A keyboard includes a backlight module, a base plate, a membrane circuit disposed on the base plate, and a plurality of key structures disposed on the membrane circuit. The backlight module includes a light source, a reflective layer, a light guide layer, and a shielding layer. The light source is disposed corresponding to the light guide layer. The light guide layer is located between the shielding layer and the reflective layer. The light guide layer has a through-hole. The shielding layer and the reflective layer are in contact with each other in the through-hole of the light guide layer. The base plate is disposed on the shielding layer. The base plate has a positioning portion disposed corresponding to the through-hole of the light guide layer, which protrudes toward the reflective layer or the membrane circuit.

An illuminated keyboard comprises a first keycap group, a second keycap group, and a backlight module. Each keycap group includes plural keycaps. The backlight module comprises a first light-emitting unit, a second light-emitting unit, a first resistor, a second resistor, a light guide plate, and a circuit board. The light-emitting elements in the first and second light-emitting units are electrically connected to each other in parallel. The first resistor is electrically connected to the first light-emitting unit in series, and the second resistor is electrically connected to the second light-emitting unit in series. The light guide plate is configured with plural through holes, and the circuit board is disposed under the light guide plate. A first total light-emitting area of the first keycap group is not equal to a second total light-emitting area of the second keycap group.

A stepped stroke button includes a transmission unit having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; an operating unit arranged at the first end; and a contact unit arranged at the second end and axially guided in a first guide. At least one of the operating unit and the contact unit is configured to be axially movable with respect to the transmission unit, wherein during operation of the stepped stroke button, an operating stroke occurring relative to the first guide is configured differently from a mediated contact stroke occurring relative to the first guide. The ratio of the operating stroke to the contact stroke is greater than 1:1 and the operating stroke is greater than or equal to 1.5 mm.

A keyboard key device includes a keycap and a substrate unit. The substrate unit includes a light-emitting component, a light guide plate, and a light transmission plate. The light guide plate has first and second end surfaces, and at least one light-condensing hole. The first end surface is formed with an uneven microstructure for diffuse reflection of light rays. The light transmission plate has first and second side surfaces, and an outer reflective layer coated on the second side surface. A portion of light rays emitted from the light-emitting component and into the light transmission plate pass through the outer reflective layer, and the remainder of the light rays are reflected by the outer reflective layer.

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.

Methods for assembling low-profile, singulated keyboards by prefabricating key assemblies onto a chassis strip that is divided into individual key assemblies only after the substrate is affixed to a feature plate of keyboard. For example, a row of key assemblies is fabricated onto a chassis strip. The row corresponds to a partial or complete row of keys of the keyboard. The chassis strip is thereafter affixed to a feature plate in a specific location, thereby aligning each prefabricated key assembly to a precise location on the feature plate. While connected, each prefabricated key assembly is independently affixed to the feature plate. Thereafter, interconnecting portions of the chassis strip between the prefabricated key assemblies are removed, thereby singulating each key assembly.

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.

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; and a light guide for guiding light, the light guide being coupled to the actuation head such that, in relation to the longitudinal axis, at least portions of the light guide are arranged within the actuation head and within the push-button guide. The light guide extends through the actuation head with a top end in a predetermined position such that the push-button switch assembly is illuminatable in a predetermined manner by a light beam.

A backlight module adapted to an illuminated keyboard is provided. The backlight module includes a light source assembly, a light guide film, and a reflective sheet. The light guide film has a top surface, a bottom surface, a through hole and a light-exit pattern. The light source assembly includes a light-emitting component configured to emit light toward the through hole. A size of the through hole is smaller than a size of the light-emitting component. The light-exit pattern is on the bottom surface and encloses the through hole. The reflective sheet is located above the through hole. A size of the reflective sheet is larger than or equal to the size of the through hole. A distance from the through hole to an outer edge of the light-exit pattern is greater than a distance from to the through hole to an outer edge of the reflective sheet.

A switch used in an operation device such as a mouse has flexibility, and includes a movable member in which a first end side is fixed as a swing fulcrum and a second end side swings, and a pressing member that presses a portion between the first end and the second end of the movable member by receiving a pressing force from an outside source. Bent portions that are bent in a swinging direction are formed in side portions of the movable member. When the movable member warps by being pressed by the pressing member, the bent portions resist against the warping of the movable member, and therefore an operator can have click feeling.