Patent US6322229B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6322229B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Backlighting for computer keyboard
Assignee: Firefly International Inc
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Filing: 1999-11-12
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Granted: 2001-11-27
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Expires: 2019-11-12
Abstract
Abstract Embodiments of a peripheral backlighting system for keyboards are shown and described, which include one or more light-emitting panels exterior to the keyswitches of the keyboard. The panels are preferably electroluminescent material and surround at least two sides, and preferably all sides, of the stem of a keyswitch or the space in which the stem slides up and down during use. Alternatively, the electroluminescent panel(s) may extend substantially continuously between and underneath a plurality of keyswitches. The panels extend closely adjacent to the stem or stem path, or under the keyswitch, to be as far under the key cap as possible without extending into the stem or cap of the keyswitch. The EL panels are preferably powered by the computer keyboard port, via voltage inverters. Preferably, the keyswitch is translucent or partially translucent, and the base plate over the EL panels, if any, is at least partially translucent or transparent. This way, the light from the light-emitting panels radiates upward through, and preferably around the outer surface of, the translucent keycaps, rather than up through an aperture or lightpipe in the center of the keycaps.
Inventors
- 👤 Sam E. J. Chan
- 👤 King Sum Chu
- 👤 W. Edward Church
- 👤 Randall Krafft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/702; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/08; G05G1/10; G05G1/105; H01H2219/00; H01H2219/002; H01H2219/018; H01H2221/00; H01H2221/07; H01H2223/00; H01H2223/034; H01H2223/0345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A backlit keyboard for use with a computer or internet television, the keyboard comprising: a plurality of keyswitches comprising caps having a translucent or transparent portion and stems extending downwardly from the caps; a substantially planar panel of light-emitting electroluminescent material extending beneath a plurality of said caps, wherein the panel does not extend through the stems; and a translucent or transparent base plate received between said plurality of keyswitches below the caps and above said panel; wherein said panel emits light directly up through said translucent or transparent base plate and into said keyswitches and through said translucent or transparent portion, so that the panel emits an amount of light up between the caps to be visible by a user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A backlit keyboard for use with a computer or internet television, the keyboard comprising: a plurality of keyswitches comprising caps having a translucent or transparent portion and stems extending downwardly from the caps; a substantially planar panel of light-emitting electroluminescent material extending beneath a plurality of said caps, wherein the panel does not extend through the stems; and a translucent or transparent base plate received between said plurality of keyswitches below the caps and above said panel; wherein said panel emits light directly up through said translucent or transparent base plate and into said keyswitches and through said translucent or transparent portion, so that the panel emits an amount of light up between the caps to be visible by a user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the keyboard further comprises hinges located underneath the caps, wherein at leats one of said hinges is substantially translucent or transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the keyboard further comprises hinges located underneath the caps, wherein at least one of said hinges is substantially translucent or transparent nylon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A backlit keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the panel of light-emitting electroluminescent material is powered by a computer power source with voltage increased by means of a voltage inverter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the panel is an electroluminescent membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the caps are substantially opaque with transparent indicia.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the stems are substantially translucent or transparent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the keyswitches are substantially translucent or transparent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the panel emits light up through the base plate substantially all the way between the caps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the base plate comprises partial opaque masking between the keyswitches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein portions of said panel are made from non-radiating material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the panel is continuous between and underneath said plurality of keyswitches and has no perforations for keyswitches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein the stems each have an outer side surface, and the panel has one or more perforations and a perforation edge defining each perforation, wherein the panel receives the stems in the perforations and the perforation edge extends near to the stem outer side surface for emitting light through the keyswitches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The keyboard as in claim 1 , wherein: the keyboard further comprises a circuit board or membrane generally parallel to and below said panel; the stems have bottom ends; the panel is continuous and is located between the keyswitches and the circuit board or membrane so that, when the keyswitch is depressed, the keyswitch contacts the panel to apply pressure to the circuit board or membrane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
A backlit keyboard for use with a computer or internet television, the keyboard comprising: a plurality of keyswitches comprising caps having a translucent or transparent portion and stems extending downwardly from the caps; and a substantially planar panel of light-emitting electroluminescent material extending beneath a plurality of said caps, wherein the panel does not extend through the stems; wherein said panel emits light into said keyswitches and through said translucent or transparent portion, and the panel emits an amount of light up between the caps to be visible by a user; and wherein the keyboard does not include any base plate above the panel of light-emitting electroluminescent material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
108 words
A backlit keyboard for use with a computer or internet television, the keyboard comprising: a plurality of keyswitches comprising caps having a translucent or transparent portion and stems extending downwardly from the caps; and a substantially planar panel of light-emitting electroluminescent material extending beneath a plurality of said caps, wherein the panel does not extend through the stems; wherein said panel emits light into said keyswitches and through said translucent or transparent portion, and the panel emits an amount of light up between the caps to be visible by a user; and wherein the keyboard does not include any base plate above the panel of light-emitting electroluminescent material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The keyboard as in claim 15 , wherein the keyboard further comprises hinges underneath the caps, wherein at least one of the hinges is substantially translucent or transparent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The keyboard as in claim 15 , wherein the keyboard further comprises hinges underneath the caps, wherein at least one of said hinges is substantially translucent or transparent nylon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The keyboard as in claim 15 , wherein the keyboard does not include masking on said panel so that the panel emits light up substantially all the way between the caps.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The keyboard as in claim 15 , comprising partial opaque masking on the panel between the keyswitches.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The keyboard as in claim 15 wherein portions of the panel are made from non-radiating material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A backlit keyboard as in claim 15 , wherein the panel of light-emitting electroluminescent material is powered by a computer power source with voltage increased by means of a voltage inverter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A backlit keyboard as in claim 15 , wherein the panel is an electroluminescent membrane.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The keyboard as in claim 15 , wherein the caps are substantially opaque with transparent indicia.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The keyboard as in claim 15 , wherein the stems are substantially translucent or transparent.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The keyboard as in claim 15 , wherein the keyswitches are substantially translucent or transparent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
The keyboard as in claim 15 , wherein the stems each have an outer side surface, and the panel has one or more perforation and a perforation edge defining each perforation, wherein the panel receives the stems in the perforations and the perforation edge extends near to the stem outer side surface for emitting light through the keyswitches.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
106 words
A backlit keyboard for use with a computer or internet television, the keyboard comprising: a plurality of keyswitches comprising caps having a translucent or transparent portion and extending downwardly from the caps; light-emitting electroluminescent material positioned below the caps and at least partially between the keyswitches so that the light-emitting electroluminescent material emits light up between the caps to be visible by a user; a base plate below the caps and above the light-emitting electroluminescent material, the base plate comprising a transparent or translucent area to transmit light from said electroluminescent material up through the base plate between the caps to be visible by a user.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
106 words
A backlit keyboard for use with a computer or internet television, the keyboard comprising: a plurality of keyswitches comprising caps having a translucent or transparent portion and extending downwardly from the caps; light-emitting electroluminescent material positioned below the caps and at least partially between the keyswitches so that the light-emitting electroluminescent material emits light up between the caps to be visible by a user; a base plate below the caps and above the light-emitting electroluminescent material, the base plate comprising a transparent or translucent area to transmit light from said electroluminescent material up through the base plate between the caps to be visible by a user.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A backlit keyboard as in claim 27 , further comprising partial masking on the electroluminescent material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
96 words
A backlit keyboard for use with a computer or internet television, the keyboard comprising: a plurality of keyswitches comprising caps having a translucent or transparent portion and stems extending downwardly from the caps; light-emitting electroluminescent material positioned below the caps and at least partially between the keyswitches so that the light-emitting electroluminescent material emits light up between the caps to be visible by a user; wherein the keyboard does not include any baseplate above the electroluminescent material, so that light is transmitted from said electroluminescent material up between the caps to be visible by a user.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
96 words
A backlit keyboard for use with a computer or internet television, the keyboard comprising: a plurality of keyswitches comprising caps having a translucent or transparent portion and stems extending downwardly from the caps; light-emitting electroluminescent material positioned below the caps and at least partially between the keyswitches so that the light-emitting electroluminescent material emits light up between the caps to be visible by a user; wherein the keyboard does not include any baseplate above the electroluminescent material, so that light is transmitted from said electroluminescent material up between the caps to be visible by a user.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A backlit keyboard as in claim 29 , further comprising partial masking on the electroluminescent material.
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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) | 2004-11-26 | 2005-05-28 | 2005-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-26 | 2009-05-28 | 2009-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-26 | 2013-05-28 | 2013-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |