A control device includes at least one button, a veneer secured to an outer surface of the button, and at least one light source configured to backlight the button. The veneer includes indicia defining an open portion exposing a portion of a body of a respective button, a floating portion, and at least one rib that suspends the floating portion. The rib has an upper surface recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and opposed sides extending from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The opposed sides are tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base.

A veneer configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device may include a plate portion. The plate portion may have one or more laser-cut indicia defined therethrough, may have laser-cut rounded corners, and may have angularly offset outer edges that may be defined during an embossing process. The laser-cut indicia may be representative of a command for controlling an electrical load. The indicia may include an alphanumeric character, an icon, or the like, may define one or more substantially zero-radius corners, and may define respective inner surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of the plate portion. A laser-cut alphanumeric character may have variable (e.g., continuously variable) line width. The plate portion may define a rib that suspends a floating portion of the alphanumeric character relative to an open portion. The rib may define a thickness that does not exceed 0.003 inches.

A method for manufacturing keycaps of a capped keyboard apparatus is disclosed. The proposed method includes: (a) providing a cover layer and plural keycap main bodies, wherein the cover layer includes plural units, and each the unit has an upper surface with a character; (b) putting the plural keycap main bodies on a fixture; (c) shaping the cover layer on the fixture and attaching each the unit to a corresponding one of the plural keycap main bodies; and (d) cutting the cover layer to obtain plural keycaps independent of one another.

A capped keyboard apparatus is disclosed. The proposed capped keyboard apparatus includes plural independent keycaps, wherein each the keycap has a main body, and a cover layer covering the main body and including a shell fabric layer and a base material layer attached to the shell fabric layer, wherein a character is formed on an upper surface of the shell fabric layer, and a light emitted out from an interior of the capped keyboard apparatus is scattered uniformly because of the base material layer.

A veneer configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device may include a plate portion. The plate portion may have one or more laser-cut indicia defined therethrough, may have laser-cut rounded corners, and may have angularly offset outer edges that may be defined during an embossing process. The laser-cut indicia may be representative of a command for controlling an electrical load. The indicia may include an alphanumeric character, an icon, or the like, may define one or more substantially zero-radius corners, and may define respective inner surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of the plate portion. A laser-cut alphanumeric character may have variable (e.g., continuously variable) line width. The plate portion may define a rib that suspends a floating portion of the alphanumeric character relative to an open portion. The rib may define a thickness that does not exceed 0.003 inches.

A switch device includes an operation button operated by a push operation on an operating surface, light sources arranged on a lighting substrate to illuminate an illumination target of the operation button, and a plurality of switches that are arranged on a switch substrate different from the lighting substrate so as to be located on an end portion side of the operation button and are turned on due to displacement of the operation button caused by the push operation.

A key is disclosed herein. The key is disposed on a baseplate of a keyboard device, and comprises a sheet metal keycap and a supporting structure. The sheet metal keycap includes a body portion and two bending portions. The two bending portions are formed by extending downward from a side of two punching holes on the body portion, respectively. The supporting structure is disposed between the sheet metal keycap and the baseplate. Two sides of the supporting structure are pivotally connected to the bending portions and the baseplate, respectively. The key is thinner due to sheet metal keycap which is integratedly formed. A keyboard device with a plurality keys is also provided herein.

A vehicle interior trim assembly and an illuminable emblem assembly is provided. The assembly includes a vehicle interior trim part such as an air bag cover which has at least one opening which defines an emblem pattern. An illumination module including at least one light source is configured to generate visible light rays when energized. A lens including at least one layer is molded in a molding process to have a 3D emblem shape fitted through and matching the at least one opening. The lens has at least one surface-defining portion which is sized and shaped to have the emblem pattern at the front surface of the part. The lens gathers and redirects light rays from the illumination module to generate light in the emblem pattern of substantially uniform intensity through the at least one surface-defining portion and into a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.

A key is disclosed herein. The key is disposed on a baseplate of a keyboard device, and comprises a sheet metal keycap and a supporting structure. The sheet metal keycap includes a body portion and two bending portions. The two bending portions are formed by extending downward from a side of two punching holes on the body portion, respectively. The supporting structure is disposed between the sheet metal keycap and the baseplate. Two sides of the supporting structure are pivotally connected to the bending portions and the baseplate, respectively. The key is thinner due to sheet metal keycap which is integratedly formed. A keyboard device with a plurality keys is also provided herein.