Computer and method providing for illumination of keyboard

• US 6,911,971 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ogawa, Tetsuo, Suzuki, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/064,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: G09/G00.5/00, 345168-172, 200308-317, 341/22, 341/23, 341/24, 341/25, 341/26, 362 23- 30
• US Class Current: 345/170
• 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 2219/052 Phosphorescence

Abstract

The computer of the present invention is provided with a main body on which keys to be operated by the user are disposed and a display unit that displays an image in accordance with each operation executed for the main body. Each key disposed on the main body is composed of its body having a key top and a light accumulator recess opened in the key top. The light accumulator recess is formed in a manner indicative of the character or symbol associated with such key. The light accumulator recess has embedded in it a light accumulating material such that the character or symbol associated with the key is illuminated by the residual light emission of the light accumulating material when the computer is operated in a location with little or no ambient light.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a main body provided with at least one key operated by a user;

a display unit that displays an image in accordance with an operation executed by said main body;

wherein said at least one key comprises;

a top surface having a light accumulator recess formed therein, the shape of said recess being indicative of an operation type of said at least one key; and

a light accumulator embedded in said light accumulator recess.

2. The computer according to claim 1;

wherein a depth of said light accumulator recess is selected to provide a predetermined residual emission brightness of said light accumulator.

3. The computer according to claim 1;

wherein said light accumulator recess is at least 150 μ

m in depth.

4. The computer according to claim 1;

wherein said light accumulator recess is at least 200 μ

m in depth.

5. The computer according to claim 1;

wherein said operation type of said at least one key is identified by a predetermined character or symbol; and

said light accumulator recess is formed in the shape of said predetermined character or symbol.

6. The computer according to claim 1;

wherein said operation type of said at least one key is identified by a predetermined character or symbol; and

said light accumulator recess is formed to surround the shape of said predetermined character or symbol.

7. The computer according to claim 1;

wherein said operation type of said at least one key is identified by a predetermined character or symbol; and

said light accumulator recess is formed to cover said top surface of said at least one key except for an area in the shape of said predetermined character or symbol.

8. The computer according to claim 1;

wherein said computer further comprises a residual emission level meter having a light accumulator as an element and enabled to display a residual emission level of said light accumulator embedded in said light accumulator recess.

9. A computer, comprising:

a main body provided with a keyboard on which a plurality of input keys are disposed;

a display unit that displays an image in accordance with an operation executed for said main body and enabled to be opened from/closed to said main body; and

a display meter provided at said main body or said display unit and composed of a plurality of light accumulator films that are different from each other in residual light brightness in a predetermined way.

10. The computer according to claim 9;

wherein said plurality of said light accumulator films are composed of light accumulators with the same emission performance but with differing film thicknesses, thereby providing differing residual light brightnesses in a predetermined way.

11. The computer according to claim 9;

wherein each of said plurality of said input keys has a character or symbol displayed by a light accumulator embedded in its key top; and

said display meter is composed so as to display a residual emission level of said light accumulator that displays said character or symbol.

12. The computer according to claim 9;

wherein at least one of said plurality of said light accumulator films has the same emission performance as that of said light accumulator that displays said character or symbol.

13. A keyboard on which a plurality of operation keys are disposed;

wherein each of said plurality of operation keys comprising;

a key body having a key top surface; and

a display member of a character or symbol on said key top surface;

wherein said display member is comprised of a light accumulator that has a residual emission brightness of at least 50 mcd/m² 30 minutes after said light accumulator is exposed to a 400-lux light from a D₆₅ standard light source for 20 minutes.

14. The keyboard according to claim 13;

wherein said display member is not protruded from said key top surface.

15. In a computer having (i) a main body provided with a keyboard on which a plurality of input keys are disposed and (ii) a display unit for displaying an image in accordance with an operation executed for said main body and enabled to be opened from/closed to said main body, a method for illuminating said plurality of input keys for use in a location lacking in ambient light, the method comprising:

forming a light accumulator recess in a top surface of each of said plurality of input keys, the shape of said recess being indicative of an operation type of said each of said plurality of input keys;

depositing a light accumulating material in each said light accumulator recess;

charging said light accumulating material in each said light accumulator recess by exposing each of said plurality of input keys to an external light source.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein each said light accumulator recess is formed to a depth of at least 150 μ

m.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein each said light accumulator recess is formed to a depth of at past 200 μ

m.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein said display unit comprises a back-light light source and wherein the step of charging said light accumulating material comprises closing said display unit to said main body such that light from said back-light light source impacts on said plurality of input keys.