PM-KB™ Illuminated Keyboard Testing Software

Illuminated keyboards and keypads can exhibit variations in brightness and color from key to key, and even within keys, that are noticeable to the end-user, and which detracts from their experience with the product. In extreme cases, these variations strongly impact product usability.

Part of Radiant Vision Systems' TrueTest™ family, the PM-KB system combines application-specific software and a ProMetric® Imaging Colorimeter to perform rapid, automated visual inspection of back-illuminated keyboards and keypads for character luminance and chromaticity, and overall keyboard luminance and color uniformity.

PM-KB also provides optical character recognition, allowing the software to determine the keycaps are installed correctly and each key is in its proper location. PM-KB is a dedicated testing system and is easy to set-up and operate. PM-KB uses the ProMetric Imaging Colorimeter to test all keys and characters simultaneously, capturing and processing data much faster and more consistently than a human inspector or a spot measurement device.

PM-KB allows you to define a complete set of measurement conditions and pass/fail criteria for specific points of interest on any keyboard or keypad, including:

• the total number of allowed individual character failures;
• the minimum luminance uniformity between characters;
• the maximum color difference between characters (when color is measured).

Different keyboard models are stored individually and can be automatically applied based on the model being tested to simplify switching between multiple models. All test parameters and pass/fail criteria are set on installation and are protected from change under ordinary operations.