An input device including a bracket, key caps and a black light module is provided. The key caps are disposed on the bracket. The backlight module is disposed under the bracket, and includes a light guide plate, a light source and a shading plate. The light guide plate includes diffusing elements arranged at a position corresponding to an opening of the bracket. The light source is disposed on a side of the light guide plate. The shading plate is disposed on the light guide plate, and includes a transparent sheet, an opaque layer and a translucent coating. The opaque layer is disposed on the transparent sheet correspondingly between two adjacent key caps, and the translucent coating overlaps a portion of the opaque layer on the transparent sheet.

A compact switch mechanism operating a contactor array and having a lighted display.

Disclosed are a switch display apparatus and an assembling method thereof. The apparatus includes a display unit (1), a support unit (2), and a base unit (3) that are arranged sequentially from top to bottom. The display unit (1) includes a display device (4), a combined lens (5), and a display device and combined lens support component (6). The combined lens (5) is located above the display device (4). Both the display device (4) and the combined lens (5) are located inside the display device and combined lens support component (6). The display device and combined lens support component (6) includes a first support part (9) used for providing structural support for the combined lens (5), and a second support part (10) used for providing structural support for the display device (4).

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.

An input device including a bracket, key caps and a black light module is provided. The key caps are disposed on the bracket. The backlight module is disposed under the bracket, and includes a light guide plate, a light source and a shading plate. The light guide plate includes diffusing elements arranged at a position corresponding to an opening of the bracket. The light source is disposed on a side of the light guide plate. The shading plate is disposed on the light guide plate, and includes a transparent sheet, an opaque layer and a translucent coating. The opaque layer is disposed on the transparent sheet correspondingly between two adjacent key caps, and the translucent coating overlaps a portion of the opaque layer on the transparent sheet.

The disclosure provides a backlight module and an input device, wherein the backlight module is adapted to be arranged under a bracket of the input device. The backlight module includes a reflector, a light guide plate, a light source, and a shading plate. The light guide plate is disposed on the reflector and includes a plurality of diffusing elements. The light source is located on a light incident side of the light guide plate. The shading plate is disposed on the light guide plate. The shading plate has a shading area and a translucent area. The diffusing elements are arranged corresponding to the translucent area, wherein a transmittance of the translucent area is greater than a transmittance of the shading area. The scattering or diffusing particles are arranged in the translucent area.

A button deck assembly includes a button deck having at least one mechanical pushbutton, the pushbutton includes a lens cap, a liquid-crystal display (LCD) panel, and an optical block configured to transmit images from the LCD panel for display through the lens cap, a bottom surface of the optical block is positioned on the LCD panel, an air gap is defined between a top surface of the optical block and the lens cap. The assembly also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly defining a PCB aperture, the PCB aperture is sized to receive the optical block, and an elastomeric membrane defining a membrane aperture sized to receive the optical block, the optical block extends from the LCD panel through the PCB and membrane apertures, the membrane channels fluid flow to outer edges of the membrane and around the PCB assembly and the LCD panel.

An illumination switch device includes a push button, a plurality of indicator lenses, a holder, a detector, a plurality of light emitters, and a base. The push button has an internal space and an opening. Each indicator lens has a columnar shape. The indicator lenses are juxtaposed in the internal space of the push button. The holder holds the push button such that the push button is movable in a longitudinal direction of each indicator lens. The detector detects a displacement of the push button in the longitudinal direction. The light emitters are respectively disposed opposite one ends of the indicator lenses in the longitudinal direction. The base is made of an opaque resin, and covers side faces of the indicator lenses while being in tight contact with the side faces. The base is integrated with the indicator lenses.

Systems and methods for providing illumination to illuminable portions of keys associated with a keyboard are described. A key disposed on a flexible substrate includes a light guide positioned below a keycap. The light guide includes one or more light extraction features to produce a substantially uniform light distribution of light from a light emitting element at an illuminable portion of the key. In one embodiment, a light emitting element is positioned on the flexible substrate and is optically coupled to the light guide. In another embodiment, a light emitting element is positioned below the flexible substrate and is optically coupled to the light guide via an optical interface.