Light emitting keyed keyboard

• US 20020122683A1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Tohru, Kamei, Nobuyuki, Kitanaka, Akihiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,648,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/06 Reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/064 Optical isolation of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/058 Containing a battery

Abstract

As it is often difficult for users of a keyboard to adequately identify and select the correct keys in a keyboard where the light is inadequate, it is desirable to provide a keyboard capable that allows a user to better see keys of the keyboard even in environments where there is not sufficient light to see the keys (e.g., in an airplane). A keyboard of the present invention comprises a substrate, a membrane, an elastic member, a cover sheet, a keytop, and light-emitting means for emitting light from the bottom of the substrate to the keytop. The keytop is illuminated and a legend on a key surface can be seen, so that the chance of incorrect key stroke is reduced.

Claims

1. A keyboard having a plurality of keys, comprising:

a substrate having a membrane formed thereon, wherein said membrane comprises contacts for each key;

an elastic member for each key, formed over the contacts of the membrane;

a keytop for each key, formed over the elastic member; and

light-emitting means for emitting light from the underside of the substrate to the keytops,

wherein the substrate and the membrane are light transmissive at least at portions corresponding to top surfaces of said keytops, and the keytops are light transmissive at portions corresponding to legends or non-legend areas of the top surfaces of the keytops.

3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said light-emitting means is a backlight sheet comprising:

a light source, a light-guiding member for guiding light from the light source;

a reflective sheet for reflecting the light; and

a diffusion layer for diffusing the light.

5. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of said backlight sheets are arranged in an array.

6. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein said light from the light source is diffused by the diffusion layer to be applied through the top surface of the light-guiding board to the keytops.

7. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein said light source is a light-emitting diode.

8. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein said light source is a fluorescent lamp.

9. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein power for said light source is derived from a thermoelectric generating element.

10. The keyboard according to claim 9, wherein said thermoelectric generating element is provided between an MPU or a chip set and cooling means for said MPU or said chip set, and electric power is generated due to a temperature difference therebetween.

11. The keyboard according to claim 10, wherein electric power generated by said thermoelectric generating element is used for recharging battery.

12. The keyboard according to claim 10, wherein electric power generated by said thermoelectric generating element is used operating an electronic device.

13. The keyboard according to claim 10, wherein said thermoelectric generating element serves as a cooling device of at least one of the MPU and the chip set.

15. The keyboard in combination with a notebook computer according to claim 14 wherein the light-emitting means further comprises a light-guiding member for guiding light from the light source;

a reflective sheet for reflecting the light; and

a diffusion layer for diffusing the light.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the light-emitting means is a flourescent light.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein power for said light source is derived from a thermoelectric generating element.

2. A keyboard having a plurality of keys, comprising:

a substrate;

a film-like circuit board having contacts for each key, formed over the substrate;

an elastic member for each key, formed over the contacts of the board and having an electrically conductive member for providing electrical continuity between the contacts;

a keytop for each key formed over the elastic member; and

light-emitting means for emitting light from the underside of the substrate to the keytops,

wherein the substrate and the membrane are light transmissive at least at portions corresponding to the top surfaces of the keytops, and the keytops are light transmissive at portions corresponding to legends or non-legend areas of the top surfaces of the keytops.

4. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein said light-emitting means is a backlight sheet comprising:

a light source, a light-guiding member for guiding light from the light source;

a reflective sheet for reflecting the light; and

a diffusion layer for diffusing the light.

14. A keyboard having a plurality of keys, configured in combination with a notebook computer, comprising:

a substrate having a membrane formed thereon, wherein said membrane comprises contacts for each key;

an elastic member for each key, formed over the contacts of the membrane;

a plurality of keytops formed over the elastic member, wherein each keytop represents a key on the keyboard; and

light-emitting means comprising a light source for emitting light from the underside of the substrate to the keytops, and

a thermoelectric generating element,

wherein the substrate and the membrane are light transmissive at least at portions corresponding to top surfaces of said keytops, and the keytops are light transmissive at portions corresponding to legends or non-legend areas of the top surfaces of the keytops.