Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Application No. | Application Title | Issue Date |
| 20110268487 | KEYBOARD ASSEMBLY AND UNDERLYING DISPLAY DEVICE The disclosure provides for a computer peripheral in which a display device produces images which may be viewed through a keyboard assembly that is disposed over the display device. Each the key of the keyboard assembly includes a keycap and a mechanical understructure ... | 11/03/2011 |
| 20110243630 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, KEYBOARD SYSTEM, AND KEY TOP SYSTEM An information processing system includes: a first information processing device including a first keyboard with a first key top; and a second information processing device including a second keyboard with a second key top, wherein a first character is denoted on the fi... | 10/06/2011 |
| 20110182643 | Keycap and Keyboard Using the Same A keycap including a body and an ink layer is provided. The ink layer is disposed on the body, and has a blind hole and a through hole.... | 07/28/2011 |
| 20110110697 | SPECIALIZED KEYS AND ARRANGEMENTS THEREOF FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES Embodiments of the invention provide an electronic device, such as a laptop PC, with a keyboard having specialized keys. The specialized keys according to embodiments of the invention are chamfer-less, configured with a larger, “D” shaped striking surface having a c... | 05/12/2011 |
| 20110109556 | SPECIALIZED KEYS AND ARRANGEMENTS THEREOF FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES Embodiments of the invention provide an electronic device, such as a laptop PC, with a keyboard having specialized keys. The specialized keys according to embodiments of the invention are chamfer-less, configured with a larger, “D” shaped striking surface having a c... | 05/12/2011 |
| 20100272490 | Key Structure of a Keyboard A key structure of a keyboard, comprising: a backplane and a plurality of key caps. The backplane is concaved a plurality of grooves. A frame is deposed on the groove, and outside of the frame two fixed bases and two positioning columns are correspondingly deposed on th... | 10/28/2010 |
| 20100253757 | KEYBOARD, PRINTING METHOD OF PATTERN ON KEY CAP, AND PRINTING METHOD OF PATTERN ON KEYBOARD A keyboard which includes a plurality of key caps is provided. Each of the key caps includes a surface respectively and the surfaces of the key caps are coplanar substantially. Therein a pattern which includes a plurality of ink dots is formed on each surface of the key... | 10/07/2010 |
| 20100061789 | SELF-LUMINOUS KEYBOARD WITH BRIGHTNESS-ENHANCED KEYCAPS A self-luminous keyboard with brightness-enhanced keycaps of the present invention comprises a baseplate, a substrate arranged above the baseplate, a plurality of keycaps coupled to the substrate and able to move up and down, a circuit board triggered by the contact of ... | 03/11/2010 |
| 20090190990 | KEYPAD HAVING THREE-DIMENSIONAL PATTERNS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME A keypad having three-dimensional patterns and a method for manufacturing the same. The keypad includes a base layer, a light-guiding plate, a pattern layer, a shielding layer and a keycap layer. The light-guiding plate is overlapped on the base layer. The pattern layer... | 07/30/2009 |
| 20090021400 | MULTICOLOR TRANSPARENT COMPUTER KEYBOARD A multicolor transparent computer keyboard for operating a computer in a dark environment includes transparent keypads each on a top including spaced transparent color layers occupying four corners and being different in color from each other, an opaque layer on the col... | 01/22/2009 |
| 20080240831 | KEYBOARD WITH ENHANCED IRRADIATION BRIGHTNESS A keyboard. A membrane circuit assembly is disposed on a base plate. A key base is disposed on the membrane circuit assembly and comprises a first metal conducting portion and a second metal conducting portion. The first and second metal conducting portions are connecte... | 10/02/2008 |
| 20080226375 | THIN KEYPAD ASSEMBLY A thin keypad assembly with a keypad panel of a smooth surface, a mist surface or a lines layer includes an elastic layer, a carrier and a keypad layer. The elastic layer includes a plurality of support portions, and each support portion has a protrusion. The carrier is... | 09/18/2008 |
| 20080205961 | Polymeric gel-cushioned keyboard keys A key assembly for a keyboard. The key assembly includes a plunger assembly having an impact flange and a mantle coupled to the plunger assembly. The mantle includes a gel deformable by an actuation force.... | 08/28/2008 |
| 20080175644 | THIN KEYPAD ASSEMBLIES AND COMPONENTS FOR ELECTRONICS DEVICES AND METHODS A keypad including a plurality of user interface key caps flexibly coupled to a carrier and forming a substantially planar unitary member. The user interface key caps defined by and located between nested slots formed in the substantially planar unitary member wherein t... | 07/24/2008 |
| 20080131184 | Display key, display keyswitch assembly, key display assembly, key display, display data entry device, display PC keyboard, and related methods A method and configuration for a display key, a display-equipped keyswitch and a keyboard or keypad having a plurality of display keys and/or display-equipped keyswitches where key display images are configurable, editable, dynamically deliverable to a corresponding des... | 06/05/2008 |
| 20080101840 | Data Input Arrangement with a Shaped Interface A data input arrangement may include a first array of input keys defining a first shape extending across a first typing surface thereof; and a second array of input keys defining a second shape extending across a second typing surface thereof. The first and second array... | 05/01/2008 |
| 20080062671 | LUMINOUS KEY MECHANISM A luminous key mechanism. A keycap moves with respect to a base plate and includes a transparent window. A light-emitting element is disposed under the keycap. A condenser is connected to the transparent window and opposes the light-emitting element. Light output from t... | 03/13/2008 |
| 20080031673 | KEYBOARD STRUCTURE A keyboard structure includes a base, a circuit board, at least two keycaps and at least two linkages. The circuit board is disposed on the base. The two keycaps are adjacent to each other and disposed on the circuit board. Each keycap has a soft and a hard film. The so... | 02/07/2008 |
| 20070172288 | Press key structure A press key structure comprises two first plates disposed between a casing and a circuit board, wherein one side of each first plate is exposed to the outside of the casing, the other side thereof faces the circuit board and includes a groove, and each of the grooves in... | 07/26/2007 |
| 20070147934 | Keyboards A switch comprising a generally tubular housing (10) of a rigid plastics material. A plurality of discrete tabs (12) are circumferentially disposed, in side-by-side relation, around an end of the housing (10). The housing (10) defines a reces... | 06/28/2007 |
| 20070065215 | Display-equipped key,key assembly, device and method A display key, data input device and related methods with the display key formed of a plurality of snap-together components housing a display therein which is dynamically configurable. At least one of the components includes an integral seat that orients and can also lo... | 03/22/2007 |
| 20060275069 | Ergonomic keyboard apparatus A plurality of embodiments of improved ergonomic keyboards for interfacing with a user's arms, wrists, hands and fingers in a more natural way, i.e., in ways that are optimally suited to human typing. In various non-limiting embodiments, the invention provides optimal f... | 12/07/2006 |
| 20060245808 | Selectively illuminated key chambers A method and apparatus for facilitating input of data to an electronic device using selectively illuminated chambered keys is disclosed. A determination is made as to which of a plurality of chambers is to be illuminated. An indicia assigned to a region on the surface o... | 11/02/2006 |
| 20060239746 | Systems and methods for computer input A display device, such as a liquid crystal display, can be integrated into each key of a keyboard, numeric keypad, or other keyed input device. The display device can display a symbol when it is active. For example, a “1” when pressing that key will input a “1” ... | 10/26/2006 |
| 20060120790 | Keyboard module with light-emitting array and key unit thereof A keyboard module includes a plurality of key units, each of which is provided below a cap member thereof with an array of light-emitting elements. Under the control of a keyboard control circuit in the keyboard module, the light-emitting elements below each cap member ... | 06/08/2006 |
| 20060062626 | Keypad ergonomics Systems and methodologies are provided for improving dynamics of striking a key on a keypad during operation thereof, by shifting contours (e.g., slope of a key's surface plane) on surface of a key, based on location of that key on the keypad, and a manner (e.g., the fi... | 03/23/2006 |
| 20060024111 | Thin keypad assemblies and components for electronics devices and methods A keypad assembly, the keypad assembly including a keycap layer 110 having multiple user interface key caps flexibly coupled to a carrier portion, a luminescent layer 120 disposed toward a backside of the plurality of key cap layer, the luminescent layer c... | 02/02/2006 |
| 20060024110 | Thin keypad assemblies and components for electronics devices and methods A keypad assembly, the keypad assembly including a keycap layer 110 having multiple user interface key caps flexibly coupled to a carrier portion, a luminescent layer 120 disposed toward a backside of the plurality of key cap layer, the luminescent layer c... | 02/02/2006 |
| 20050260022 | KEY ARRAY STRUCTURE A key array structure comprises a key array constituted by connecting a plurality of key members arranged in an array, it is characterized in that an elastic element is connected between each two adjacent key members and a positioning hole or position holes is or are di... | 11/24/2005 |
| 20050260023 | Key switch and keyboard input device using the same A key top of a key switch is formed so as to extend in a horizontal direction, not in a vertical direction. On a rear surface of the key top, a reinforcing member that horizontally extends is mounted on one end portion in the vertical direction and a torsion bar that ho... | 11/24/2005 |
| 20050226669 | KEYBOARD HAVING KEY FLOATING DEVICE A keyboard includes a housing having a number of passages formed by cylindrical members, a number of keys each having a shank slidably engaged in the passages of the housing, and an electromagnetic floating force generating device having a number of coils arranged to ge... | 10/13/2005 |
| 20050186005 | Keyboard with thumb position This invention is about a keyboard with pockets to help keep thumb positions. Specially designed pockets to make it sure to keep thumbs always stay on a space bar-cap of a QWERTY keyboard or on a 0 key-cap of a numeric keyboard. ... | 08/25/2005 |
| 20050169687 | Keyboard with improved function and editing sections A keyboard having an improved function key section and an improved editing section. A row of keys is located behind the alphanumeric section. The row of keys includes individual predefined command keys. The groupings of the predefined command keys may be made based on t... | 08/04/2005 |
| 20050042013 | Key cap and manufacturing method thereof An improved key cap for a keyboard and a manufacturing method for the same are used to manufacture an improved key cap. The key cap has a key and a protective layer. The key is printed with a predetermined symbol or figure, or the protective layer is printed with a pred... | 02/24/2005 |
| 20050042014 | Deployable keyboard device including displaceable keybutton positions for portable miniature electronic devices In a miniature keyboard, keybuttons may shift their relative positions from a relatively smaller array when stored to deployment which results in a relatively larger array for active keyboard use. An application for this positional adjustment is the use of the keyboard ... | 02/24/2005 |
| 20050019080 | Color encoded keyboard and method A computer keyboard optimized for generating multi-color text documents is described. A standard keyboard includes a plurality of selected function keys that have been programmed to change the document text color when activated. Each of the selected keys further include... | 01/27/2005 |
