Keycaps for keyboards that have transparent top portions have a set of layered components to define a top surface that provides key definition by curvature, texture, ridges, or other external structural features. Other portions of the keycaps define a glyph or support structure for the top layer. Features such as angle filters and partially reflective materials are implemented to improve the visibility, contrast, and reflectivity of the keycaps. Multiple methods are used to bend or otherwise modify rigid transparent materials such as glass in order to add surface features and to improve aesthetics of the keycaps of a keyboard.

To provide a user with descriptive images for each function performed by a button, the embodiments described herein use a transforming graphical expression that presents different images depending on the particular function the button is currently performing. For example, if the button is used to increase speaker volume, the graphical expression may display plus sign, but if the button is currently being used to navigate through a display menu, the graphical expression may be transformed into an arrow to indicate the direction a selection element in the menu moves if the button is activated. Thus, as the current function of the button changes, the graphical expression presented to the user also changes. In this manner, the same button may be used to perform multiple functions while presenting to a user a customized graphical expression indicating the current function of the button.

A keycap, an illuminating keyswitch and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The illuminating keyswitch comprises a base plate, a printed circuit board, a light emitting element, a keycap and a lifting support structure. The printed circuit board is disposed on the base plate. The light emitting element electrically is connected to the printed circuit board. The keycap is disposed on the light emitting element. The lifting support structure is disposed between the base plate and the keycap. The keycap comprises a first injection layer and a second injection layer. The second injection layer covers the first injection layer. The light emitting element is configured to correspond to the first injection layer or the second injection layer. The keyswitch of the present invention covers the first injection layer through the second injection layer, so that the surface of the key cap is flat, thereby facilitating subsequent processing.

A membrane keyboard structure and a conductive method thereof allows a first surrounding portion of a first flexible circuit layer to be deformed to pass through an through hole to be in direct contact and conduction with a second surrounding portion temporarily when it is pressed through the coordination of a first flexible sheet body, first flexible circuit layer configured on the first flexible sheet body, spacer layer positioned on one side of the first flexible sheet body adjacent to the first flexible circuit layer, second flexible sheet body configured on one side of the spacer away from the first flexible circuit layer and second flexible circuit layer configured on one side of the second flexible sheet body adjacent to the spacer layer. Whereby, the present invention can achieve the contact and conduction anywhere to make the use thereof easier and more convenient.

An item such as a fabric-based item may have a layer of fabric with openings that are illuminated by a light source. The openings may form symbols or other shapes and may serve as labels for keyboard keys or other components. The fabric may be formed from transparent strands of material that are coated with opaque material or may be formed from opaque strands of material in which openings are formed by laser drilling. The openings may be covered with a transparent coating layer such as a translucent polymer coating. Translucent material on the fabric may be patterned to form parts of the labels or other shapes created by the illuminated openings.

A decoration panel used as an operation button includes a decoration section between a front translucent member and a rear translucent member, and the decoration section includes a counter reflection layer superposed on a rear face of a light-shield layer. A rear reflection layer is provided between the rear translucent member and a translucent member for illumination. The decoration section is displayed as if floating at an intermediate position in a depth direction. In addition, a surface of the decoration section oriented to the rear side constitutes a counter reflection surface.

An input device includes: a printing layer on which an image of a key including a character is printed; a 3D lens that three-dimensionally floats the image of the key printed on the printing layer; and an input detector that detects an input in accordance with the depression of the image of the key floating three-dimensionally.

An illuminated glass keycap having a glyph diffuser layer that may diffuse light through a glyph window opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the glyph window may be transparent. The keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the keycap, around the perimeter of the keycap, and/or through the background layer.

The present invention provides a keyboard structure, including: a keycap, having an upper surface and a lower surface; a support plate; and a support component, configured to connect to the keycap and the support plate, where the upper surface includes a non-transparent three-dimensional character layer and a transparent protective layer coating the non-transparent three-dimensional character layer.

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, a base material layer and a thermoplastic layer, wherein the base material layer is attached between the shell fabric layer and the thermoplastic layer, a character is formed on a top surface of the shell fabric layer, and the thermoplastic layer causes the cover layer to have a fixed shape.