Button

• US 10,418,011 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2019
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ableton AG
• Original Assignee: Ableton AG
• Inventors: Harms, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O
• Application Number:
  US16/253,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20190304422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10C 3/12 Keyboards; Keys
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0551 using variable capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0553 using optical or light-responsive means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0555 using magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/344 Structural association with individual keys electrically operated wind-actuated organs G10B3/22
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/46 Volume control
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/026 associated with a key or other user input device, e.g. key indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/161 with 2D or x/y surface coordinates sensing graphical user interface or touchscreen input G10H2220/091; microtonal keyboard G10H2210/401
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/275 Switching mechanism or sensor details of individual keys, e.g. details of key contacts, hall effect or piezoelectric sensors used for key position or movement sensing purposes; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/295 Switch matrix, e.g. contact array common to several keys, the actuated keys being identified by the rows and columns in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/305 using a light beam to detect key, pedal or note actuation light beams in general G10H2220/411
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/521 Hall effect transducers or similar magnetic field sensing semiconductor devices, e.g. for string vibration sensing or key movement sensing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/018 Musical instrument

Abstract

A button is disclosed, which includes a button unit suspended movably vertically in Z-direction in a fixed frame and having a button body with an upper actuating surface and at least one central shaft extending vertically downwardly from the button body and extending at an upper end below the button body horizontally into an extension. The shaft and the extension having a translucent material such that they commonly form a light guide which is fixedly connected to the button body. The button additionally includes a light source vertically below the shaft. Light from the light source leaves vertically upwardly and enters the shaft from below. The button further includes a first optical device arranged in the vertical upper area of the light guide above the shaft for deflecting light that has entered the shaft from the light source in a horizontal direction into a plane of the extension.

Claims

1. A button, comprising:

a button unit (2) which is suspended movably vertically in Z direction in a fixed frame (1) and which has a button body (2a) consisting of a translucent material and having an upper actuating surface (2b) and at least one central shaft (3) extending vertically downwardly from the button body and extending at an upper end below the button body (2a) horizontally into an extension (20), wherein the shaft (3) and the extension (20) consist of a translucent material such that they commonly form a light guide which is fixedly connected to the button body (2a);

a light source (21) vertically below the shaft (3), wherein light from the light source leaves vertically upwardly and enters the shaft (3) from below;

a first optical device (22) for deflecting the light that has entered the shaft (3) from the light source (21) in a horizontal direction into a plane of the extension (20) and being arranged in a vertical upper area of the light guide above the shaft (3).

2. Button according to claim 1, wherein the first optical device (22) is a free form conical lens.

3. Button according to claim 1, further comprising a second optical device (23) for collimating the light that has entered the shaft (3) from the light source (21) in a direction of the first optical device (22) and being arranged in the vertical lower area of the shaft (3).

4. Button according to claim 3, wherein the second optical device (23) is the free form collecting lens for coupling the light.

5. Button according to claim 4, wherein the first optical device (22) is a free form conical lens, and wherein the free form collecting lens (23) is designed in such a way that a major part of the light is deflected to a surface area of the free form conical lens (22).

6. Button according to claim 1, further comprising at least one light scattering element (24) deflecting light radiating downwardly from the light guide in such way that the light is deflected upwardly is arranged at a bottom side of the extension (20).

7. Button according to claim 6, wherein the light scattering element (24) comprises a surface structure on a bottom side of the extension (20).

8. Button according to claim 1, wherein the first optical device (22) is filled with a material that the button body (2a) consists of to correct brightness concentrations in a middle of the actuating surface (2b).

9. Button according to claim 8, wherein the button body (2a) consists of silicone and the first optical device (22) is filed with silicone.

10. Button according to claim 1, wherein the button body (2a) consists of a material that is pigmented with titanium dioxide or aluminum oxide.

11. Button according to claim 1, wherein the shaft (3) and the extension (20) forming the light guide are pigmented with titanium dioxide or aluminum oxide.