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GB2304233A - Flat data entry keyboard - Google Patents

Flat data entry keyboard Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2304233A
GB2304233A GB9516085A GB9516085A GB2304233A GB 2304233 A GB2304233 A GB 2304233A GB 9516085 A GB9516085 A GB 9516085A GB 9516085 A GB9516085 A GB 9516085A GB 2304233 A GB2304233 A GB 2304233A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
keyboard
front surface
diffusion
keys
light
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9516085A
Other versions
GB9516085D0 (en
GB2304233B (en
Inventor
Philippe Levent
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sagem SA
Original Assignee
Sagem SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to FR9409625A priority Critical patent/FR2723454B1/en
Application filed by Sagem SA filed Critical Sagem SA
Priority to GB9516085A priority patent/GB2304233B/en
Publication of GB9516085D0 publication Critical patent/GB9516085D0/en
Publication of GB2304233A publication Critical patent/GB2304233A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2304233B publication Critical patent/GB2304233B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00—Legends
    • H01H2219/002—Legends replaceable; adaptable
    • H01H2219/014—LED
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00—Legends
    • H01H2219/036—Light emitting elements
    • H01H2219/044—Edge lighting of layer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/002—Actuators integral with membrane
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/024—Transmission element

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Abstract

A flat data entry keyboard comprises a front surface (1), with a number of zones (2) demarcating the keys, and a corresponding number of means (12) of detecting key activation arranged behind the front surface (1), each associated with a key. The keyboard includes at least one light source (11) and means (5) to diffuse the light from the source (11) so as to light from the rear at least some of the keys on the front surface (1).

Description

DESCRIPTION FLAT DATA ENTRY KEYBOARD The present invention relates to a flat data entry keyboard.
Electronic terminals generally feature a keyboard enabling the user to operate the terminal. Examples include radiotelephones, calculators or facsimile units. A known flat keyboard consists of a front surface, with a number of zones demarcating the keys, and a corresponding number of means of detecting key activation arranged behind the front surface, each associated with a key. If surrounding light is insufficient, the keys and their symbols, characters or other markings which they may bear are difficult to see, so that the keyboard is awkward to use and the risk of error substantial.
The aim of present invention is to overcome the above inconvenience.
According to the present invention there is provided a flat data entry keyboard comprising a front surface, with a number of zones demarcating keys, and a corresponding number of means of detecting key activation arranged behind the front surface, each being associated with a key, at least one light source being included with means being provided to diffuse the light from the source so as to light from the rear some at least of the keys on the front surface.
Preferably, the means of diffusion feature a reception chamber for the light source and, between the front surface and detectors, there are provided the means of diffusion and means of spacing, said diffusion means and said spacing means being of substantially complementary forms to each other.
The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a keyboard constructed according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the keyboard along the line II-II of Figure 1.
The keyboard illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a front surface 1 consisting of four zones 2, demarcating the keys, each bearing a particular symbol 3, such as a character, identifying the key. The front surface is made up of an elastic layer of a translucent material, and the symbols 3, together with a surround 4 demarcating the keys, are painted onto this material.
A layer 5 of translucent elastomer material is fitted behind the front surface 1 and consists of a housing 6, here formed by a transverse hole to receive a light-emitting diode or LED 11: this example of a modest-sized keyboard displays a single LED, but for a larger keyboard several of them could be spread across the layer 5.
The layer 5 is cut to a shape which corresponds substantially to that of the keys 2.
A printed circuit card 10 bears the LED 11, with a permanent current, together with elastically deformable metal cups 12, each associated with a key and set opposite this key behind the layer 5. When compressed, each cup 12 establishes an electric contact enabling a signal specific to the cup 12 concerned to pass along a ribbon-set keyboard interface cable 13.
In order to avoid the cups 12 being pressed inadvertently, a rigid layer 14 constitutes a spacer between the printed circuit 10 and the front surface 1, so that a gap is maintained between them. As Figure 1 shows, the spacing layer 14 is cut to a shape which complements that of the translucent layer 5, so that the two layers 5 and 14 coincide and extend substantially over the same plane.
The working of the keyboard will now be explained.
The translucent layer 5 and spacing layer 14, coincide and are sandwiched between the front surface 1 and the printed circuit 10.
The translucent layer 5 serves to capture the light of the LED 11 and diffuse it over the rear part of the front surface 1. In this embodiment there is a limited diffusion distribution, extending only to the key zones 2.
Static keys could have been provided, which detect the presence of a finger, for example by capacitance effect, but in the illustrated embodiment a touch-driven keyboard working mechanically is shown.
For this reason, the material of the front surface 1 is elastically deformable so that the cups 12 may detect the pressing of keys by the intermediary of the layer 5.
The translucent layer 5 thus has a second function in respect of transmitting the pressing force transmitted by the key. This means that it is locally elastically deformable, like a flexible tab and, in the illustrated embodiment, can even be compressed elastically.
The light hitting the front surface 1 from the rear crosses this surface through the zones 2, excluding the areas on which symbols 3 are printed, thus revealing the form of each symbol to the operator: in this case it is dark on a light background.
It should be understood that the difference in optical transparency between the symbols 3 together with their surround 4, and the rest of the key or surround 4, creates an optical contrast so that the keyboard is legible. This could however be obtained by other means. For example the symbols 3 could be transparent, and the rest of the front surface 1 opaque. Similarly, a colour filter could, by altering wavelengths, create the requisite difference in transparency. An optical network in the form of striation would, on the other hand, make it possible to deflect light locally and so determine the transparency of certain parts of the front surface 1.
The above examples reveal that the transparency of parts of the front surface 1 may be determined by locally placing, on one side or the other, a layer with a specific transparency, or by engraving.
As explained above, the layer 5 serves to collect the light from the light source and diffuse it onto the rear of the front surface 1. Since the light injected into the plane of the diffusion layer has to be diffused and deflected laterally, the operation could also be carried out by means of a layer of transparent material, featuring, on its surface facing the front surface 1, an engraved network set out to provide for the diffusion and reflection, substantially at a right angle, of a very large number of elementary beams emerging laterally from the diffusion layer to illuminate the rear of the front surface.
Likewise, the front surface and the diffusion layer could both be composed of a single element. For example the symbols could be provided on the surface, on the outer side accessible to the user, or else on the other side or even within the main section, to achieve a local modification of the intensity and/or nature of the light reflected by the rear surface, if appropriate, or diffused by the material.
In order to ensure that the diffusion is more uniform, a shield could be fitted between the light source and the front surface 1.
The light-producing source could also be fixed outside the keyboard and connected to it by a lightpipe, the end of which would act as a light source.

Claims (9)

1. A flat data entry keyboard comprising a front surface, with a number of zones demarcating keys, and a corresponding number of means of detecting key activation arranged behind the front surface, each being associated with a key, at least one light source being included with means being provided to diffuse the light from the source so as to light from the rear some at least of the keys on the front surface.
2. A keyboard as claimed in Claim 1, in which the means of diffusion are set between the front surface and the means of detection.
3. A keyboard as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, in which the means of diffusion feature a diffusing layer in translucent material.
4. A keyboard as claimed in Claims 2 and 3, in which the keys are press-operable with the means of detection detect the pressing of the keys by the intermediary of the means of diffusion.
5. A keyboard as claimed in Claim 4, in which the means of diffusion feature a layer of elastomer material.
6. A keyboard as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, in which the means of diffusion include a housing to receive the light source.
7. A keyboard as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 6, in which the means of detection include a deformable cup.
8. A keyboard as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, in which said means of diffusion and a means of spacing which are substantially complementary to each other are provided between the front surface and the detectors.
9. A flat data entry keyboard constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB9516085A 1994-08-03 1995-08-05 Flat data entry keyboard Expired - Lifetime GB2304233B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9409625A FR2723454B1 (en) 1994-08-03 1994-08-03 FLAT KEYPAD DATA INPUT.
GB9516085A GB2304233B (en) 1994-08-03 1995-08-05 Flat data entry keyboard

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9409625A FR2723454B1 (en) 1994-08-03 1994-08-03 FLAT KEYPAD DATA INPUT.
GB9516085A GB2304233B (en) 1994-08-03 1995-08-05 Flat data entry keyboard

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9516085D0 GB9516085D0 (en) 1995-10-04
GB2304233A true GB2304233A (en) 1997-03-12
GB2304233B GB2304233B (en) 1999-05-26

Family

ID=26231344

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9516085A Expired - Lifetime GB2304233B (en) 1994-08-03 1995-08-05 Flat data entry keyboard

Country Status (2)

Country Link
FR (1) FR2723454B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2304233B (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2346834A (en) * 2000-01-06 2000-08-23 Parmeader Shinh Keyboard with transparent keys having non-transparent character indicia formed thereon
GB2346835A (en) * 2000-01-06 2000-08-23 Parmeader Shinh Keyboard with non-transparent keys having transparent character indicia formed thereon
GB2361213A (en) * 2000-04-14 2001-10-17 Tyler Koolandthegang Durden Keyboard with transparent or translucent keys wherein a number of selected individual keys or all the keys are illumniated in accordance with a user's choice
GB2364275A (en) * 2000-07-05 2002-01-23 Behavior Tech Computer Corp Backlit keyboard with a push button(s) having an illuminator(s) thereunder which is operable on movement of the button between first and second positions
GB2373758A (en) * 2001-03-28 2002-10-02 Barbara Sexton Computer keyboard having keys formed on a transparent sheet(s) illuminated by a light distributing sheet thereunder

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4262182A (en) * 1980-01-11 1981-04-14 General Electric Company Fully illuminated backlit membrane touch switch
US4449024A (en) * 1983-05-03 1984-05-15 Kb Denver, Inc. Backlighted illuminated keyboard
US4551598A (en) * 1983-09-28 1985-11-05 Stewart-Warner Corporation Illuminated membrane switch
US4811175A (en) * 1986-07-09 1989-03-07 Desmet Gregory L Illuminated switch
EP0552497A2 (en) * 1992-01-22 1993-07-28 Fujikura Ltd. Light illumination membrane switch with reduced size and improved light illumination
GB2285518A (en) * 1994-01-10 1995-07-12 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd Sheet-like light guide for illuminating keypad

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4060703A (en) * 1976-11-10 1977-11-29 Everett Jr Seth Leroy Keyboard switch assembly with tactile feedback having illuminated laminated layers including opaque or transparent conductive layer
JPS5686723U (en) * 1979-12-07 1981-07-11
JPS6166824U (en) * 1984-10-08 1986-05-08
US4806908A (en) * 1987-05-14 1989-02-21 Astronics Corporation Low profile backlighted keyboard
FR2616560B1 (en) * 1987-06-12 1993-09-10 Mors ARRANGEMENT IN PARTICULAR FOR LOW-THICKNESS MULTI-FUNCTIONAL KEYBOARD
US4818829A (en) * 1987-07-09 1989-04-04 Duralith Corporation Integrally molded composites of silicone rubber
JPS6427935U (en) * 1987-08-11 1989-02-17
DE9402549U1 (en) * 1994-02-16 1994-04-07 Silitek Corp keyboard

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4262182A (en) * 1980-01-11 1981-04-14 General Electric Company Fully illuminated backlit membrane touch switch
US4449024A (en) * 1983-05-03 1984-05-15 Kb Denver, Inc. Backlighted illuminated keyboard
US4551598A (en) * 1983-09-28 1985-11-05 Stewart-Warner Corporation Illuminated membrane switch
US4811175A (en) * 1986-07-09 1989-03-07 Desmet Gregory L Illuminated switch
EP0552497A2 (en) * 1992-01-22 1993-07-28 Fujikura Ltd. Light illumination membrane switch with reduced size and improved light illumination
GB2285518A (en) * 1994-01-10 1995-07-12 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd Sheet-like light guide for illuminating keypad

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Abstract of JP 61-23227 *

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2346834A (en) * 2000-01-06 2000-08-23 Parmeader Shinh Keyboard with transparent keys having non-transparent character indicia formed thereon
GB2346835A (en) * 2000-01-06 2000-08-23 Parmeader Shinh Keyboard with non-transparent keys having transparent character indicia formed thereon
GB2361213A (en) * 2000-04-14 2001-10-17 Tyler Koolandthegang Durden Keyboard with transparent or translucent keys wherein a number of selected individual keys or all the keys are illumniated in accordance with a user's choice
GB2361213B (en) * 2000-04-14 2003-06-18 Tyler Koolandthegang Durden Illuminating computer keyboard
GB2364275A (en) * 2000-07-05 2002-01-23 Behavior Tech Computer Corp Backlit keyboard with a push button(s) having an illuminator(s) thereunder which is operable on movement of the button between first and second positions
GB2373758A (en) * 2001-03-28 2002-10-02 Barbara Sexton Computer keyboard having keys formed on a transparent sheet(s) illuminated by a light distributing sheet thereunder

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2723454B1 (en) 1997-01-03
GB9516085D0 (en) 1995-10-04
FR2723454A1 (en) 1996-02-09
GB2304233B (en) 1999-05-26

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20090319 AND 20090325

732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20090326 AND 20090401

PE20 Patent expired after termination of 20 years

Expiry date: 20150804