Illumination structure for uniform illumination of keys

• US 10,310,167 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2016
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cao, Robert Y., Leong, Craig C., Zercoe, Bradford J., Mathew, Dinesh C., Krishnamurthi, Mahesh, Qi, Jun, Liu, Rong, Yin, Victor H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowman, Mary Ellen
• Application Number:
  US15/261,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20170090106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 996 Days
• Field of Search: 362 2303
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0045 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7065 characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/06 Reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0622 only an illuminated ring around keys

Abstract

Described is an illumination structure for a key of a keyboard. The illumination structure is used to uniformly illuminate the key and any glyphs that are present on the key. The illumination structure includes a light guide having various features that increase total internal reflection and also illuminate the glyphs of the key.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising:

a keyboard base; and

a set of keys coupled to the keyboard base, one of the keys of the set of keys comprising;

a switch body formed at least partially from a light transmissive material and comprising;

an opening in a central region of the switch body configured to receive at least part of a dome switch; and

an attachment feature positioned along a side of the switch body;

a hinge mechanism coupled to the switch body via the attachment feature;

a keycap coupled to the hinge mechanism; and

a light source configured to couple light to the keycap via the switch body.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein:

the switch body further comprises a recess; and

the light source is positioned at least partially in the recess.

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:

a first wing;

a second wing opposite the first wing; and

a living hinge coupling the first wing to the second wing.

4. The keyboard of claim 3, wherein:

the first and second wings each comprise a pivot member; and

the pivot members interlock with the attachment feature to retain the hinge mechanism to the switch body.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive material is a transparent plastic.

6. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the switch body further comprises a lens configured to direct light out of the switch body.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein:

the keycap comprises a glyph; and

the light source is configured to couple the light to the glyph.

8. A key for a keyboard, comprising:

a light emitting element;

a keycap;

a light transmissive body configured to receive light from the light emitting element and direct the light towards the keycap;

a keycap support mechanism movably coupling the keycap to the light transmissive body; and

a collapsible dome within an opening in the light transmissive body.

9. The key of claim 8, wherein a top surface of the collapsible dome is substantially flush with a top surface of the light transmissive body.

10. The key of claim 9, wherein the collapsible dome is a metal dome.

11. The key of claim 10, wherein the collapsible dome provides tactile feedback to the keycap when the keycap is actuated.

12. The key of claim 8, wherein:

the light transmissive body comprises an attachment feature; and

the keycap support mechanism is pivotally coupled to the light transmissive body via the attachment feature.

13. The key of claim 12, wherein the keycap is pivotally coupled to the keycap support mechanism.

14. The key of claim 8, wherein the light emitting element emits light into the light transmissive body through a side surface of the light transmissive body.

15. A switch body for a key of a keyboard, comprising:

a body formed from a light transmissive material and defining;

a top surface;

a bottom surface opposite the top surface;

an opening extending completely through the body from the top surface to the bottom surface and configured to receive a collapsible dome therein; and

a recess along a side of the body and configured to receive a light source therein;

wherein

the body is configured to direct light from the light source out of the top surface of the body.

16. The switch body of claim 15, further comprising an attachment feature formed in the side of the body and configured to couple to a pivot member of a keycap support mechanism.

17. The switch body of claim 16, wherein the attachment feature is a recess.

18. The switch body of claim 17, wherein the recess is dimensioned to allow the pivot member to slide within the recess.

19. The switch body of claim 15, wherein the light transmissive material is a translucent plastic.

20. The switch body of claim 15, wherein the opening is substantially circular.