H01H2219/062

Information handling system keyboard backlight having mini-LED integrated light guide arrangement

An information handling system keyboard backlight illuminates with a single mini-LED disposed under each of plural keyboard keys and having a penta directional illumination that illuminates directly at the key and coplanar a light guide material around the perimeter of the mini-LED. The light guide material in cooperation with a reflector below and a mask above provides indirect illumination at the periphery of the key for a more uniform key illumination. A substrate carried with circuits below the mini-LED powers the mini-LED so that a more bulky flexible printed circuit is not needed.

Push-button switch assembly with means for indicating a switch status

A push-button switch assembly with means for indicating a switch status includes: an actuation head for actuating the push-button switch assembly, the actuation head having a disc-shaped upper part and a tubular lower part; a sleeve-type push-button guide which is coupled to the actuation head such that, in relation to a longitudinal axis of the push-button switch assembly, the upper part is arranged above the push-button guide and the lower part surrounds the push-button guide; a sleeve-type locking unit for determining a switch status of the push-button switch assembly, the sleeve-type locking unit being arranged within the push-button guide in relation to the longitudinal axis and being transferrable between a first and a second locking state by the actuation head, the locking unit having a plunger sleeve and an annular detent catch coupled to the plunger sleeve, which delimit a central through-opening through the locking unit.

Luminous keyboard and backlight module thereof
11830688 · 2023-11-28 · ·

A backlight module applicable to a key module is provided, the key module includes a plurality of key units and a baseplate, and the plurality of key units are disposed on the baseplate. The backlight module includes a lower substrate, a plurality of periphery light sources disposed along the peripheral of the baseplate, and a shielding structure. The lower substrate is disposed below the baseplate, and there is an outer edge gap between an outer edge of the baseplate and the lower substrate. The periphery light sources are disposed between the baseplate and the lower substrate. The shielding structure is disposed outside those periphery light sources distributed, to prevent light provided by the plurality of light sources from being emitted out of the outer edge gap.

Keyboard backlight module and applications thereof

A keyboard backlight module includes a light guide plate, a reflector, a light-emitting device and a first microstructure. The light guide plate has an output surface, a light guide pattern and a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of the output surface. The light guide pattern is arranged on at least one of the bottom surface and the output surface. The reflector has a reflecting surface facing the bottom surface. The light-emitting device is disposed on one side of the light guide plate and configured to provide an incident light to the reflecting surface. The first microstructure is disposed on the reflecting surface, at least partially overlaps with the light guide pattern, and is configured to transform the incident light into a first reflected light.

Keyboard containing recycled and renewable polymeric compositions
11545318 · 2023-01-03 · ·

A keyboard having a total recycled and renewable content of equal to or greater than 35 wt. %, based on the total weight of the keyboard is described. The keyboard contains a key cap containing a mechanically recycled polycarbonate polymer or a chemically recycled cellulose based polymer, a pair of cross arms forming a scissor-shaped structure containing a polymeric composition containing 60 wt. % to 100 wt. % of a polyoxymethylene polymer, and 0 wt. % to 40 wt. % of a filler containing glass, and a back light module containing a renewably source polycarbonate polymer or a chemically recycled polyester polymer.

Luminous keyboard and optical module thereof
11520101 · 2022-12-06 · ·

A luminous keyboard and an optical module thereof are provided. The optical module includes a light guide sheet, a reflective film on one side of the light guide sheet, and an optical film on another side of the light guide sheet opposite to the reflective film. The optical film has a mask pattern. The mask pattern defines a light-transparent region, a light-shielding region, and a light modulation region extending from the light-shielding region to the light-transparent region. The light-transparent region allows light to pass therethrough. The light-shielding region blocks light. The light modulation region partially allows light to pass therethrough and partially blocks light, so that an average light-transmitting rate per unit area of the light modulation region is smaller than that of the light-transparent region and larger than that of the light-shielding region.

LOW-TRAVEL ILLUMINATED KEY MECHANISM

Embodiments are directed to a low profile key for a keyboard having an overmolded support structure. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a key cap having an illuminable symbol. A support structure having a pair of overmolded wings may pivotally couple to the key cap. A switch housing may surround the support structure and connect each of the first and second wings. A tactile dome may be at least partially positioned within the switch housing and configured to bias the key cap upward. A sensing membrane may be positioned along an underside surface of the tactile dome and configured to trigger a switch event in response to a collapsing of the tactile dome caused by a depression of the key cap. A feature plate may be positioned below the sensing membrane. A light guide panel may define at least one light extraction feature that may be configured to propagate light toward the key cap and cause illumination of the illuminable symbol.

Light integrated sensing membrane
11442552 · 2022-09-13 · ·

Embodiments are directed to a sensing membrane that is coupled with electrical terminals of a key switch and a light source. This may allow the membrane to be both configured to transmit a signal in response to actuation of keyboard key cap and illuminate an illuminable symbol of key cap. In one aspect, the membrane includes a set of deformable layers separated by a spacer layer. Terminals of the key switch are connected to distinct ones of the set of deformable layers and positioned within a cavity defined by the spacer layer. A light assembly may be positioned along and configured to move with one of the set of deformable layers. Depression of a key cap toward the set of deformable layers causes the set of terminals to move and initiate a switch event.

CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AN INTEGRAL REFLECTING STRUCTURE FOR A SENSING CIRCUIT

A wall-mounted keypad may include a light detector circuit located inside the keypad that is configured to measure an ambient light level in a space. The light detector circuit may receive ambient light through an aperture that is hidden from view by the keypad. The keypad may include a reflector for directing ambient light onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include an enclosure that houses the light detector circuit. The enclosure may define a recess that exposes at least a portion of the light detector circuit. The enclosure may include a reflector that may focus ambient light received through the aperture onto the light detector circuit. The keypad may include a control circuit that may be configured to illuminate the indicia of respective buttons of the control device in response to actuations of the one or more buttons, in accordance with the measured ambient light level.

Low-travel illuminated key mechanism

Embodiments are directed to a low profile key for a keyboard having an overmolded support structure. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a key cap having an illuminable symbol. A support structure having a pair of overmolded wings may pivotally couple to the key cap. A switch housing may surround the support structure and connect each of the first and second wings. A tactile dome may be at least partially positioned within the switch housing and configured to bias the key cap upward. A sensing membrane may be positioned along an underside surface of the tactile dome and configured to trigger a switch event in response to a collapsing of the tactile dome caused by a depression of the key cap. A feature plate may be positioned below the sensing membrane. A light guide panel may define at least one light extraction feature that may be configured to propagate light toward the key cap and cause illumination of the illuminable symbol.