A control device includes a plurality of buttons having a backlight or indicia indicating a function of the buttons. Each button has a button body that is translucent and configured to be backlit by a lighting element. A front surface of the button body is opaque outside of the area of the indicia. The button body has a post that extends from a rear surface of the button body and is aligned with an actuator. Selection of a button by a user, such as by pressing the button, results in the selected button displaying a greater illumination intensity than the other buttons.

The control device includes a button having a backlit indicium (or indicia) indicating a function of the button. The button may comprise a button body that is translucent and configured to be backlit by a lighting element. A front surface of the button body may be opaque outside of the area of the indicium (or indicia). The button body may have a post that extends from a rear surface of the button body and is aligned with an actuator. The control device may have a plurality of such buttons. Selection of a button by a user, such as by pressing the button, results in the selected button displaying a greater illumination intensity than a button that is not selected.

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.

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.

The present invention discloses a method to manufacture a keycap for keys of a keyboard, including: providing a top fabric layer and a molding film disposed beneath the top fabric layer; molding the molding film and the top fabric layer to form a film structure having an inner surface; and providing a keycap body having an upper surface, wherein the outline of the upper surface matches with that of the inner surface to form the keycap. In the present invention, the keycap is formed using the film structure and the keycap body by plastic injection or adhesion agent, the keycap is further manufactured as keys, and a symbol is engraved on the upper surface of the film structure by laser. Because the backlit device's light transmits through the keycap, users can recognize the symbols on the keys.

A veneer configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device may include a plate portion. The plate portion may have one or more laser-cut indicia defined therethrough, may have laser-cut rounded corners, and may have angularly offset outer edges that may be defined during an embossing process. The laser-cut indicia may be representative of a command for controlling an electrical load. The indicia may include an alphanumeric character, an icon, or the like, may define one or more substantially zero-radius corners, and may define respective inner surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of the plate portion. A laser-cut alphanumeric character may have variable (e.g., continuously variable) line width. The plate portion may define a rib that suspends a floating portion of the alphanumeric character relative to an open portion. The rib may define a thickness that does not exceed 0.003 inches.

A method for manufacturing keycaps of a capped keyboard apparatus is disclosed. The proposed method includes: (a) providing a cover layer and plural keycap main bodies, wherein the cover layer includes plural units, and each the unit has an upper surface with a character; (b) putting the plural keycap main bodies on a fixture; (c) shaping the cover layer on the fixture and attaching each the unit to a corresponding one of the plural keycap main bodies; and (d) cutting the cover layer to obtain plural keycaps independent of one another.

A veneer configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device may include a plate portion. The plate portion may have one or more laser-cut indicia defined therethrough, may have laser-cut rounded corners, and may have angularly offset outer edges that may be defined during an embossing process. The laser-cut indicia may be representative of a command for controlling an electrical load. The indicia may include an alphanumeric character, an icon, or the like, may define one or more substantially zero-radius corners, and may define respective inner surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to an outer surface of the plate portion. A laser-cut alphanumeric character may have variable (e.g., continuously variable) line width. The plate portion may define a rib that suspends a floating portion of the alphanumeric character relative to an open portion. The rib may define a thickness that does not exceed 0.003 inches.

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.

A keyboard key structure includes a plurality of keycaps. Each keycap has a keycap body and an outward layer. The keycap body has an appearance with a first color. The outward layer has an appearance with a second color different from the first color. The outward layer is formed above the keycap body. The outward layer is formed with an engraving portion. The first color is exposed in the engraving portion. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a keycap of a keyboard key.