Lightpipe for illuminating keys of a keyboard

• US 20080143560A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Shipman
• Original Assignee: Michael Shipman
• Inventors: Shipman, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/974,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A light guide is provided for illuminating innumerable constructions, but which is ideally suited for illuminating the keys of a keyboard. The light guide includes a translucent planar plate having a top, a bottom and sides. Further, the light guide includes one or more cavities which project upwardly into the translucent plate from its bottom surface. The cavities are hollow or filled with a translucent material so that the translucent plate and the one or more cavities form translucent interfaces where the cavities interface with the plate. The light guide also includes a reflector which covers the plate bottom and cavity openings. Light produced by a light source, preferably in the form of one or more LEDs, is transmitted to and through the translucent plate until striking the plate-cavity interfaces where the light is refracted into the cavities'"'"' interior or reflected upwardly to the plate'"'"'s upper surface. After initial refraction into a cavity, the light reflects off the reflector and travels again into the translucent plate until transmitted from the plate'"'"'s upper surface. Preferably, light guide is positioned within a keyboard housing with the cavities underlying the keys so that light is transmitted from the translucent sheet to the keys.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A lighted computer keyboard comprising:

an upper clamshell member being at least partially translucent to channel light;

a plurality of key members constructed of a substantially hard non-deformable material positioned within said keyboard housing;

a biasing means underlying said key members for biasing said key members in an upward direction;

a circuit board underlying said plurality of key members and said elastic diaphragm, said circuit board being operational to produce signals in response to depression of said key members; and

a light source optically connected to said clamshell member for communicating light to said clamshell member with said clamshell member channeling light from said light source to at least some of said plurality of key members;

said upper clamshell including a plurality of holes corresponding to said key members to allow said key members to engage said biasing means for, in turn, engaging said circuit board to produce signals in response to depression of said key members, said clamshell member further a light inhibiting material covering at least a portion of said clamshell member'"'"'s top surface between said holes so as to inhibit the transmission of light upwardly between said key members.

14. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 13 wherein said light source include LEDs or LECs.

15. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 14 wherein said LEDs or LECs are embedded in said clamshell member.

16. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 13 wherein said light source include fiber optic cables.

17. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 13 wherein said light source includes a light pipe and LEDs or LECs positioned below said circuit board.

18. A lighted computer keyboard comprising:

an upper clamshell member being at least partially translucent to channel light;

a plurality of key members constructed of a substantially hard non-deformable material positioned within said keyboard housing;

a biasing means underlying said key members for biasing said key members in an upward direction;

a circuit board underlying said plurality of key members and said elastic diaphragm, said circuit board being operational to produce signals in response to depression of said key members; and

a light source in the form of a light pipe and one or more LEDs positioned below said circuit board, said light source optically connected to said clamshell member for communicating light to said clamshell member with said clamshell member channeling light to at least some of said plurality of key members;

said upper clamshell including a plurality of holes corresponding to said key members to allow said key members to engage said biasing means for, in turn, engaging said circuit board to produce signals in response to depression of said key members, said clamshell member further a light inhibiting material covering at least a portion of said clamshell member'"'"'s top surface between said holes so as to inhibit the transmission of light upwardly between said key members.

19. An upper housing for a keyboard, the housing comprising:

an upper clamshell member made of a substantially translucent material and including a plurality of holes for receipt of key members;

a light inhibiting material covering at least a portion of the top of said clamshell member between at least some of said holes so as to inhibit the transmission of light upwardly between at least some of the key members;

at least of a portion of said clamshell member being not covered by said light inhibiting material so as to be exposed to a light source and allow visible light to be received into the translucent material of said clamshell member to be transmitted to key members.

20. An upper housing for a keyboard of claim 19 wherein the top of said clamshell member is substantially covered between said holes by said light inhibiting material so that substantially all light is inhibited from being transmitted upwardly between key members.