LIGHTING AND USABILITY FEATURES FOR KEY STRUCTURES AND KEYPADS ON COMPUTING DEVICES

• US 20080013300A1
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: YUROCHKO, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A keypad is provided for a computing device. The keypad includes one or more lighting devices or mechanisms for illuminating a plurality of keys structures. In an embodiment, the plurality of key structures are formed from a milky material.

Claims

1. A keypad for a computing device, the keypad comprising:

a plurality of key structures, each of the plurality of key structures being referenced by a top end that includes a surface for receiving user-contact and a bottom end opposite to the top end;

a plurality of discrete light sources provided underneath the plurality of key structures, the plurality of light sources illuminating each of the key structures from the bottom end;

a milky material provided between the top of each key structure in the plurality of key structures and the plurality of discrete light sources to cause light generated by the plurality of light sources to be transmissive through each key structure.

2. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the milky material is provided within each of the plurality of key structures.

3. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the milky material is a resin that forms each of the plurality of key structures.

4. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the resin is substantially white.

5. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the milky material is provided as a separately formed layer between the plurality of key structures and the plurality of light sources.

6. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete light sources correspond to a plurality of light emitting diodes.

7. The keypad of claim 1, further comprising a carrier layer that interconnects the plurality of key structures from the bottom.

8. The key structure of claim 1, wherein the key structure includes a surface film that forms an exterior of the key structure, and wherein the milky resin forms an interior of the key structure.