Keyboard with illuminated keys
First Claim
1. In a keyboard system having control means mounted on a base and a member overlying the control means, said member having a frame mounted the member relative to the base and having a key with a button portion integrally joined to the frame by a self-hinge portion of the key movable for selectively actuating the control means, the improvement in which the key member is formed of a light-transmitting material, and light source means direct light into the material of the frame to be conducted at least partly by internal reflection within the member material into the button portion of the key for illuminating the button portion of the key.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A keyboard for use in an automotive control panel or the like has a pattern of switches on a base and has a key member overlying the switches, the key member having a frame mounting the member relative to the base and having a plurality of keys each comprising a button integrally joined to the frame by a self-hinge portion of the key so that the keys overly the respective switches and are individually movable for selectively actuating the switches. The key member is molded of a light transmitting material and an opaque escutcheon is fitted over the key member to permit the key buttons to extend through openings in the escutcheon. Light source means are arranged to direct light into the frame part of the key member so that the light is directed through the frame and along the lengths of the self-hinge portions of the keys into the button portions of the keys at least partly by internal reflection of light within the light-transmitting material of the key member, thereby to illuminate the buttons of the keys in a compact, economical keyboard structure.
97 Citations
7 Claims
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1. In a keyboard system having control means mounted on a base and a member overlying the control means, said member having a frame mounted the member relative to the base and having a key with a button portion integrally joined to the frame by a self-hinge portion of the key movable for selectively actuating the control means, the improvement in which the key member is formed of a light-transmitting material, and light source means direct light into the material of the frame to be conducted at least partly by internal reflection within the member material into the button portion of the key for illuminating the button portion of the key.
- 2. In a keyboard system having a plurality of control means mounted in a pattern on a base and a molded key member overlying the pattern of control means, said member having a frame mounted the member relative to the base and having a plurality of keys each with a button portion integrally joined to the frame by a self-hinge portion of the key so that the keys are disposed over the respective control means for movement to selectively actuate the respective control means, the improvement in which the key member is molded of a light-transmitting material and light source means direct light into the material of the frame to be conducted along the self-hinge portions of the member into the button portions of the keys at least partly by internal reflection of the light within the member material for illuminating the button portions of the keys.
Specification