Systems, devices, and methods described herein provide an input device having keys operatively coupled with light devices that emit light out of the keys. The input device is associated with different modes of operation. The light devices emit the light out of the keys responsive to a selected mode of operation being a first mode of operation. The light devices stop emitting the light out of the keys responsive to the selected mode of operation being a different, second mode of operation. The light devices are activated to indicate the selected mode of operation. One or more processors perform first functions associated with the keys during the first mode of operation and perform different, second functions associated with the same keys during the second mode of operation.

In some implementations, a key structure may include a lower shell fixedly connected to a keyboard base. In addition, the device may include an upper shell assembled above the lower shell, where the upper shell is made of transparent plastic material, the upper shell is provided with having a through opening. The device may include a plurality of light guide columns extending downwardly from two sides of the bottom of the upper shell, where the plurality of light guide columns and the plurality of light-emitting sources are arranged opposite to each other. Moreover, the device may include a pressing shaft movably disposed between the lower shell and the upper shell, where a top end of the pressing shaft penetrates through the opening. Also, the device may include a spring disposed and elastically supported between the lower shell and the pressing shaft.

An input device includes an exterior member having an opening formed therein; an input member that has an upper surface to be touched by a user with a finger and that is disposed inside the opening; and a light diffusing member having a light emitting surface located along an outer edge of the input member, where the light emitting surface has a first region exposed in a gap between an inner edge of the opening of the exterior member and an outer edge of the input member and a second region positioned on an inner side of the outer edge of the input member and below a peripheral portion of the input member.

An input device includes an input detection unit including a circuit board, an electrostatic electrode on the circuit board for capacitance detection, a light source on the circuit board, a light guide plate provided on the lower side with respect to an operation surface and the upper side with respect to the electrostatic electrode and having a first side surface that faces the light source and a second side surface that does not face the light source, and a frame-shaped light shielding member surrounding the light guide plate and having a light shielding wall in contact with the second side surface. The neighboring first and second side surfaces of the light guide plate form an obtuse angle, the first side surface is perpendicular to upper and lower surfaces of the light guide plate, the second side surface slopes to face downward, and the light shielding wall slopes to face upward.

An input device includes an exterior member having an opening formed therein; an input member that has an upper surface to be touched by a user with a finger and that is disposed inside the opening; and a light diffusing member having a light emitting surface located along an outer edge of the input member, where the light emitting surface has a first region exposed in a gap between an inner edge of the opening of the exterior member and an outer edge of the input member and a second region positioned on an inner side of the outer edge of the input member and below a peripheral portion of the input member.

Example methods and apparatuses of controlling a user interface with a plurality of input mechanisms are disclosed. One example method includes causing a first set of input mechanisms in the plurality of input mechanisms to be visually emphasized via a first visual technique while a second set of input mechanisms in the plurality of input mechanisms is not visually emphasized via the first visual technique, receiving a user input via an input mechanism that is included in the first set, based on the user input, determining a third set of input mechanisms in the plurality of input mechanisms and a fourth set of input mechanisms in the plurality of input mechanisms, and causing the third set of input mechanisms to be visually emphasized via the first visual technique while the fourth set of available input mechanisms is not visually emphasized via the first visual technique.