed, which comprises: a support panel, having at least one first hole; a light guide plate, having at least one second hole; a reflection plate circuit assembly, including a reflection plate and a circuit; at least one light source, for projecting light to the light guide plate; at least one elastic member, each having an activating post and being disposed inside its corresponding first and second holes while enabling its bottom to abut against the reflection plate circuit assembly; a keycap, mounted on the elastic member; and a shell; wherein, the light guide plate and the reflection plate circuit assembly forms a stacking arrangement from top to bottom in series; and the bottom of the activating post in each elastic member is enabled to engage with the reflection plate circuit assembly for enabling the circuit to be electrically conducted when the keycap is being pressed. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100155206 | TOUCH SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE PROVIDED WITH SUCH SWITCH - A touch switch for an electrical appliance having a capacitive flat electrode, a light source, a transparent cover and a printed circuit board connected to the electrode is disclosed. The light source is mounted on a face of the printed circuit board opposite the transparent cover and the printed circuit board presents a cut-out for allowing light transmission from the light source towards the transparent cover. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100187078 | LIGHT GUIDE PLATE AND APPLIED KEYPAD THEREOF - A light guide plate and applied keypad thereof are provided. The light guide plate comprises a high transmittance plastic plate body ( | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100200381 | KEY MODULE - A key module includes a circuit board, at least a key, at least a light emitting unit and a light guide film. The key is disposed on the circuit board. The light emitting unit is coupled to the circuit board for providing a light source. The light guide film is disposed between the circuit board and the key for guiding the light source provided by the light emitting unit to the key. In addition, the material of the light guide film is a flexible light guide material. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100200382 | LIGHTING GUIDE KEYPAD AND LIGHTING GUIDE KEYPAD ASSEMBLY - The present invention relates to a light guiding keypad and a light guiding keypad assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light guiding keypad and light guiding keypad assembly which can reduce the number of components of mobile phones by forming line type or surface type of key character patterns on one surface of a light guiding plate of a mobile phone that receives lights through its side surface and thus making the light guiding plate perform as keypad. The key character patterns are formed by printing paste having diffusion and reflection features. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100213041 | BACKLIT KEY ASSEMBLY HAVING A REDUCED THICKNESS - A backlit key assembly having a reduced thickness for an electronic device, and an electronic device having such a backlit key assembly are provided. The key assembly utilizes a local sink (recess) in a backing plate of the key assembly to lower the light source (e.g. LED) and flexible printed circuit board relative to the backing plate. The key assembly described herein provides a suitable leading space for the light source while permitting the overall thickness of the key assembly to be reduced compared with conventional backlit key designs. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100252405 | Electronic device having a polymer light emitting module - An electronic device includes a housing for housing a polymer light emitting module therein. The polymer light emitting module includes a plurality of polymer light emitting units formed on a membrane substrate. The housing has a plurality of transparent areas corresponding respectively to the polymer light emitting units of the polymer light emitting module such that the polymer light emitting units are capable of emitting light through the transparent areas in the housing. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100258418 | Switch Assembly Having Indicator - A switch assembly having an indicator includes a case, a switch member, at least two terminals, a conductive member and an indicator. The case includes a cover and the switch member is pivotally connected to the case. The terminals are electrically connected to a circuit and the conductive member actuated by the switch member to control the circuit to be an open circuit or a closed circuit. The indicator is installed within the switch member and has two legs which are connected to the cover of the case. Two resilient members are respectively biased between the two legs and the two terminals, thereby ensuring electrically connecting the legs with the terminals. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100258419 | LIGHT GUIDE FILM WITH CUT LINES - A light guide for an optical keypad is described. The light guide includes a light interface surface, top and bottom surfaces, a surface feature pattern, and a cut line. The light interface surface receives light into the light guide from a light source. The light received through the light interface surface reflects according to total internal reflection (TIR) within the light guide between portions of the top and bottom surfaces. The surface feature pattern disrupts the TIR and scatters at least some of the light outside of at least one surface of the top and bottom surfaces. The cut line redirects at least some of the light from a first direction to a second direction within the light guide. The first direction is a direction other than towards the surface feature pattern, while the second direction is a direction substantially towards the surface feature pattern. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100258420 | Illuminated keyboard - Disclosed herein is an illuminated keyboard comprising: a key module having a plurality of keycaps, scissors structures, elastic members, and a membrane circuit board; a keyboard base plate having a plurality of positioning members corresponding to the keycaps and integrally formed on the keyboard base plate for positioning the keyboard module on the keyboard base plate; a light guiding plate disposed beneath the key module and over the keyboard base plate, the light guiding plate having a light incoming surface, a bottom surface intersecting the light incoming surface, a light outgoing surface opposite to the light incoming surface, and provided with light holes corresponding to the positioning members; light sources arranged on one side of, the light incoming surface of the light guiding plate, wherein a light emitted from the light sources is transmitted into the light guiding plate from the light incoming surface and transmitted out of the light guiding plate from the outgoing surface; and a reflecting sheet disposed beneath the bottom surface of the light guiding plate for reflecting the light emitted from the light sources into the light guiding plate, the reflecting sheet having through holes corresponding to the positioning members and the light holes. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100282580 | APPARATUS AND METHOD CONCERNING MODULAR KEYPAD ASSEMBLY - An apparatus that forms or includes a modular keypad the keypad including a replaceable key structure including a set of keys comprising projecting key tops, a replaceable front panel, and a replaceable light guide structure underneath the front panel configured to provide illumination for the modular keypad. A method for assembling a modular keypad is also disclosed. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100282581 | SLEF-ILLUMINATION CIRCUIT BOARD AND KEYBOARD USING SAME - A self-illumination circuit board includes a double-layer substrate structure, a circuit layer embedded in the substrate structure and carrying a circuit layout, side-emitting light sources mounted in the substrate structure and electrically connected to the circuit layout for emitting light sideways, and light guide plates embedded in the substrate structure and respectively disposed adjacent to the side-emitting light sources for uniformly distributing light emitted from the side-emitting light sources over respective light exit surfaces thereof. The invention also provides a self-illumination keyboard using the self-illumination circuit board. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100282582 | SWITCH APPARATUS - A switch apparatus includes a Light Emitting Diode (LED) housing and a light guide pole. The LED housing includes at least one LED light source and a switch. The switch is capable of being actuated to light the at least one LED light source. The light guide pole is capable of transmitting light. The light guide pole is removably embedded in the LED housing to contact with the switch. The light guide pole presses the switch to drive the at least one LED light source to light. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100300855 | Light Guidance Illuminating Keyboard - A light guidance illuminating keyboard utilizes plural press-key devices and a base plate having plural through-holes to generate a control signal to an electronic device when a user presses down the press-key devices. A back surface of the base plate is a light guide plate on which is defined into at least one through-hole which forms an independent optical path. A side of the light guide plate is a light emitting element. When the light emitting element produces light, the light is reflected onto the through-holes on the base plate through the light guide plate and penetrates out of the through-holes, such that the press-key devices can manifest various visual effects according to the light produced by the light emitting element. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100300856 | WHITE POINT ADJUSTMENT FOR MULTICOLOR KEYBOARD BACKLIGHT - There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a light source to match a white point of ambient light. In one embodiment, a light control system is provided. The light control system includes a light source and a light sensor. The light sensor is configured to operate in conjunction with the light source to provide a visual effect. A controller is electrically coupled to the light source and the light sensor and configured to determine the intensity and color of light to which the light sensor is exposed and dynamically adjust the output of the light source to match the determined intensity and color of light to which the light sensor is exposed. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100307898 | Method of manufacturing a keypad structure having a transparent keycap and keypad structure having a transparent keycap - The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing a keypad structure having a transparent keycap and a keypad structure having a transparent keycap. A metal pattern layer is formed on a transparent resin layer of a keycap component. Two print layers are formed on a transparent resin layer of an overprint component. Two print layers and the metal pattern layer are overlapped and have a level difference in height of the total thickness of the two transparent layers. Accordingly, the figure of the keypad seems to be floated and is felt to be three-dimensional. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100314228 | ILLUMINATION BUTTON SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAVING LIGHTING STRUCTURE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An illumination button switch assembly for an electronic device includes a substrate, a switch element, a flexible and light-pervious supporting member, a light source, and a button cap. The switch element is disposed on the substrate to be triggered to generate a switching signal. The supporting member has a top end and a bottom end, a concave hollow portion is formed on the bottom end, and the bottom end is disposed above the switch element and is spaced from the switch element. The light source is disposed on the substrate to project light into the hollow portion. The button cap is fixed on the top end to be pressed to push the supporting member to contact the switch element with the bottom end. Since the button cap is light-pervious, the light passing through the hollow portion penetrates the button cap, thereby illuminating the button cap. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100314229 | Push button switch device and sewing machine provided therewith - A push button switch device mounted on an equipment body includes a push button member disposed on a cover constituting an outer surface of the equipment body, the push button member being configured to be light-transmissible, a switching element located behind the push button member so that its operation axis substantially corresponds with a central axis of the push button member, light sources disposed around the switching element to illuminate the outer surface of the push button member, the light sources being operated by the push button member, and an incidence plane located on a rear surface of the push button member so that light from the light sources is incident thereon, the incidence plane including a concave curved surface that is located so as to substantially face the light sources and a flat or convex curved surface located outside and is continuous to the concave curved surface. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110011711 | Illuminated keyboard - An illuminated keyboard includes optical sensors and units each comprising an optically transmissive key member; a scissors-shaped structure having a top secured to the key member; a light guide diaphragm under the scissors-shaped structure; an insulating diaphragm under the light guide diaphragm and including a light source on a top surface, a positive conductor connected to a positive terminal of the light source and on the top surface, a negative conductor connected to a negative terminal of the light source and on a bottom surface, and a bus having one end interconnecting the positive and negative conductors, and the other end connected to the sensor; a film circuit board under the insulating diaphragm and including a holed rubber dome with the key member positioned therein; and a base board with the scissors-shaped structure retained thereon. Brightness is adjusted in response to light condition as sensed by the sensor. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110017580 | KEY MODULE FOR MOBILE DEVICE - The key module for the mobile device includes a key top | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110036693 | ILLUMINATION BUTTON, ILLUMINATION SWITCH ASSEMBLY, AND BUTTON STRUCTURE HAVING QUICKLY REMOVABLE BUTTON CAP - An illumination button applied to an illumination switch assembly is provided. The illumination button includes a light guide body and a button cap. The light guide body is disposed in the button cap to press a switch element with a pressing bump and to receive light from a light source with a light receiving structure. The light received by the light receiving structure is guided by the light guide body to leave a top surface of the button cap through a light exiting structure. Two connecting members are disposed on an edge the button cap, wherein the two connecting members provided to be clamped by clamping members disposed on an inner surface of a housing, so as to hold the button cap in a button hole of the housing. Therefore, the button cap is able to be installed to the housing quickly with out using a tool. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110048908 | KEYBOARD HAVING BACKLIGHT FUNCTION - A keyboard having a backlight function, the keyboard includes a key top having a light permeating region, the key top being where one end of a link member is provided; a membrane sheet having a contact, the contact being conductive when the key top is pushed; a support panel made of metal, the support panel being where another end of the link member is provided; and a light guide plate where a light is guided from a light source. The key top, the membrane sheet, the support panel, and the light guide plate are stacked from a top side; the light guide plate is formed of a member having an elasticity higher than an elasticity of the support panel; and a part of an external edge part of the light guide plate, seen from the top side, projects outside the support panel. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110056815 | CAP FOR A DISPLAY OR CONTROL ELEMENT, COMPRISING A LIGHT-PERMEABLE METAL COATING, AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF - The invention relates to a cap ( | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110067989 | BUTTON STRUCTURE WITH LIGHT TRANSMITTANCE AND RELATED ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A button structure includes a pressing portion, and an accommodating portion connected to a side of the pressing portion. An accommodating space is formed inside the accommodating portion. The button structure further includes a protruding portion connected to a side of the accommodated portion for actuating a switch when the pressing portion is pressed, and a light guiding portion. An end of the light guiding portion is disposed above a light source, and the other end of the light guiding portion is disposed inside the accommodating space. The light guiding portion is for guiding light emitted from the light source to project on a bottom of the pressing portion. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110073449 | KEYBOARD - A keyboard includes a keypad portion, a base board, an illuminating device, and a circuit board. The keypad portion is mounted to the base board. The illuminating device is electrically connected to the circuit board and is further fixed to the base board surrounding the keypad portion. The circuit board is configured to supply the illuminating device with power. When powering the illuminating device, the keyboard can be used in a dark environment. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110079497 | KEYPAD ILLUMINATION APPARATUS - A keypad illumination apparatus having a key plate member, a flexible light guide film, a reflective layer, a plurality of metal domes, a light source and a substrate. The key plate member may have a plurality of keys formed thereon. The flexible light guide film is configured to transmit light from the light source and has a plurality of plunging structures and apertures to accommodate the plurality of metal domes, which may be configured to actuate a plurality of electrical switches on the substrate. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110089005 | Lighting Keyboard - A lighting keyboard includes a keyboard unit, and a combined circuit and lighting unit. The keyboard unit has a keyboard base, press keys mounted on the keyboard base, and an elastic layer disposed between the press keys and the keyboard base, and having elastic members disposed beneath the press keys. The combined circuit and lighting unit includes a membrane circuit substrate underlying the keyboard base, a first light-blocking layer disposed on top of the membrane circuit substrate, a first reflecting layer underlying the membrane circuit substrate, a backlighting module, and a second light-blocking layer. The backlighting module underlies the first reflecting layer, and cooperates with the first light-blocking layer, the membrane circuit substrate, and the first reflecting layer to define a light passage. The second light-blocking layer underlies the backlighting module. Light generated from the backlighting module is transmitted toward the press keys through the light passage. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110100790 | BUTTON - A button includes a keycap made of transparent material and including a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface, a light guide block set on the first side surface of the keycap, and an ultraviolet lighting element set on the first side surface to emit ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet lighting element may enter into the light guide block, then is reflected by the light guide block to pass through the keycap to arrive to the second side surface of the keycap. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110127149 | Push-button switch with display screen - A push-button switch with display screen includes a seat having an open-topped recess, a top cover located in the recess, a display screen, such as an LCD, an OLED or a TFT-LCD, located in below the top cover, an actuating member located in the recess below the display screen and connected to a microswitch located below the seat, a frame-like light-guiding member located in the recess around a periphery of the top cover, and a circuit board with light-emitting diodes located in the recess below the light-guiding member. The display screen is connected to an external circuit for displaying different dynamic or non-dynamic indicating images. When the light-emitting diodes are turned on to emit light onto the light-guiding member, a bright rim is generated along the periphery of the top cover to highlight the indicating images on the display screen and give the push-button switch a beautiful eye-catching appearance. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110132735 | ELECTRICAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A 5-WAY TOGGLE MECHANISM AND ILLUMINATED FLEXIBLE LAYER - A switch assembly is provided that in one aspect provides a switch knob that can move in up to five directions by using a plunger element that moves with respect to an actuation plate such that tilting the knob in any of four directions uses the plate to activate underlying domes whereas pressing the knob towards the assembly provides a fifth function by moving the plunger element with respect to the plate and thus activating a central dome beneath the plunger element. In another aspect, the switch assembly enables a larger area of illumination on an illuminated film by interposing a light pipe between an actuation dome and the film, the light pipe also serving as a plunger element to enable touch actuation by pressing the film, moving the plunger towards the dome and activating the dome. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110147182 | THIN TYPE ILLUMINATED KEYBOARD - A thin type illuminated keyboard includes a light source, a light-guiding frame plate, a keycap, a membrane plate, a switch circuit plate and a base plate. The light source is used for emitting light. The light-guiding frame plate has a concave structure in a bottom surface thereof. The keycap is connected with the light-guiding frame plate and movable upwardly or downwardly with respect to the light-guiding frame plate. The keycap has a light-transmissible character portion. The light source is disposed on the membrane plate and accommodated within the concave structure of the light-guiding frame plate. The keycap, the light-guiding frame plate, the membrane plate, the switch circuit plate and the base plate are sequentially arranged from top to bottom. The light emitted by the light source is guided by the light-guiding frame plate to irradiate the light-transmissible character portion. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110162944 | ILLUMINATED LAPTOP KEYBOARD WITH UNIFORM ILLUMINATION - A laptop keyboard in one embodiment includes a rectangular key printing film formed of an optically transmissive material and comprising keys; a rectangular luminescent sheet formed of optically transmissive silicone rubber, the luminescent sheet being mounted below the key printing film; an LED light source disposed to a side of the luminescent sheet; and a capacitive layer mounted below the luminescent sheet and comprising an insulative layer and pairs of upper and lower conductors wherein a pressing of the key changes capacitance of the pair of upper and lower conductors for typing or performing a predetermined command. Light emitted by the LED light source is directed to the luminescent sheet which in turn directs the light upward toward the key printing film. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110162945 | Self-luminescence keypad structure - The self-luminescence keypad structure includes a backlight module and a self-luminescence keycap structure including a self-luminescence material. For example, a self-luminescence layer comprising the self-luminescence material is disposed, at least a member of the self-luminescence keycap structure is allowed to include the self-luminescence material, or a hard coat including the self-luminescence material is coated on the surface, thereby the keypad structure has the self-luminescence function upon receiving a light from the backlight module. Accordingly, in the dark, the figures on keycaps can be seen even though the backlight is turned off, and thus the electrical power saving can be achieved and the battery lifetime can be increased. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110168532 | PRESS-KEY WITH LOW LIGHT DIFFUSING DESIGN AND KEYBOARD USING THE SAME - A press-key with low light diffusing design, adapted to be received inside a frame of a keyboard, is disclosed, which comprises: a substrate; a keycap, formed with a light-transmissive part, being mounted on the substrate while enabling the same to move vertically up and down in relative to the substrate; a light-emitting unit, disposed inside the keycap at a position below the light-transmissive part; and a light mask, made of an opaque material and being formed as an upward-extending wall surrounding the circumference of the light-emitting unit while allowing an opening to be formed on top thereof at a position corresponding to the light-transmissive part and thus allowing the light emitted from the light-emitting unit to be projected out of the light mask only through the opening of the same and thus to be emanating out of the keycap only through the light-transmissive part. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110180377 | Illuminating Push Button Switch Having a Mistake Proof Design for Installing a LED into Said Switch - An illuminating push button switch having a mistake-proof design to avoid improper installation of a light emitting diode (LED) consists essentially of a body portion ( | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110209974 | PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH - In a push-button switch, a mark for conveying information to a user is disposed on a portion of a front surface of a push-button for operating a switch main body. A light-guiding plate is disposed between the switch main body and the push-button. A mark diffusing portion that diffuses injected light is disposed on a portion of the light-guiding plate that faces the mark. A mark light source portion injects light into the light-guiding plate so as to be directed toward the mark diffusing portion. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110220477 | KEYPAD STRUCTURE - A keypad structure with a backlight source includes a base, a light guiding plate, a thin film circuit board, a resilient component, a keycap, and an elevating mechanism. The thin film circuit board includes at least one exhausting notch for increasing exhaust as the resilient component is compressed. A plurality of microstructures is formed on the light guiding plate, and the keypad structure further includes a transparent layer formed on the keycap. Light emitted from the backlight source and refracted by the plurality of microstructures passes through the keycap and the transparent layer as the backlight source lights the lateral side of the light guiding plate, so as to illuminate the transparent layer. Thus, the present invention has advantages of illuminating pattern, regional illumination, and preferable comfort. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110226595 | ILLUMINATION TYPE KEY SHEET AND PUSH BUTTON SWITCH - The present invention provides a technique that can divide and illuminate display elements juxtaposed in one key top for each use function. Areas divided by the dividing portions of the attenuation means in the projection surface of the key top can be respectively illuminated by backlights from different LEDs, so each divided area can be individually controlled and illuminated. Therefore, it is possible to realize a key sheet in which display elements juxtaposed in one key top are divided for each use function and illuminated. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110278145 | KEY SHEET, LIGHTPROOF LIGHT GUIDING SHEET, PUSHBUTTON SWITCH, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING KEY SHEET - The present invention provides technology that can efficiently guide light to the interior of a key sheet and prevents light from leaking from the circumferences of key tops. A key sheet has a light-shielding dark print layer, on the rear surface of a base sheet, that is a cured body of a coating liquid that is not dissolve to the surface of the base sheet, and also has a smooth surface between the base sheet and the dark print layer. The invention can make light transmitting in the base sheet hard to enter the dark print layer so that the light can be efficiently guided in the base sheet, and also can prevent light from transmitting through the base sheet by blocking the light. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20120012446 | ILLUMINATED KEYBOARD PROVIDED DISTINGUISHABLE KEY LOCATIONS - An illuminated keyboard provided distinguishable key locations includes a keyboard portion and a luminous portion. The keyboard portion includes a baseboard and a plurality of rows of keycaps located on the baseboard. The keycaps and the baseboard are bridged by a plurality of moving mechanisms. The keycaps are movable up and down against the baseboard through the moving mechanisms. The keycaps on neighboring rows are spaced by a first gap. The neighboring keycaps on each row are spaced by a second gap. The luminous portion is located between the keycaps and the baseboard and has a plurality of first lighting sections corresponding to the first gap and a plurality of second lighting sections corresponding to the second gap. The second lighting section has two ends connecting to two adjacent first lighting sections. Thus luminosities of the keycaps and the first and second gaps are different to facilitate distinguishing of the locations of the keys. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120055771 | BACKLIGHT KEYBOARD MODULE - A backlight keyboard module includes a keyboard portion and a light emitting portion located on the keyboard portion. The keyboard portion includes a baseboard, a keycap movable up and down relative to the baseboard, and a circuit board depressed by the up and down movements of the keycap to output signals. The light emitting portion has a shading plate located beneath the keycap and a light emitting element to provide light. The shading plate has an opening corresponding to the keycap to allow light of the light emitting element to pass through and project to the keycap. Thus the keyboard only illuminates light on the keycap location in a non-uniform manner to highlight the location of the keycap to improve keystroke accuracy. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120090968 | KEYBOARD - A keyboard includes a membrane circuit board, a luminous key, a light-emitting element and a plastic film layer. The luminous key has a keycap with a light-transmissible part. The luminous key is configured for triggering a membrane switch of the membrane circuit board. The light-emitting element is disposed on the membrane circuit board and arranged under the light-transmissible part for emitting a light beam. The plastic film layer is disposed on the membrane circuit board, and includes a convex structure, which is integrally formed with the plastic film layer. The light-emitting element is enclosed by the convex structure. The convex structure has an opening aligned with the light-emitting element. The keyboard of the present invention has enhanced production yield and reduced light leakage. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090969 | KEYBOARD - A keyboard includes a membrane circuit board, a luminous key, a light-emitting element and a plastic film layer. The luminous key has a keycap with a light-transmissible part. The luminous key is configured for triggering a membrane switch of the membrane circuit board. The light-emitting element is disposed on the membrane circuit board and arranged under the membrane circuit board for emitting a light beam. The plastic film layer is disposed on the membrane circuit board, and includes a convex structure, which is integrally formed with the plastic film layer. The light-emitting element is enclosed by the convex structure. The convex structure has a light-transmissible zone aligned with the light-emitting element. In such way, the keyboard of the present invention has enhanced production yield and reduced leak leakage. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120125749 | COMPOSITE LIGHT-PERMITTING PANEL STRUCTURE - A composite light-permitting panel structure includes a light-permitting substrate unit, a light-permitting printing unit and a light-permitting protruding unit. The light-permitting substrate unit includes at least one light-permitting body, and the light-permitting body has a top surface and a bottom surface. The light-permitting indicating unit includes a plurality of light-permitting printed indicators formed on the bottom surface of the light-permitting body. The light-permitting protruding unit includes a plurality of light-permitting protruding member members and at least one light-permitting frame member integrally formed on the top surface of the light-permitting body. The light-permitting protruding member members are selectively surrounded by the light-permitting frame. Thus, when the user touches and presses the top surface of the light-permitting body, the design of the light-permitting protruding members and/or the light-permitting frame can generate and provide 3D touch feeling for the user. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120145523 | DISPLAY AND/OR CONTROL ELEMENT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE - The invention relates to a cap ( | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120186958 | BUTTON ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME - The present disclosure provides a button assembly used in an electronic device. The button assembly includes a base, a switch arranged on the base and a button. A raised logo is arranged on the switch. The button is movably arranged on the switch, and a through hole is defined on the button to receive the raised logo. An electronic device using the button assembly is also provided. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120298491 | SUB-MEMBRANE KEYCAP INDICATOR - Sub-membrane keycap indicators for keyboard assemblies may be implemented by positioning an indicator light element beneath a switch membrane circuit and within the baseplate of a key device. The indicator light element may be so positioned to direct light upward in a substantially narrow cone to an aperture or lightguide molded into a keycap in order to illuminate or light the indicator aperture or lightguide to indicate the current status of at least one component of an information handling system. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120298492 | ILLUMINATED BUTTON FOR AN OPERATOR CONTROL ARRANGEMENT, OPERATOR CONTROL ARRANGEMENT AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCE - In an embodiment, there is disclosed a button for an operator control arrangement, wherein the button has a shaped body which is composed of a light-guiding material, the shaped body including an operating direction, a functional side which has a light entry region and an operating region, an operator control side which has a light exit region, a resilient projection which is integrally formed with the shaped body transverse to the operating direction, a force limiting element which is integrally formed with the shaped body transverse to the operating direction and is configured to absorb an excessive operating force, and a first projection which is integrally formed with the shaped body. Other embodiments of a button, an operator control arrangement and a domestic appliance are also disclosed. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120298493 | LIGHTED PUSH BUTTON - A lighted pushbutton assembly includes a carrier including an outer wall that defines an inner space and is continuous along a top surface of the carrier. A rib guide is formed as part of the outer wall and defines an opening extending through a bottom surface of the outer wall and including a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending in a second direction that is non-parallel to the first direction. A pushbutton is shaped to fit substantially within the inner space and a rib is formed as part of the pushbutton and includes a first guide that extends in the first direction and the second guide that extends in the second direction. The first guide is engaged with the first portion and the second guide is engaged with the second portion to guide reciprocating movement of the pushbutton with respect to the carrier. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120312670 | KEY STRUCTURE WITH SCISSORS-TYPE CONNECTING MEMBER - A key structure includes a keycap, a scissors-type connecting element, a membrane module, a light-emitting element and a base plate. The light-emitting element is used for emitting light beams. The keycap has a protrusion structure for blocking the light beams and preventing the light beams from leaking out through the gap between said keycap and said base plate. The base plate has a slot corresponding to the protrusion structure. When the keycap is depressed, the membrane module is pressed by the protrusion structure to be subject to deformation, so that a deformed part of the membrane module is inserted into the slot of the base plate. In such way, the hand feel of depressing the keycap is not adversely affected. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20130087440 | KEY STRUCTURE AND KEYBOARD - The present invention relates to a key structure and a keyboard having the same. The key structure includes a seat, a conductive membrane disposed on the seat, a scissor assembly, a light source, and a cap. The seat has a plurality of protruding hooking portions. At least one conducting section is defined on the conductive membrane away from the central portion thereof. The collapsible scissor assembly is arranged between the seat and the cap. The key structure has at least one protrusion arranged above the corresponding conducting section. A rubber element having a hole formed on the top portion thereof is disposed centrally on the conductive membrane. The light source is arranged beneath and covered by the rubber element. The cap is disposed on the scissor assembly. The protrusion may be arranged on the side portion of the scissor assembly or the undersurface of the cap. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130270081 | Key Pad Structure of Keyboard and Method for Manufacturing the Same - The present invention provides a key pad structure for a keyboard. The key pad structure comprises a circuit board, an elastic portion, a key cap and a supporting structure. The elastic portion is disposed on the circuit board that has a plurality of through holes. The key cap is disposed above the elastic portion. Additionally, the supporting structure is partially pivoted within the through holes and below the key cap. The supporting structure allows the key cap to move in a linear up-and-down motion with respect to the circuit board. In detail, when the key cap moves downwards from an initial position, the switch of the circuit board is thus, activated. Then, the key cap moves upwards to return to the initial position from the resilience provided from the elastic portion. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130277188 | BUTTON CAP WITH A RAISED CLEAR COVER - The invention generally relates to button caps used on electronic devices. It more particularly relates to button caps that enhance the user experience of devices such as smartphones, tablets and the like. In one aspect the invention is a raised button cap for a concave (or flat) button such as the Home Button on smartphones and tablets. The button cap includes adhesive backing for attachment to the button, a printable substrate and a clear magnifying dome covering the substrate, combined into a unit that when adhered to concave button provides a raised aspect. The button is preferably made from tough self-healing materials, and the flat substrate is suitable as a base for either printed images, preferably customizable, and/or small decorative objects such as jewels, small insects or the like. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20140097071 | MOBILE TERMINAL - A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal has a case, a top button located in a surface of the case, the top button including a light blocking part and a light transmitting part formed at a circumferential portion of the light blocking part, the top button having a front side exposed through the surface of the case and back side opposite the front side, a metal dome arranged at the back side of the top button, the metal dome having a projected center, an actuator configured to press the projected center of the metal dome to deform the metal dome when the top button is pressed, a circuit board having the metal dome seated on a side thereof, a light source mounted at the circuit board and a light guide layer configured to direct the light of the light source toward the surface of the case. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140138222 | BUTTON DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT USING THE SAME - A button device comprises: a circuit board; a tact switch disposed on the circuit board, wherein the tact switch has a pressed surface; a light source disposed on the circuit board; and a resilient button capable of sliding relative to the circuit board. The resilient button includes a pressed portion having a projection surface and a light guide column connected to the pressed portion and directing light toward the projection surface. The light guide column includes a light receiving surface facing the light source with a certain distance apart and a touchable portion apart from the pressed surface with a certain distance used for touching the tact switch. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140151205 | LOCALLY ILLUMINATED KEYCAP - A locally illuminated keycap is located in a keyboard. The keyboard includes a lighting unit to project light to the keycap. The keycap includes at least one top edge to form an opaque press surface, at least one bottom edge located below the press surface to form a light incident surface to receive light, and at least one transparent light emitting surface connecting to the top edge and bottom edge to emit light. The press surface and light emitting surface form an inclined angle between them greater than 90 degrees. The press surface, light incident surface and light emitting surface jointly form a light retaining zone. Light generated by the lighting unit projects to the light incident surface and enters the light retaining zone, and is masked by the opaque press surface to emit locally through the transparent light emitting surface. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140174899 | KEYBOARD EQUIPPED WITH ILLUMINATED KEYCAPS - A keyboard equipped with illuminated keycaps mainly includes a keyboard portion and a plurality of lighting units. The keyboard portion includes a circuit board with a plurality of keyboard command portions, a plurality of keycaps respectively corresponding to the keyboard command portions and a plurality of elastic support members located between the circuit board and keycaps are depressed by the keycaps to trigger the keyboard command portions. The keycaps and elastic support members form a light emitting zone. The lighting units correspond respectively to each of the keycaps. Each of the lighting units includes a light emitting chip located on the circuit board, a package layer covering the light emitting chip and a light mask layer locally disposed on the package layer to mask light from the light emitting chip towards the abutting keycap such that the light is confined to generate illumination merely in the light emitting zone. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140183016 | LIGHTING MODULE - A lighting module is adapted to an electronic device. The electronic device includes a light transmitting portion. The lighting module comprises a light source and a microstructure. The light source is disposed in the electronic device, and the light source includes a light emitting surface facing the light transmitting portion. The microstructure is disposed between the light emitting surface of the light source and the light transmitting portion. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140190804 | LUMINOUS PRESS KEY MODULE - A luminous press key module includes: a key cap; a base plate disposed under the key cap and formed with a base plate opening; a circuit unit disposed between the base plate and the key cap; a restoring unit disposed between the key cap and an upper surface of the circuit unit and abutting against the key cap; and a luminous unit including a luminous element disposed on a lower surface of the circuit unit opposite to the upper surface of the circuit unit. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140197015 | ILLUMINATION-TYPE PUSH BUTTON DEVICE - An illumination-type push button device, including a light source portion and an optical member in which one or more lens portions each made of an outgoing surface on a front side and an incident surface on a back side are formed, the optical member configured to receive, from the incident surfaces, light emitted from the light source portion, and to emit the incident light to an outside of the device from the outgoing surfaces, wherein in the outgoing surface of one of the lens portions of the optical member, a single convex portion is formed, the single convex portion being convex in a light exit direction, and in the incident surface of one of the lens portions of the optical member, a plurality of convex portions are formed, the plurality of convex portions being convex reverse to the light incident direction, and smaller than the convex portion of the outgoing surface. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140318939 | SWITCH UNIT AND GAME MACHINE - A switch unit has an operation key, a cover member having an opening corresponding to the operation key, and a light emitting device disposed on a rear surface side of the cover member that makes the periphery of the operation key luminous by irradiation with light from a light emitting portion disposed on the periphery of the operation key. A top surface side of the operation key is inserted from the rear surface side of the cover member into the opening. An opposing-mirror portion is disposed on the cover member on at least a peripheral part of the operation key. The opposing-mirror portion has a half-mirror portion and a mirror portion spaced apart from the half-mirror portion with a space therebetween. The half-mirror portion is disposed above the mirror portion. The light emitting portion of the light emitting device faces the space between the half-mirror portion and the mirror portion. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140332358 | OPERATION KEY AND SWITCHING UNIT - An operation key including an image transmissive part configured to transmit an image of display information located behind the image transmissive part, where an inclined surface is formed in at least a part of a rear surface of the image transmissive part, and the inclined surface is inclined onto a front surface side of the image transmissive part toward a far side from a side near an operator. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20150047958 | ILLUMINATION DISPLAY SWITCHING DEVICE - An illumination display switching device includes a board, a push button-type switch mounted on the board, a light source mounted on the board, and a switch knob that is supported to a frame member to be slidable in an operation direction of the push button-type switch. The switch knob includes a display design part that is molded with a light-transmitting resin, a non-display design part except for the display design part that is molded with an opaque resin and a light guide member that is integrally molded with the light-transmitting resin of the display design part. The light guide member includes a base part and an arm part, and the base part is integrally molded with the display design part and the arm part extends from the base part and is connected to a switch part of the push button-type switch. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150053539 | ADHESIVELY ATTACHED LENS WITH FINISHING LAYER - An input mechanism device and a method for providing an edge-to-edge input mechanism are provided. The device includes a lens at a surface facing an engager of the input mechanism; a finishing layer opposite the surface, applied on the lens; an adhesive layer on the finishing layer; a sub-retainer, the sub-retainer and the adhesive layer being bonded with each other via adhesive properties associated with the adhesive layer; and a button retainer to engage with the sub-retainer in response to the engager of the input mechanism applying pressure on the lens. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150083561 | METAL KEYCAPS WITH BACKLIGHTING - According to one general aspect of the invention, a keyboard of a computing device includes a keycap and a light source. The keycap is configured to actuate a switch of the computing device. The keycap includes a metal material and has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface of the keycap is configured to be viewed by a user while operating the computing device and defines one or more openings in the keycap. The one or more openings in the upper surface is patterned in the shape of a single alphanumeric character. The lower surface of the keycap defines one or more openings in the keycap. The keycap defines one or more passageways extending from the one or more openings defined by the upper surface of the keycap through the keycap to the one or more openings defined by the lower surface of the keycap. The light source is configured to emit light through the one or more passageways of the keycap from the lower surface side of the one or more passageways to the upper surface side of the one or more passageways. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150114810 | ILLUMINATED-TYPE PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH AND KEYBOARD - A push-button switch ( | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150136573 | KEYBOARD BACKLIGHTING WITH DEPOSITED LIGHT-GENERATING SOURCES - Techniques and devices provide backlighting for keys of a keyboard or keypad. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150303007 | LIGHT EMITTING SWITCH APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING SWITCH KNOB FOR LIGHT EMITTING SWITCH APPARATUS - A light emitting switch apparatus includes a circuit, a switch that opens and closes a contact point of the circuit, a light emitting bulb that emits light, and a switch knob as an operation part of the switch. The switch knob includes a primary molded part configuring the translucent part and a secondary molded part configuring a design part other than the translucent part. The primary molded part includes a projection on an inside surface of the primary molded part projected along an opening-closing direction of a molding mold of the primary molded part. The projection is integrally molded with the primary molded part. The primary molded part and the secondary molded part are integrally molded by a multicolor molding method. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150332872 | APPARATUS AND BUTTON - An apparatus includes a housing that includes a hole, a tactile switch and an LED disposed within the housing, and a power button including a first molded body and a second molded body made of different types of resin. The first molded body includes a button body supported in a state movable in an axial direction, and disposed such that a front surface of the button body is exposed to the outside of the housing through the hole. The second molded body includes a light guide unit penetrating the button body, a pressing portion disposed at a position spaced away from the light guide unit and projecting toward the tactile switch from a rear surface of the button body, and a connecting portion disposed on the rear surface of the button body and connecting the light guide unit and the pressing portion with each other. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150348723 | PUSH BUTTON SWITCH, PUSH BUTTON UNIT, AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE - A push button switch has a button section having a push operation surface that is made of a light-transmitting material, and a light guide plate arranged in parallel with the push operation surface, a moving mechanism that causes the button section to move in parallel with a pushing direction, a detecting section that detects when the button section has moved in parallel with the pushing direction, a light source that emits light that enters the light guide plate via a lateral surface of the light guide plate, and a base positioned on a rear surface side of the button section, on which the moving mechanism is disposed. The moving mechanism holds the button section at an area other than an area corresponding to the push operation surface. The detecting section and the light source are positioned outside the area corresponding to the push operation surface. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20160035514 | BUTTON COVER FOR IMPROVING UNIFORMITY OF LIGHTING AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - The present invention provides a button cover that improves uniformity of lighting, and prevents lighting quality from decreasing while reducing manufacturing costs using a minimal number of light source elements and a method to manufacture the button cover. The button cover includes a transparent resin that operates as a base and an outer surface of the button cover and a colorant applied to the transparent resin. In addition, a convex-concave pattern shape is formed on an inner surface of the button cover and a light source is configured to output light. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160055988 | A KEY MODULE FOR A KEY OF A KEYBOARD AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A KEY MODULE FOR A KEY OF A KEYBOARD - The invention proposes a key module for a key of a keyboard. The key module includes a module base, a module cover that can be coupled with the module base and a key tappet for coupling a keycap that is translucent in at least one symbol section. The module base includes at least one through-hole between a bottom section of the key module and the module cover. The module cover includes a section that is translucent for the light from a light source. The light source is a color-changeable light source for backlighting the symbol section of the keycap. The translucent section of the module cover is aligned with the at least one through-hole when the module cover is coupled to the module base. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160064163 | PUSH-TYPE SWITCH - A push-type switch includes a cap lid made of a light permeable material, a shielding board, a holding board, a movable seat, a display module disposed between the cap lid and the movable seat, a lighting element disposed in the movable seat, a conducting unit having a conducting element being flexible and a plurality of conducting terminals, and a housing. When the cap lid is being pushed downward, the movable seat moves concurrently to depress the conducting element, whereby the conducting element being deformed to electrically contact the conducting terminals so as to switch on and off the push-type switch, and the lighting element and the display module being capable of emitting light and displaying images respectively according to the state of switch and electrical signals transmitted from a printed circuit board to the lighting element and the display module. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160071662 | KEYBOARD SWITCH - A keyboard switch includes a top cover, a pressing part, a spring, a bottom base, a fixed contact and a moving contact. The moving contact is provided with a first contact surface and two second contact surfaces of arched shape at two sides of the first contact surface. The fixed contact is provided with a third contact surface with at least two protruding portions formed thereon; the fixed contact is in contact with the first contact surface through the protruding portions. The pressing part is provided with an inclined surface corresponding to the second contact surfaces; when the pressing part is pressed to move downwardly, the inclined surface acts on the second contact surfaces and pushes the moving contact away from the fixed contact to cause the protruding portions to separate from the first contact surface. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160079011 | KEYBOARD ILLUMINATED SWITCH CIRCUIT - Embodiments of the present invention provide a circuit structure that allows the use of a single sided Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with a mechanical key structure that has a light emitting element in the middle of the key structure. An LED with pins for protruding through a printed circuit board allows a layout only on the bottom side of the PCB. In one embodiment, the PCB includes at least one low ohm resister forming a bridge for a switch matrix conductor over a perpendicular switch matrix conductor. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160093452 | LIGHT-EMITTING ASSEMBLY FOR KEYBOARD - A light-emitting assembly positioned within a switch housing of a keyboard assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The light-emitting assembly may include a phosphor structure, a transparent material positioned on opposing side surfaces of the phosphor structure, and an epoxy layer formed over an entire back surface of the phosphor structure and the transparent material. The light-emitting assembly may also include a mask layer formed over an entire top surface of: the phosphor structure, the transparent material, and the epoxy layer. The light-emitting assembly may further include a light source positioned within the phosphor structure for emitting a light. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20180025858 | LIGHT EMITTING KEYSWITCH | 01-25-2018 |
