Keyboard key, notably for an aircraft control panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a keyboard key (1) comprising: - a base (2), - a plurality of light-emitting means (3) fastened to the base (2), - at least two light guides (4) fastened to the base (2) and configured to guide the light beam coming from the light-emitting means (3) towards an outer surface of the key (1), - a body (5) fastened to the base (2) and comprising housings (5a) for receiving the light guides (4), - a button (10) comprising an outer wall (11), a sealing membrane (12) secured to the outer wall (11), and a sliding member (13) on which the sealing membrane (12) is mounted and which is movable in translation in the body (5), and - a switching member (7) of the key, which is secured to the base (2) and configured to be in contact with the sliding member (13) in a position of actuation of the key (1).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Keyboard key, especially for an aircraft control panel

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of keyboard keys, particularly those intended for use in an aircraft cockpit.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] Currently, keyboard keys used on aeronautical equipment are discreet and expensive.

[0007] Each keyboard key includes a moving head with an integrated lighting system. However, this requires a moving electronic circuit with flexible components.

[0008] There is a need to improve keyboard keys, particularly to reduce manufacturing costs and improve their sealing.

[0009] Description of the invention

[0010] The present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0011] The aim of the invention is therefore to offer a keyboard key at a reduced cost and with improved sealing.

[0012] The invention relates to a keyboard key comprising:

[0013] - a base,

[0014] - a plurality of lighting devices fixed to the base,

[0015] - at least two light guides fixed to the base and configured to guide the light beam from the lighting means towards an external surface of the key,

[0016] - a body fixed to the base and including housings for receiving the light guides,

[0017] - a button comprising an outer wall, a sealing membrane integral with the outer wall, in particular with an underside, and a sliding member on which the sealing membrane is mounted and which is movable in translation within the body, particularly in vertical housings, and

[0018] - a key switching element attached to the base and configured to be in contact with the sliding element in a key actuation position.

[0019] When the sliding member is in contact with the switching member in a key actuation position, the latter is configured to depress, and when the sliding member is no longer in contact with the switching member, the latter is configured to return to its original shape.

[0020] The body provides mechanical support for all the elements of the key and contributes to the partitioning and light sealing.

[0021] The body is configured to separate the light beam from the light sources into two independent beams, without leakage.

[0022] The invention allows the production of keyboard keys with at least two sealed compartments, particularly for use in an aircraft cockpit.

[0023] The sealing membrane ensures the key is sealed, particularly against fluids, and by extension the entire keyboard.

[0024] The switching device enables the switching function to be performed.

[0025] The switching device is, for example, a dome switch, called a "switch" in Anglo-Saxon terms, made, for example, of metallic material, such as stainless steel.

[0026] The switching element has a cup shape, for example triangular, round, oval, or finned.

[0027] The switching mechanism ensures the touch response.

[0028] Dome-type switching devices are known and will not be described further.

[0029] The sliding element allows the transmission of mechanical movement and the activation of the switching element while ensuring light sealing between the two light fluxes and therefore the two sealed half-cases.

[0030] Preferably, the body includes a top surface in which the sealing membrane is fixed to the top surface of the body.

[0031] Thus, the sealing membrane is mounted between the upper wall and the body.

[0032] Advantageously, the sealing membrane comprises a main portion mounted between the upper wall and the body and a contact portion extending outwards from the main portion, the contact portion being embedded in a form-matching notch made in the upper wall.

[0033] The upper surface of the contact portion, for example slightly recessed from the upper surface of the upper wall. Alternatively, the upper surface of the contact portion could be flush with the upper surface of the upper wall.

[0034] For example, the contact portion includes, on its upper surface, engravings, for example including the legends of the corresponding key.

[0035] Engraving the sealing membrane ensures minimal manufacturing costs compared to the manufacturing costs of known elements performing the same function.

[0036] The sealing membrane is, for example, made of silicone, which further improves the seal.

[0037] For example, the light guides are parallel and arranged opposite each other.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the lighting means include light-emitting diodes, abbreviated as "LEDs", in particular lighting means comprising three diodes: red (R), green (G) and blue (B), known as "RGB diodes".

[0039] The use of LED diodes reduces costs, allows the desired color to be achieved through programming, and thus reduces optical stacking.

[0040] Multicolor LEDs allow for programmable lighting color with a simplification of the optical stacking required in current designs. This also allows the color to be changed dynamically.

[0041] For example, light guides are made of thermoplastic polymer, such as polymethyl methacrylate, commonly known as acrylic and with the acronym "PMMA".

[0042] Such a material is transparent and possesses superior optical properties compared to the light transmission of glass.

[0043] In general, light guides can be made of any other material having the right optical properties to guide light towards the associated engraving.

[0044] This guidance system is necessary due to the offset of the light sources in the fixed section. The light guides ensure that the light flux is properly directed to the corresponding engraving, preventing any loss of light. The light guides are designed to minimize light loss along the path, with light reflected internally at defined angles.

[0045] Thus each light guide comprises a polished light inlet face and a polished light outlet face.

[0046] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a keyboard comprising a plurality of keyboard keys as described above.

[0047] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to an aircraft comprising a control panel including a plurality of keyboard keys as described above.

[0048] Brief description of the drawings

[0049] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the indexed drawings in which:

[0050] [Fig 1] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a key on a keyboard according to a first cross-sectional plane, according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0051] [Fig 2] is an exploded view of figure 1;

[0052] [Fig 3] is a cross-sectional view of the key in Figure 1 along a second cutting plane; and

[0053] [Fig 4] is a detail view of a light guide for the key in Figure 1.

[0054] Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0055] By "keyboard" we mean a set of keys, each of which corresponds to the command of particular characters, functions or instructions and which, under external pressure, for example from the fingers, activate a mechanism causing the printing of a character, a storage or the emission of a signal.

[0056] By "keyboard key" we mean a component of a device, in this case a keyboard, which is acted upon by pressure or contact with a single finger to command an action.

[0057] As illustrated, the keyboard key 1 comprises a base 2, here parallelepiped in shape, a plurality of light means 3 fixed to the base 2, two light guides 4 fixed to the base 2 and configured to guide the light beam from the light means 3 to the external surface of the key 1.

[0058] The key 1 further includes a body 5 fixed on the base 2 and comprising two housings 5a for receiving the light guides 4.

[0059] The four light guides are parallel and arranged opposite each other.

[0060] Body 5 is configured to separate the light beam from the light means 3 into two independent beams, without leakage.

[0061] The key 1 further includes a button 10 comprising an outer wall 1 1, a sealing membrane 12 attached to the lower surface lia of the outer wall 1 1 and a sliding member 13 on which the sealing membrane 12 is mounted and movable in translation in the body 5, in particular in vertical housings 5b, 5c.

[0062] The sealing membrane 12 is fixed to the upper surface 5d of the body 5. Thus, the sealing membrane 12 is mounted between the upper wall 11 and the body 5.

[0063] The sealing membrane 12 comprises a main portion 12a mounted between the upper wall 11 and the body 5 and a contact portion 12b extending outwards from the main portion 12a.

[0064] The contact portion 12b is embedded in a notch 11b in a form-matching groove in the upper wall 11. The upper surface of the contact portion 12b is here slightly recessed from the upper surface of the upper wall 11. Alternatively, the upper surface of the contact portion 12b could be flush with the upper surface of the upper wall 11.

[0065] The contact portion 12b includes, here, engravings 12c on its upper surface, for example, the legends for the corresponding key. Engraving the sealing membrane 12 ensures minimal manufacturing costs compared to the manufacturing costs of known components performing the same function.

[0066] The key 1 further includes a switching element 7 of the key integral with the base 2 and intended to be in contact with the sliding element 13 in an actuation position of the key 1.

[0067] When the sliding member 13 is in contact with the switching member 7 in a key 1 actuation position, the latter is configured to move down and when the sliding member 13 is no longer in contact with the switching member 7, the latter is configured to return to its original shape.

[0068] The switching element 7 enables the switching function to be performed.

[0069] The switching element 7 is, for example, a dome switch, called a "switch" in Anglo-Saxon terms, made, for example, of metallic material, such as stainless steel.

[0070] The switching element 7 has a cup shape, for example triangular, round, oval, or finned.

[0071] The switching unit 7 ensures the touch rendering.

[0072] Dome-type switching devices are known and will not be described further.

[0073] Light means 3 include, for example, light-emitting diodes, abbreviated as "LEDs", in particular light means comprising three diodes: red (R), green (G) and blue (B), known as "RGB diodes".

[0074] The use of LED diodes reduces costs, allows the desired color to be achieved through programming, and thus reduces optical stacking.

[0075] Multicolor LEDs allow for programmable lighting color with a simplification of the optical stacking required in current designs. This also allows the color to be changed dynamically.

[0076] The sealing membrane 12 ensures the sealing of key 1, particularly against fluids, and by extension of the entire keyboard.

[0077] The sealing membrane 12 is preferably made of silicone, which further improves the seal. The light guides 4 are, for example, made of thermoplastic polymer, such as polymethyl methacrylate, commonly known as acrylic and abbreviated as "PMMA".

[0078] Such a material is transparent and possesses superior optical properties compared to the light transmission of glass.

[0079] In general, the light guides 4 can be made of any other material having the right optical properties to guide the light towards the associated 12c engraving.

[0080] This guidance system is necessary due to the offset of the light sources in the fixed section. The four light guides ensure that the light flux is properly guided towards the associated 12c engraving, preventing any loss of light. The four light guides are designed to minimize light loss along the path, with light reflected internally at defined angles.

[0081] Thus, each light guide 4 comprises a polished light input face 4a and an output face 4b.

[0082] The sliding element 13 allows the transmission of mechanical movement and the activation of the switching element 7 while ensuring light sealing between the two light fluxes and therefore the two sealed half-cases.

[0083] Body 5 provides mechanical support for all the elements of the key and contributes to the partitioning and light sealing.

[0084] The invention allows the production of keyboard keys with at least two sealed compartments, particularly for use in an aircraft cockpit.

[0085] Such keys are primarily intended for use on control panels in an aircraft cockpit.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Keyboard key (1) comprising: - a base (2), - a plurality of lighting devices (3) fixed to the base (2), - at least two light guides (4) fixed to the base (2) and configured to guide the light beam from the light means (3) towards an external surface of the key (1), - a body (5) fixed to the base (2) and comprising housings (5a) for receiving the light guides (4), - a button (10) comprising an outer wall (11), a sealing membrane (12) integral with the outer wall (11), and a sliding member (13) on which the sealing membrane (12) is mounted and which is movable in translation within the body (5), and - a switching member (7) of the key attached to the base (2) and configured to be in contact with the sliding member (13) in a key actuation position (1).

2. Keyboard key (1) according to claim 1, wherein the body (5) comprises an upper surface (5d) and wherein the sealing membrane (12) is fixed to the upper surface (5d) of the body (5).

3. Keyboard key (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing membrane (12) comprises a main portion (12a) mounted between the upper wall (11) and the body (5) and a contact portion (12b) extending outwards from the main portion (12a), the contact portion (12b) being embedded in a form-matching notch (11b) formed in the upper wall (11).

4. Keyboard key (1) according to claim 3, wherein the contact portion (12b) comprises, on its upper surface, engravings (12c).

5. Keyboard key (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing membrane (12) is made of silicone.

6. Keyboard key (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light guides (4) are parallel and arranged opposite each other.

7. Keyboard key (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminous means (3) comprise light-emitting diodes.

8. Keyboard key (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light guides (4) are made of thermoplastic polymer, preferably of poly methyl acrylic methacrylate.

9. Keyboard comprises a plurality of keyboard keys (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Aircraft comprising a control panel including a keyboard according to claim 9.

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