Low power, low cost illuminated keyboards and keypads

• US 6,773,128 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.), Twenty-First Century Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Twenty-First Century Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Byrd, David C., Katrinecz, Jr., Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US09/755,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/85, 362/109, 362/234, 200/317, 345/8, 345/163, 345/166
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/034 Coloured areas
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/038 ambient light dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/052 Phosphorescence

Abstract

Methods are provided for adapting existing manufacturing processes for non-illuminated data-entry devices and mouses to the manufacture of illuminated data-entry devices. Luminescent sheets of one or more colors underlying optically transmissive device components provide illumination of the components visual to a user of the device. The optically transmissive components may be doped with phosphors or tinted to provide components that emit light of different colors. The intensity of illumination of the luminescent sheet may be controlled by the user and may vary in response to the background light of the environment.

Claims

1. An illuminated mouse comprising:

one or more exterior mouse components comprising an optically transmissive material; and

one or more flexible luminescent lamps underlying said one or more exterior, optically transmissive components to provide an intensity of illumination to said components visual to a user of the mouse, wherein the one or more mouse components includes an optically transmissive mouse button.