GB2364275A

GB2364275A - Backlit keyboard with a push button(s) having an illuminator(s) thereunder which is operable on movement of the button between first and second positions

Info

Publication number: GB2364275A
Application number: GB0016556A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sheang Teng Lin; Yen-Liang Kuan
Original assignee: Behavior Technical Computer Corp
Current assignee: Behavior Technical Computer Corp
Priority date: 2000-07-05
Filing date: 2000-07-05
Publication date: 2002-01-23
Also published as: GB0016556D0

Abstract

The keyboard comprises a casing 11 which has a push button(s) 12 supported thereon. The button(s) includes a light-transmitting cap 13 mounted on a post 14 which is supported on a circuit board 16 by a resilient support 15 (e.g. a bell or dome). A conductive element (not shown) is mounted in the resilient support such that when the button is depressed by a user from a first (released) to a second (actuated) position the support member is deformed. This action causes the conductive element to contact the circuit board and generate a corresponding signal which energises an illuminator 20 which is arranged under the button cap and electrically coupled to the board. The illuminator may be selectively energised/de-energised when the button is depressed from the first to second positions to indicate a change of lighting status of the button. A pair of illuminators of different colours may be disposed under the cap such that a pattern of light may be generated during the operation of the keyboard. The keyboard may be connected to a computer such that the illuminator is controlled thereby.

Description

2364275 LUMINOUS KEYBOARD The present invention generally relates to a

computer keyboard, and in particular to a computer keyboard comprising illuminators positionedin 5 or under light-transmitting push buttons thereof for indicatioi; and aesthetic purposes.

A computer keyboard comprises a plurality of push buttons each comprising a cap movably supported on a casing of the keyboard. A post 10 extends from an inner surface of each push button and supported by a resilient support member positioned on a circuit board inside the casing. The resilient support member comprises a conductive element fixed therein. The resiliency of the support member enables the support member to collapse when the push button is depressed or actuated, causing the 15 conductive element to engage the circuit board and thus generating a signal corresponding thereto.

Conventionally, except certain indictors provided on the keyboard, the push buttons do not illuminate. Push buttons that are equipped with illuminators for showing different colors or different illuminating status 20 would be more appealing to general consumers and more interesting to computer users.

Furthermore, a luminous keyboard having illuminating push buttons also provides an advantage of indicating the actuation of the associated push button. In addition, it also serves to provide aesthetic purposes.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a luminous keyboard having illuminating push buttons.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an aesthetic 5 keyboard.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard having push buttons each being associated with an illuminator, the illuminator being ene ize I i rgi d/de-energized when the push button is actuated for indicating the actuation of the push button.

10 In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a linninous keyboard comprising a plurality of push buttons, each comprising a cap made of a light-transmitting material supported on a circuit board by a resi ient support member. A conductive element is fixed in the resilient support member whereby when one of the push buttons is actuated, the 15 support member is deformed, causing the conductive element to engage the circuit board and thus generating a corresponding signal. At least one illuminator is arranged in or under the cap of at least some of the push buttons for being selectively energized to illuminate. Preferably, the illuminator is electrically coupled to the circuit board whereby when the 20 push button is actuated'. the illuminator is energized/de-energized to indicate change of lighting status of the push button.

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, with

25 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

2 Figure I is a perspective view of a luminous keyboard constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a push button of the luminous keyboard of the present invention.

With reference to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, wherein a luminous keyboard constructed in accordance with the present invention, generally designated at 10, is shown, the luminous keyboard 10 comprises a casing I I having a base and a top (both not labeled) and a plurality of 10 push buttons 12 movably supported on the top of the casing 11. A circuit board 16 (Figure 2) is retained in the casing I I and supported on the base of the casing 11.

Also referring to Figure 2, each push button 12 comprises a cap 13 made of a light transmitting material movably received in a corresponding 15 opening (not labeled) defined in the top of the casing 11. A post 14 extends from an inner surface of the cap 13 in a direction toward the circuit board 16. A resilient support member 15 in the forni of a bell or a dome is positioned between a lower free end of the post 14 and the circuit board 16 for resiliently supporting the cap 13. The resiliency of the 20 support member 15 allows the support member 15 to collapse for accommodating movement of the cap 13. A conductive element (not shown) is mounted in the support member 15 whereby when the cap 13 is depressed, the conductive element is brought into contact with the circuit board 16 for generating an electrical signal representing the actuation of 25 the push button 12.

An illuminator 20 is arranged in the casing I I associated with each of the push buttons 12. As shown in Figure 2, the illuminator 20 is arranged 3 substantially below the cap 13 whereby when the illuminator 20 Is energized, the illuminator 20 emits light which transmits through the light-transmitting cap 13 and thus illuminating the push button 12. It is noted that the illuminator 20 is positioned so as not to interfere with the 5 movement of the cap 13.

1 it is apparent to those having ordinary skills to arrange the illuminator 20 in different ways provided the movement of the cap 13 is not interfered with by the illuminator 20. For example, the illuminator 20 may be attached to an inside surface of the cap 13.

10 The illuminator 20 is electrically connected to the circuit board 16 which supplies power to and thus energizes the illuminator 20. The illuminator 20 is capable to switch between an energized condition where power is supplied thereto for generating light and a de-energized condition where power supplied thereto is cut off. The circuit board may be 15 designed to turn on the illuminator 20 when the associated push button 12 is actuated by depressing the cap 13 and turn off the illuminator 20 when the cap 13 is released. Alternatively, -the illuminator 20 may be kept in an ON condition (energized condition) when the push button 12 is not actuated and the cap 13 is not depressed. The illuminator 20 is turned off 20 when the push button 12 is actuated. In other words, the lighting condition of the illuminator 20 is changed according to the actuation of the push button 12.

Another way to control the illuminators 20 is to connect the illuminators 20 directly to a computer (not shown) to which the keyboard 25 10 is coupled. The operation of the push buttons 12 of the keyboard 10 causes the computer to change the lighting condition of the illuminators 20.

If desired, the illuminators 20 may be kept ON when the computer is in operation and changing lighting condition is not performed.

4 It is apparent that the illuminators 20 may be selected to generate light of different colors. Alternatively, more than one illuminator 20 having different color light is associated with a single push button 12 whereby a colorful patterns of light may be generated during the operation 5 of the keyboard 10.

Although the present invention has been described with 'respect to the preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that a variety of modifications, variations and substitutions may be done without departing from the scope of the present invention that is intended to be defined by the appended 10 claims.

Claims

1, A luminous keyboard comprising a casing in which a plurality of push buttons are mounted, each push button comprising a cap made of a lighttransmitting material movably supported in the casing, at least one illuminator being arranged in the casing substantially under the cap of at least one of the push buttons for selectively emitting light transmitting through the cap.

2. The luminous keyboard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least two illuminators emitting lights of different colors are disposed under the cap.

3. The luminous keyboard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cap is movable between a first position and a second position, the illuminator being switchable between energized condition and de-energized condition when the cap is moved between the first and second positions.

4. The luminous keyboard as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first position is associated with a released condition of the push button and the second position is associated with an actuated condition of the push button.

5. The luminous keyboard as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first position is associated with an actuated condition of the push button and the second position is associated with a released condition of the push button.

6. The luminous keyboard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the illuminator is kept in an energized condition to emit light during the operation of the keyboard.

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7. The luminous keyboard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the casing has a base and an opposite top, the cap being movably supported on the top by a resilient support member, the support member comprising a conductive element therein and being positioned on a circuit board supported on the base, the resiliency of the' upport member enabling the support member to collapse when the cap is moved from a first position to a second position to bring the conductive element into contact with the circuit board thereby generating an electric signal, the illuininator being connected to the circuit board whereby when the electric signal is generated, the illuminator is switched from a first lighting condition to a second lighting condition.

8. The luminous keyboard as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the keyboard is electrically coupled to a computer, the illuminator being electrically connected to and thus controlled by the computer.

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