A keyboard device includes a membrane circuit board, a base plate, a key structure and a light-emitting element. The key structure includes a keycap, a connecting element and an elastic element. The connecting element is arranged between the base plate and the keycap. The elastic element is arranged between the keycap and the membrane circuit board. The light-emitting element is electrically connected with the membrane circuit board and located under the elastic element. After the light beams from the light-emitting element are projected upwardly and transmitted through the elastic element, the light beams are uniformly projected to the keycap. Consequently, the keycap has the uniform illuminous efficacy.

A switch, keyboard and associated methods are provided. In one implementation, the switch includes a housing having a protruding portion configured to be received in an aperture formed on a substrate, a plunger operable to move with respect to the housing, a first contact member located in the housing, and a second contact member extending from the protruding portion of the housing. The second contact member is operable to, based at least in part on the plunger being moved in a first direction, deform to a predefined extent to electrically contact the first contact member. The switch provides a low profile appearance but not compromising the smooth and quickly responsive striking motion for a mechanical switch, such that a clean design can be provided while the input experience and durability are maintained. A keyboard 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.

A control device may include a removable faceplate, a planar printed circuit board (PCB), a structure located between the faceplate and the PCB, one or more LEDs (e.g., side firing LEDs) mounted to the PCB, and a light-guiding component. The structure may include an antenna configured to transmit or receive radio frequency signals. The faceplate may be configured to be mounted to the control device, and may include a light-conductive body and an opaque material provided on a front surface of the faceplate. At least one indicia may be engraved in the opaque material. The light-guiding component may include a planar portion and a curved portion. The planar portion may be located between the faceplate and the structure. The curved portion may extend between the LEDs on the printed circuit board and the planar portion to transmit light generated by the LEDs to the faceplate to illuminate the indicia.

An illuminated pushbutton for a pushbutton switch having a light transmitting pushbutton and an indicia cover that is attached to a front end of the light transmitting pushbutton. The indicia cover has non-light transmitting regions and light transmitting regions on its front surface, wherein the light transmitting regions provide visible, light-transmitted indicia on the light transmitting pushbutton. The indicia cover has an adhesive on its rear surface to attach the indicia cover to the front end of the light transmitting pushbutton. An LED in the pushbutton switch is constructed to transmit light to the indicia cover. The light passes through the light transmitting regions (symbols and letters) but not through the non-light transmitting regions. As the light passes through the light transmitting symbols and letters, the symbols and letters are lighted and visible in the dark.

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 item such as a fabric-based item may have a layer of fabric with openings that are illuminated by a light source. The openings may form symbols or other shapes and may serve as labels for keyboard keys or other components. The fabric may be formed from transparent strands of material that are coated with opaque material or may be formed from opaque strands of material in which openings are formed by laser drilling. The openings may be covered with a transparent coating layer such as a translucent polymer coating. Translucent material on the fabric may be patterned to form parts of the labels or other shapes created by the illuminated openings.

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 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.

A novel keyboard structure includes a base board, scissor-switches, elastic bodies, and keycaps, wherein a circuit is arranged on the base board; when one keycap is depressed, the corresponding elastic body is compressed by the keycap to move in a direction toward the base board, and when a conducting column of the elastic body touches the circuit on the base board, the circuit is connected; after the keycap is released, the keycap moves in a direction away from the base board under the resilient effect of the elastic body, consequently, the conducting column leaves the base board, and the circuit is disconnected.