Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Indicators
Patent
1987-02-06
1988-09-20
Luebke, Renee S.
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Indicators
200317, H01H 918
Patent
active
047727691
ABSTRACT:
An apparatus for selective backlighting individual transluscent keys of a terminal keyboard includes a horizontal, double-sided printed circuit board having a number of right angle LEDs equal to the number of backlit keys mounted on its bottom surface. A plurality of clearance holes in the printed circuit board admit a plurality of vertical light pipes that are integral with a transparent substrate. Integral alignment bosses on a bottom surface of the substrate fit precisely in corresponding holes of the printed circuit board. Each light pipe has a rectangular cross section and a 45 degree inclined bottom surface. A horizontal light beam emitted by a LED passes through a vertical wall of a light pipe, strikes its inclined bottom surface, and is reflected up through the light pipe into a recess within a key. The substrate supports a rubber sheet in which the keys are molded and a switch contact layer with printed conductors thereon. Depression of a key presses a conductive shorting pad against the printed conductors, actuating a switch.
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Burr-Brown Corporation
Luebke Renee S.
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