WO2005052971A1

WO2005052971A1 - Lighted keyboard

Info

Publication number: WO2005052971A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/006476
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mohamed Atta
Original assignee: Mohamed Atta
Priority date: 2003-11-21
Filing date: 2003-11-21
Publication date: 2005-06-09
Also published as: AU2003304572A1

Abstract

The present invention related to a lighted keyboard. More particular, the present invention relates to a keyboard having illuminated keys, wherein the illumination of the individual keys can change fromm one language character to another depending on the language program selected.

Description

Lighted Keyboard

The present invention relates to a lighted keyboard. More particular, the present invention relates to a keyboard having illuminated keys, wherein the illumination of the individual keys can change from one language character to another depending on the language program selected.

Keyboards, sometimes also referred to as keypads, have improved in many ways over the years. Much of the improvement comes in the layout of the keys to improve typing convenience and speed. Typically, the keys of a keyboard have one character printed on it corresponding to a particular function. If the character of the key is changed, the function of the key remains the same. The function of the key is independent of the changing of the character or image printed thereon.

In the absence of light, i.e., in a dark conference room, a user of a conventional keyboard is not able to see the printing on a keyboard. Another common disadvantage of the conventional keyboard is the inconvenience in typing in different language characters. One can type in different languages with a single keyboard by sticking a small character of a second language on empty spaces found on the corresponding keys having Latin character. However, the problem of viewing the printed characters in a dark room is still remaining. Moreover, when there are many characters at a single key, it may confuse the user and may cause a retarding and/or mistaken writing or weariness of the user's eyes.

Thus, it would be desirable to have a keyboard having keys, which can be switched to simultaneously display the characters of a language selected by the user. As such, a single keyboard would be capable of being utilized to type in a selected amount of languages. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a keyboard with illuminated keys for convenient writing in the dark. It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard wherein each key can be illuminated for displaying characters of different languages as selected by the user.

The present invention relates to a keyboard having a plurality of individual keys, and each key has different sections. Each section of each key can be illuminated independently. Each key provides at the top surface at each section preferably different labels so that illuminating different sections of the key will illuminate different characters at each individual key. The labels of each individual key may be printed on the key as in conventional keyboards, or the character may be formed as a transparent label, which can be illuminated by the light source below the individual key. Therefore, each keyboard layout is capable of displaying a label on the key in a plurality of different languages.

The keyboard includes preferably extra buttons allowing the user to decide if he wants to write without light or if he wants to write with full light (perfect millennium modern view). Preferably, when writing with lighted or illuminated keys, only one language is illuminated, so that no muddle with other languages will occur. The change of illumination can be done manually by a button on the keyboard, automatically by pushing ALT+SHIFT, or by software in the computer.

The form and design of the keys is similar to some car radio buttons or to keys which are used at mobile phones. A board with well-distributed light sources, i.e. lamps or LED's, is mounted in the middle of the keyboard directly below the keys or buttons. The keys are produced such that the letters or numbers or symbols, which are adapted to be illuminated, are transparent. Each section or part of the key is separated inside the button by dividing walls to limit the light for one symbol, letter or number and therefore prevent the light to illuminate the other symbols, letters or numbers of the same button.

The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like parts have the same reference signs, wherein:

Fig. 1 : is an exploded drawing of a keyboard according to the present invention; Fig. 2: is a keyboard layout of a prior art keyboard;

Fig. 3: is a fully lighted or illuminated keyboard according to the present invention,

Fig. 4: is a keyboard according to the present invention lighting or illuminating only the Latin letters, and

Fig. 5: is a keyboard lighting only Arabic letters.

Fig. 1 is an exploded drawing of a keyboard according to the present invention showing a sheet of keys or buttons 1 , a new sheet of distributed lamps 2, a base of the computer keyboard 3 and four separation walls 4 inside the button, the sheet of the buttons 1 comprises buttons or keys, which have to be in general non- transparent and only the individual letters, symbols or numbers, which are adapted to illuminate at each section of the key, are transparent. The new sheet of distributed lamps 2 provides under every individual key or button one, two, three, four or more lamps or LED's according to the need. The lamps or the transparent letters may comprise different colours. Each individual lamp, which can also be a LED, has its own separate electric connection and can be controlled individually. Inside of each individual button the different sections are separated by dividing walls 4 to concentrate the light of each individual lamp onto only one letter, number or symbol and therefore prevent the illumination of other letters, numbers or symbols.

The keyboard according to the present invention will prevent muddles because of the separated display of the individual language characters. Furthermore, a user can easily write in the dark due to the illuminated keys.

List of reference signs: 1 Sheet of buttons 2 New sheet of distributed lamps 3 Base of the computer key board 4 Four separated walls inside a button

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lighted keyboard with a plurality of keys, wherein individual keys can be illuminated.

2. The keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein an individual key is separated in different sections.

3. The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein an individual section of an individual key is adapted to be illuminated individually by a corresponding light source.

4. The keyboard according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an individual section of an individual key comprises walls inside the key.

5. The keyboard according to claim 4, wherein the walls prevent the illumination of the neighbouring section(s).

6. The keyboard according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein an individual section of an individual key comprises a transparent character, number or symbol.

7. The keyboard according to claim 6, wherein the transparent characters may comprise different colours.

8. The keyboard according to claim 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein individual light sources may comprise different colours.