Light-emitting assembly for keyboard
First Claim
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1. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
- a switch housing defining a switch opening and a light source recess formed in a sidewall of the switch opening;
a tactile dome positioned at least partially within the switch opening;
a keycap positioned above the switch housing and configured to move toward the tactile dome when pressed; and
a light-emitting assembly positioned within the light source recess of the switch housing, and comprising;
a light source;
a luminescent structure at least partially enclosing the light source and defining a front face of the light-emitting assembly;
an opaque material defining a rear face of the light-emitting assembly, the rear face being positioned opposite the front face;
a first sidewall defining a first side face of the light-emitting assembly; and
a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall and defining a second side face of the light-emitting assembly, wherein the switch housing is configured to receive light from each of the front face, the first side face, and the second side face and to guide the received light toward the keycap, wherein the opaque material is configured to prevent light from passing through it.
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Abstract
A light-emitting assembly positioned within a switch housing of a keyboard assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The light-emitting assembly may include a phosphor structure, a transparent material positioned on opposing side surfaces of the phosphor structure, and an epoxy layer formed over an entire back surface of the phosphor structure and the transparent material. The light-emitting assembly may also include a mask layer formed over an entire top surface of: the phosphor structure, the transparent material, and the epoxy layer. The light-emitting assembly may further include a light source positioned within the phosphor structure for emitting a light.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
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a switch housing defining a switch opening and a light source recess formed in a sidewall of the switch opening; a tactile dome positioned at least partially within the switch opening; a keycap positioned above the switch housing and configured to move toward the tactile dome when pressed; and a light-emitting assembly positioned within the light source recess of the switch housing, and comprising; a light source; a luminescent structure at least partially enclosing the light source and defining a front face of the light-emitting assembly; an opaque material defining a rear face of the light-emitting assembly, the rear face being positioned opposite the front face; a first sidewall defining a first side face of the light-emitting assembly; and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall and defining a second side face of the light-emitting assembly, wherein the switch housing is configured to receive light from each of the front face, the first side face, and the second side face and to guide the received light toward the keycap, wherein the opaque material is configured to prevent light from passing through it. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10)
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8. A method for illuminating a key cap, comprising:
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activating a light source; transmitting light from the light source, through a phosphor structure, and into a switch housing into three distinct surfaces of the switch housing; redirecting, through the switch housing, the light from the phosphor structure to an underside of the key cap, thereby illuminating a portion of the key cap; and blocking at least a portion of the light that is emitted through the phosphor structure and upward toward the key cap; blocking at least a portion of the light that is laterally emitted through the phosphor structure opposite at least one of the three distinct surfaces of the switch housing. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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11. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
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a key cap; a tactile switch positioned below the key cap; a support structure movably supporting the key cap; a switch housing positioned below the key cap and defining an opening that surrounds the tactile switch and a recess; and a light-emitting assembly positioned at least partially within the recess and configured to direct light into the switch housing along three directions, wherein the switch housing defines a light guide configured to channel light received from the light-emitting assembly toward an underside of the key cap; an opaque material positioned on a side of the light-emitting assembly and configured to at least partially block light from exiting the light-emitting assembly along a fourth direction, the fourth direction being opposite one of the three directions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification