Patent ID: 8830178

Claim:
An illuminatable keyboard ( 1 ) with a key array ( 3 ) and a base element ( 2 ), wherein key buttons ( 5 ) of the key array ( 3 ) are held in respective distinct modules ( 6 ), each key button comprises a key surface and a shaft, the key surface defines a key plane and the shaft defines a key actuation axis, the modules directly and continuously contact and are fixed to an upper side surface ( 9 a ) of a printed circuit board ( 9 ), the upper side surface faces away from the base element ( 2 ), and the printed circuit board ( 9 ) is provided for delivering signals, the printed circuit board ( 9 ) being arranged above the base element ( 2 ) in close proximity to but spaced from the base element ( 2 ), and the printed circuit board ( 9 ) consists only of a translucent polymer and conducting tracks, a printing is printed onto an underside surface of the printed circuit board, the printing defines an opaque area, the opaque area being smaller than the underside surface of the printed circuit board, at least one light source ( 11 ), for emitting light, is fixed to the printing that is printed on the underside surface ( 9 b ) of the printed circuit board ( 9 ) facing the base element ( 2 ), the printing, which defines the opaque area, serving a sole purpose of preventing light from passing therethrough, and at least one light-scattering element ( 12 ), which projects from the base element ( 2 ) in a direction from the base element ( 2 ) toward the printed circuit board ( 9 ), is arranged on a surface ( 2 a ) of the base element ( 2 ) facing toward the printed circuit board ( 9 ), and the at least one light-scattering element ( 12 ) defines a central axis that extends through a peak end of the light-scattering element and is normal to the surface of the base element, and the light-scattering element is positioned opposite the at least one light source ( 11 ), such that the central axis of the at least one light-scattering element ( 12 ) and the key actuation axis are coaxial, and the at least one light source ( 11 ) is aligned with the shaft of the key button along the key actuation axis, and the printing being arranged on the underside surface of the printed circuit board so as to prevent light from passing from the light-scattering element along the central axis of the light-scattering element to the key button aligned along the corresponding key actuation axis.