Keyboard and method of selecting colors of keys of the keyboard
The present invention discloses a keyboard comprising light emitting devices, each respectively disposed below a key to lighten the top surface of the key; and a micro controller unit transmitting signals generated by each key to the computer, having switches for controlling the light emitting devices, and controlling switches according to signals transmitted from the computer, and a method of selecting the colors of the keys of the same.
1. A method for customized keyboard lighting using a keyboard system that comprises a computer, a driving program, and a keyboard containing a plurality of keys, a plurality of light emitting devices disposed below the plurality of keys, and a micro controller unit having built-in switches for controlling the plurality of light emitting devices, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a user to initiate the driving program for key selection and illumination color selection for the plurality of keys, the driving program configured to allow a different illumination color selection for each of the plurality of keys with at least three different ones of the plurality keys having three different illumination colors;
initiating the driving program which displays keys of the keyboard and a color palette on a monitor for key selection and illumination color selection for the plurality of keys;
receiving information on key selection and illumination color selection for the plurality of keys from the user, the received information including at least three different illumination colors corresponding to three different ones of the plurality of keys;
transmitting the information to the micro controller unit of the keyboard; and
controlling light emission of the light emitting devices using the built-in switches in accordance with an electric signal generated by the driving program in a manner that each of the light emitting devices independently lightens a top surface of the corresponding key with the illumination color designated by the user for the corresponding key,
wherein each of the light emitting devices comprises red, green and blue light emitting diodes, and
wherein the micro controller unit comprises multiple sets of built-in switches, each set corresponding to a different one of the plurality of keys, each set including three switches for controlling said red, green and blue light emitting diodes of said corresponding one of the plurality of keys, and the micro controller unit controls current supplied to the light emitting devices to illuminate each key with the illumination color designated by the user for said key.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the key, except for a symbol region, is formed opaque and the symbol region is formed to transmit light.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the key, except for a symbol region, is formed to transmit light and the symbol region is formed opaque.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a reflecting plate is provided inside of each of the keys and the reflecting plate improves efficiency of light emitted to the top surface of the key.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the micro controller unit controls an amount of current supplied to the light emitting devices to display various spectra of a same illumination color.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of keys comprises a light transmitting material, and a coating solution opaquely coats at least the top surface of said key with a symbol region removed from the coating solution by laser processing.