JP2000113761A - Light-emitting keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light-emitting keyboard with key tops free from deterioration of a character display caused by a long-time use or poor print accuracy. SOLUTION: A keyboard 1 comprises a plurality of keys connected to respective switches, a key top 2 of each of the plurality of keys is made transparent, a light-emitting character plate 3 emitting light by being irradiated with specific light is provided within each of these keys, and the light-emitting character plates 3 are caused to emit light by irradiating light to them from the light sources 5 provided in the keyboard 1. As the light-emitting character plate 3, two types are usable, one type that is placed in a key top 2 and its luminous intensity by the irradiated light is changed by its motion interlocking with key motion, and the other type that is fixed to a keyboard base and not movable interlocking with key motion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard for a computer device or the like, and more particularly, to a light-emitting keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a keyboard of a computer device or the like has printed and displayed an input function given to each key on the surface of a key top.

[0003]

However, according to the above-described method, the printing on the key top surface is blurred or unclear due to deterioration due to long-term use, or the outline of the character is blurred or unclear due to printing accuracy. There was a problem, and the solution was an issue.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting keyboard in which the character display of a key top does not deteriorate due to long-term use or printing accuracy.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys connected to a switch, wherein the key tops of the plurality of keys are transparent, and the insides of these keys are provided. A light-emitting dial that emits light when a predetermined light is applied to the dial, and illuminates the dial with light from a light source provided on the keyboard to emit light.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the luminous dial is placed in the key top, and the luminous intensity of the illuminating light changes when the dial is moved in conjunction with the movement of the key. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1 is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the illuminated dial is fixed to a keyboard base and does not move in conjunction with the movement of a key. I will provide a.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a light emitting keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard of FIG. 1 as viewed from the side. In FIG. 1, light emitted from the light emitting sources at the back and front of the keyboard is reflected on the dial and the characters appear to be raised.

In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a keyboard, and a key base 2 and a keyboard base 4 under the dial 3 are blacked out. A light source 5 that emits predetermined light toward the dial 3 is disposed at the back and front of the keyboard 1.

In the light emitting keyboard according to one embodiment of the present invention, the key top 2 is made of a transparent material, and the key top 2 or the keyboard base 4 is coated with a paint that emits only predetermined light from the side. The dial 3 is arranged, and a predetermined light is applied from around the keyboard to cause the dial 3 to emerge. At this time, the parts other than the key top 2 and the dial 3 are blacked out.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard device (a view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1). The key top 2 is made of a transparent material. The dial 3 normally looks black, but emits white light only when the irradiation light 6 of the light source 5 that emits predetermined light is emitted. When the irradiation light 6 is not irradiated, it is black. In this figure, the dial 3 is arranged in the key top 2, but there is also a form in which the dial 3 is fixed to the keyboard base 4.

The operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the keyboard 1 is in the operating state, the light source 5 emits irradiation light 6, passes through the key top 2 and irradiates the dial 3, and the dial 3 emits white light. In the non-operation state, the entire keyboard is black, and characters are not irradiated.

The operation of one embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and a design change or the like may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. The present invention is also included in the present invention.

For example, the light source 5 irradiates the dial 3 with irradiation light 6 and if the irradiation light 6 does not directly enter the eyes of the user,
It does not matter where you place it.

The luminescent color of the dial 3 and the color of the keyboard base 4 may be any color as long as the contrast value is large.

[0016]

As described above, the first effect obtained by the present invention is that unlike a printed character, even if the keyboard is used for a long time, it does not deteriorate and become unclear. The reason is that the characters are illuminated for recognition.

The second effect is that characters appear clearly, and the target key can be easily searched for even when the user moves his / her gaze from the display, so that the operability is improved. The reason is that the characters are illuminated for recognition.

A third effect is that the movable / non-movable state of the computer device can be easily confirmed. The reason is that when the keyboard is not movable, the entire key surface is black.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a light-emitting keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keyboard 2 Key top 3 Dial 4 Keyboard base 5 Light source 6 Irradiation light

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard comprising a plurality of keys each connected to a switch, wherein a key top of the plurality of keys is transparent, and a light emitting type which emits light when a predetermined light is applied to the inside of the keys. An illuminated keyboard provided with a dial and illuminating the dial with light from a light source provided on the keyboard to emit light. 2. The luminous dial according to claim 1, wherein the luminous dial is placed in the key top, and the luminous intensity of the illuminating light changes as the luminous dial moves in conjunction with the movement of the key. Emitting keyboard. 3. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the illuminated dial is fixed to a keyboard base and does not move in conjunction with a key movement.