Electronic luminescence keyboard system for a portable device

• US 5,684,513 A
• Filed: 07/17/1995
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Randall Decker
• Original Assignee: Mark Randall Decker
• Inventors: Decker, Mark Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US08/502,913
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 345/170, 345/156, 345/901, 345/902, 345/903, 341/22, 341/23, 200/313, 200/314, 200/317, 200/310, 200/315, 200/316, 364/707, 364/708.1, 361/681, 361/680, 361/683, 359/48, 359/49, 359/50, 385/901, 385/147, 385/19, 385/25
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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 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 2219/06 Reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor

Abstract

An electronic luminescence keyboard system in a portable device which includes a plurality of keypads and an illuminated panel which displays information responsive to the pressing of at least one of the plurality of keypads is disclosed. The improvement comprises a conductor element for conducting a portion of the light from the illuminated panel and illuminator element coupled to the conductor element for illuminating the plurality of keypads with the portion of the light from the illuminated panel. Through the use of a portion of the light from the display panel is utilized to illuminate the keyboard thereby allowing for observation of the keypads on the keyboard when the surrounding area is dimly lit. The ELK system has no effect on the power consumption on the portable device. In an embodiment the ELK system provides for backlighting the keyboard. In a second embodiment the ELK system provides light to a top portion of the keypads.

Claims

1. In a portable device which includes a plurality of keypads and a panel which is illuminated by a light source within the panel, the panel displaying information responsive to the pressing of at least one of the plurality of keypads;

the panel being rotatable from the plurality of keypads, an electronic luminescence keyboard (ELK) system comprising;

a conductor element for conducting a portion of the light from the light source; and

illuminator element coupled to the conductor element for illuminating the plurality of keypads with the portion of the light from the light source.

2. The ELK system of claim 1 in which the conductor element comprises a conducting light pipe.

4. The ELK system of claim 1 in which the illuminator element comprises a reflective element.

3. The ELK system of claim i in which the conductor element includes a gate means for selectively allowing the light to the illuminator element.

5. In a device which includes a plurality of keypads and a panel which is illuminated by a light source within the panel, the panel displaying information responsive to the pressing of at least one of the plurality of keypads;

the panel being rotatable from the plurality of keypads, an electronic luminescence keyboard (ELK) system comprising;

conductor element coupled to the illuminated panel to conduct a portion of the light from the light source; and

a light transparent support plane coupled to the conductor element and located underneath the plurality of keypads for illuminating the keypads with the portion of the light from the light source.

6. The ELK system of claim 5 in which the conductor element comprises a conducting light pipe.

7. The ELK system of claim 5 in which the conductor element includes a gate means for selectively allowing the light to the illuminator element.

8. The ELK system of claim 5 in which the light transparent support plane comprises a backlight plane.

9. In a portable device which includes a plurality of keypads a panel which is illuminated by a light source within the panel displaying information responsive to the pressing of at least one of the plurality of keypads, the panel being rotatable from the plurality of keypads;

an electronic luminescence keyboard (ELK) system comprising;

conductor element coupled to the light source to conduct a portion of the light therefrom; and

a panel member coupled to the illuminated panel for reflecting the portion of the light from the light source on a top surface of the keypads.

10. The ELK system of claim 9 in which the conductor element comprises a conducting light pipe.

11. The ELK system of claim 9 in which the conductor element includes a gate means for selectively allowing the light to the illuminator element.

12. The ELK system of claim 9 in which the panel member comprises a reflective plane member.

13. A portable device comprising:

a plurality of keypads;

a light source;

a panel being illuminated by the light source, the light source being within the panel, the panel displaying information responsive to the pressing of at least one of the plurality of keypads, the panel being rotatable from the plurality of keypads;

a conductor element for conducting a portion of the light from the light source; and

illuminator element coupled to the conductor element for illuminating the plurality of keypads with the portion of the light from the light source.

14. The portable device of claim 13 in which the conductor element comprises a conducting light pipe.

15. The portable device of claim 13 in which the illuminated element comprises a reflective element.

16. The ELK system of claim 13 in which the conductor element includes a gate means for selectively allowing the light to the illuminator element.

17. The portable device of claim 13 in which the illuminator element comprises a light transparent support plane.

18. The portable device of claim 17 in which the light transparent support plane is a backlight plane.