ILLUMINATED KEYBOARD

• US 20200133402A1
• Filed: 11/22/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David G. Duckworth, Shipman Michael
• Original Assignee: David G. Duckworth, Shipman Michael
• Inventors: MICHAEL, SHIPMAN, DUCKWORTH, DAVID GLENN
• Granted Patent: US 10,942,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor

Abstract

A keyboard includes scissor actuators for guiding and stabilizing each key in its upward and downward movement. A substantially translucent elastomeric diaphragm including elastomeric domes underlies the keys. A seat underlies the elastomeric domes for supporting and engaging the bottom extremities of the scissor actuators. The seat may be made of translucent plastic, which functions as a translucent upper clamshell member, or non-translucent metal having sufficiently large holes for the passage of light. A substantially translucent circuit board is positioned under the seat for the creation and transmission of signals indicating depression of key members. The seat includes central holes allowing for the depression of keys to force the elastomeric domes to engage the circuit board to create electronic signals. A planar luminescent light source is positioned under the circuit board. The preferred keys are covered by a first reflective coating, and a second non-reflective coating.

Claims

1. A lighted computer keyboard comprising:

a plurality of key members including a top, a bottom and one or more sides, said key members made of a substantially translucent material for channeling light, each of said key members including a first substantially reflective and opaque coating covering at least a portion of a top of said key member, said first substantially reflective opaque coating applied directly on the top surface of the key members, at least a portion of said top of said key members being not covered by said first coating with the uncovered portion being in the shape of a symbol so as to provide an illuminated symbol on the upper surface of the key members, and at least of portion of said bottom or sides of said key members being not covered by said first coating;

a plurality of scissor actuators with a scissor actuator underlying each key, each said scissor actuator including a pair of arms rotationally connected near their midpoints so as to rotate in scissor like manner for guiding and supporting said keys as said keys move in an upward and downward movement, said arms including upper extremities engaging said keys and lower extremities;

a plurality of elastomeric domes with an elastomeric dome underlying each key for biasing said key members in an upward direction;

a seat underlying said elastomeric domes, said seat including clips for engaging and connecting to said scissor actuators'"'"' lower extremities;

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

a luminescent planar sheet for producing light, said luminescent planar sheet underlying said key members, said elastomeric domes, and said seat, said luminescent planar sheet being optically connected to said key members so as to permit the transmission of light to allow visible light to be received into the translucent material of said key members and reflected off said key members'"'"' substantially reflective coating to be emitted from said top of said key members.

2. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 1 wherein said key members'"'"' first substantially reflective and opaque coating is white, light grey, silver, metallic silver or metallic gold.

3. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 1 wherein said key members further comprise a second coating covering at least a portion of said first coating, said second coating being less reflective than said first coating.

4. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 1 wherein said luminescent planar sheet is constructed as a planar light pipe made of translucent plastic connected to LEDs.

5. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 1 wherein said luminescent planar sheet includes a planar light pipe made of translucent plastic, one or more reflective members positioned under each of said key members, a reflective sheet positioned under said reflective members and said planar light pipe, and at least one light emitting diode (LED) connected to said planar light pipe.

6. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 5 wherein said reflective members provide greater light diffusion than said reflector.

7. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 5 wherein said reflective members are comprised of reflective paint applied to said planar light pipe.

8. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 6 wherein said reflective members are comprised of reflective paint applied to said planar light pipe.

9. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 3 wherein said luminescent planar sheet includes a planar light pipe made of translucent plastic, one or more reflective members positioned under each of said key members, a reflective sheet positioned under said reflective members, and at least one light emitting diode (LED) connected to said planar light pipe.

10. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 9 wherein said reflective members provide greater light diffusion than said reflector.

11. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 1 wherein said seat including clips is made of non-translucent metal having holes allowing for the passage of light.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

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20. A lighted computer keyboard comprising:

a plurality of key members including a top, a bottom and one or more sides, said key members made of a substantially translucent material for channeling light, each of said key members including a first coating covering at least a portion of a top of said key member with at least a portion of said top of said key members not covered by said first coating with the uncovered portion being in the shape of a symbol so as to provide an illuminated symbol on the upper surface of the key members, and at least of portion of said bottom of said key members being not covered by said first coating;

a plurality of scissor actuators with a scissor actuator underlying each key, each said scissor actuator including a pair of arms rotationally connected near their midpoints so as to rotate in scissor like manner for guiding and supporting said keys as said keys move in an upward and downward movement, said arms including upper extremities engaging said keys and lower extremities;

a plurality of elastomeric domes with an elastomeric dome underlying each key for biasing said key members in an upward direction;

a seat underlying said key members and said elastomeric domes, said seat including clips for engaging and connecting to said scissor actuators'"'"' lower extremities;

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

a luminescent planar sheet for producing light, said luminescent planar sheet underlying said key members, said elastomeric domes, said seat, and said circuit board, said luminescent planar sheet being optically connected to said key members so as to permit the transmission of light to allow visible light to be received into the translucent material of said key members to be emitted from said top of said key members, and

said luminescent planar sheet includes a planar light pipe made of translucent plastic, one or more reflective members positioned under a plurality of said key members, a reflective sheet positioned under said reflective members and said planar light pipe, and at least one light emitting diode (LED) connected to said planar light pipe.

21. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 20 wherein said reflective members provide greater light diffusion than said reflector.

22. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 20 wherein said reflective members are comprised of reflective paint applied to said planar light pipe.

23. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 21 wherein said reflective members are comprised of reflective paint applied to said planar light pipe.

24. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 23 wherein said seat including clips is made of non-translucent metal having holes allowing for the passage of light

25. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 21 wherein said plurality of key members'"'"' first coating is substantially reflective and applied directly on the top surface of the key members.

26. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 25 wherein said key members'"'"' first coating is white, light grey, silver, metallic silver or metallic gold.

27. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 25 wherein said key members further comprise a second coating covering at least a portion of said first coating, said second coating being less reflective than said first coating.

28. The lighted computer keyboard of claim 27 wherein said key members'"'"' first substantially reflective and opaque coating is white, light grey, silver, metallic silver or metallic gold, and said key members'"'"' second opaque coating is dark grey, black or blue.