US4060703A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard switch assembly with tactile feedback having illuminated laminated layers including opaque or transparent conductive layer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-11-10
•
Granted: 1977-11-29
•
Expires: 1996-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A sandwich type computer keyboard with keys characterized by a tactility to provide a positive degree of tactile feedback to an operator and having an electroluminescent panel for illuminating the keyboard panel.
Inventors
- 👤 Seth Leroy Everett, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/83; H01H13/702; H01H13/703; H01H2207/00; H01H2207/022; H01H2209/00; H01H2209/014; H01H2209/024; H01H2209/038; H01H2209/046; H01H2209/06; H01H2209/068; H01H2209/082; H01H2215/00; H01H2215/004; H01H2215/006; H01H2219/00; H01H2219/002; H01H2219/018; H01H2219/036; H01H2219/046; H01H2223/00; H01H2223/034; H01H2223/036; H01H2229/00; H01H2229/034
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A sandwich type computer keyboard comprising: a bezel having parallel arranged apertures; a first mylar sheet having a raised tactile bubbled surface, the bubbles being arranged and spaced to correspond to said apertures and dimensioned to pass through said apertures and extend beyond the upper bezel surface; a flexible electroluminescent panel; a flexible electrical conductive sheet adjacent said electroluminescent panel; a first apertured insulator sheet intermediate said electroluminescent panel and said first mylar sheet; a printed circuit board having respective conductors thereon arranged to be aligned and correspond with the tactile bubbled surface on said first mylar sheet; and a second apertured insulator sheet intermediate said conductive sheet and said printed circuit board; the apertures in said first and second insulator sheets being aligned with and corresponding to the tactile bubbled surface on said first mylar sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A sandwich type computer keyboard comprising: a bezel having parallel arranged apertures; a first mylar sheet having a raised tactile bubbled surface, the bubbles being arranged and spaced to correspond to said apertures and dimensioned to pass through said apertures and extend beyond the upper bezel surface; a flexible electroluminescent panel; a flexible electrical conductive sheet adjacent said electroluminescent panel; a first apertured insulator sheet intermediate said electroluminescent panel and said first mylar sheet; a printed circuit board having respective conductors thereon arranged to be aligned and correspond with the tactile bubbled surface on said first mylar sheet; and a second apertured insulator sheet intermediate said conductive sheet and said printed circuit board; the apertures in said first and second insulator sheets being aligned with and corresponding to the tactile bubbled surface on said first mylar sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 1 and further including a stiffener sheet of light translucent insulating material having a tactile bubbled surface nestled within the concave surfaces of the bubbles on said first mylar sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 2 wherein said stiffener sheet is made of mylar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first mylar sheet and said stiffener sheet are translucent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conductive sheet comprises a mylar sheet provided with a conductive coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conductive sheet comprises an elastomer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 5 wherein said conductive coating is opaque.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 5 wherein said conductive coating is transparent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 2 wherein said conductive sheet comprises an elastomer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
A sandwich type computer keyboard comprising: a bezel having parallel arranged apertures; a first mylar sheet having a raised tactile bubbled surface, the bubbles being arranged and spaced to correspond to said apertures and dimensioned to pass through said apertures and extend beyond the upper bezel surface; a stiffener sheet having a tactile bubbled surface nestled within the concave surface of each of the bubbles on said first mylar sheet; a transparent electrical conductive coating on the concave surfaces of the bubbles on said stiffener sheet; a light transmissive printed circuit sheet having respective transparent conductors thereon arranged to correspond with the tactile bubbled surface on said first mylar sheet; an apertured insulator spacer sheet intermediate said printed circuit sheet and said stiffener sheet; the apertures in said insulator spacer sheet corresponding to the tactile bubbled surface of said first mylar sheet; and an electroluminescent panel proximal said printed circuit sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
A sandwich type computer keyboard comprising: a bezel having parallel arranged apertures; a first mylar sheet having a raised tactile bubbled surface, the bubbles being arranged and spaced to correspond to said apertures and dimensioned to pass through said apertures and extend beyond the upper bezel surface; a stiffener sheet having a tactile bubbled surface nestled within the concave surface of each of the bubbles on said first mylar sheet; a transparent electrical conductive coating on the concave surfaces of the bubbles on said stiffener sheet; a light transmissive printed circuit sheet having respective transparent conductors thereon arranged to correspond with the tactile bubbled surface on said first mylar sheet; an apertured insulator spacer sheet intermediate said printed circuit sheet and said stiffener sheet; the apertures in said insulator spacer sheet corresponding to the tactile bubbled surface of said first mylar sheet; and an electroluminescent panel proximal said printed circuit sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first mylar sheet and said stiffener sheet are translucent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 10 wherein said printed circuit sheet is transparent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 10 wherein said printed circuit sheet is translucent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The keyboard in accordance with claim 10 wherein said electroluminescent panel is rigid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-28 | 1981-05-30 | 1981-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-28 | 1985-05-30 | 1985-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-28 | 1989-05-30 | 1989-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |