A backlight module including a circuit layer, a light guide plate, a light-emitting component, an electronic component, a reflective layer, and an identifier is provided. The light guide plate includes an escape opening and a light-source opening. The light-emitting component is connected to the circuit layer. The electronic component is connected to the circuit layer. The reflective layer is disposed between the light guide plate and the circuit layer. The identifier is disposed on the reflective layer. A keyboard using this backlight module is also provided.

An electronic device may have a reconfigurable keyboard. The keyboard may be formed from an array of keys coupled to a housing. Each key may have a movable key member and an associated key display. Control circuitry in the keyboard may direct the key displays to display dynamically adjustable key labels for the keys. Each key movable key member may be formed from a fiber optic plate. The fiber optic plate may be formed from a coherent fiber bundle with opposing first and second surfaces. The first surface may be adjacent to the key display and may receive key label images from the key display. The second surface may face outwardly towards a user and may receive key press input from the fingers of a user while presenting key label images for viewing.

The disclosure provides a key module including a bottom plate, a keycap and a scissor structure. The keycap is located above the bottom plate. The key cap includes a pivoting member protruding from the bottom surface and a sliding member. The pivoting member has a pivot hole and a hollowed-out area communicating with the pivot hole. The scissor structure is disposed between the bottom plate and the keycap, and includes a first leg and a second leg pivotally connected to each other, the first side of the first leg and the second side of the second leg are connected to the bottom plate, the third side of the first leg is rotatably connected to the pivoting member of the keycap, and the fourth side of the second leg is slidably connected to the sliding member of the keycap.

The disclosure provides a key structure including a base plate, a keycap, and a compressible supporting mechanism. The keycap is disposed above the base plate. The keycap has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other and includes a bonding member protruding from the base surface. The bonding member has a groove and a guiding surface. The compressible supporting mechanism is disposed between the base plate and the keycap. The compressible supporting mechanism is assembled into the groove as being guided by the guiding surface. In the key structure provided by the disclosure, since the compressible supporting mechanism is guided by the guiding surface, interference generated when the compressible supporting mechanism and the keycap are assembled may be reduced, so that the bonding member is prevented from being damaged or collapsing when being pressed in a process of assembling.

A backlight module including a light guide plate, a circuit board, an electronic component, a reflective sheet, a light-shielding sheet, and a light-emitting component is provided. The light guide plate includes an escape opening. The circuit board is disposed under the light guide plate. The electronic component is disposed on the circuit board, and at least a part of the electronic component is located in the escape opening. The reflective sheet is disposed on the rear surface of the light guide plate and between the light guide plate and the circuit board, and the reflective sheet extends into the escape opening. The light-shielding sheet is disposed on the light emitting surface of the light guide plate opposite to the rear surface. The light-emitting component is disposed on the light guide plate. A luminous keyboard using this backlight module is also provided.

A keyboard including a substrate and a key structure is provided. The key structure is disposed on the substrate and includes a keycap, an antenna, and a sensor. The keycap is disposed on the substrate, and a length of the keycap is greater than a width of the keycap. The antenna is disposed on a back surface of the keycap facing toward the substrate. The sensor is disposed below the keycap and is electrically connected with the antenna.

An invertible optical float switch is provided, comprising a floatable housing having an interior, a central longitudinal axis, a top end and a bottom end; first and second optical fibers each having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the first optical fiber connectable to a light source located remote from the housing, the proximal end of the second optical fiber connectable to a light detector located remote from the housing, the distal ends of the first and optical fibers positioned in the interior of the housing and the distal ends being mounted in the interior on a separator assembly such that the distal ends are optically aligned and separated by a gap; the separator assembly further including a movable member, the movable member adapted to be movable by gravity between a first position where the movable member occupies the gap such that the distal ends are no longer optically aligned, and a second position where the movable member does not occupy the gap; wherein the distal ends and the separator assembly are mounted on a paddle positioned in the interior of the floatable housing, the paddle adapted to be mounted either in position A with the gap closer to the top end of the floatable housing than the bottom end of the floatable housing, or in an inverted position B with the gap closer to the bottom end of the floatable housing than in position A.

An operator control apparatus for a domestic appliance includes a carrier plate and an operator control element which is rotatably arranged on the carrier plate for setting an operating condition of the domestic appliance. The operator control element includes a front cap having a first transparent region and a second transparent region which is separate from the first transparent region. A light guide extends into the front cap to guide light from a light source such as to illuminate the first transparent region with a first light intensity of the light which is coupled out of the light guide, and to illuminate the second transparent region with a second light intensity of the light which is coupled out of the light guide, with the second light intensity of the light being different from the first light intensity.

An electronic device may have a reconfigurable keyboard. The keyboard may be formed from an array of keys coupled to a housing. Each key may have a movable key member and an associated key display. Control circuitry in the keyboard may direct the key displays to display dynamically adjustable key labels for the keys. Each key movable key member may be formed from a fiber optic plate. The fiber optic plate may be formed from a coherent fiber bundle with opposing first and second surfaces. The first surface may be adjacent to the key display and may receive key label images from the key display. The second surface may face outwardly towards a user and may receive key press input from the fingers of a user while presenting key label images for viewing.

A keyboard device includes plural key structures, an electronic paper display element and an illumination module. The electronic paper display element is disposed under the plural key structures. The plural key symbols corresponding to the plural key structures are displayed on the electronic paper display element. The illumination module is disposed over the electronic paper display element to provide a light beam to the electronic paper display element. Consequently, the plural key symbols are illuminated.