SUB-MEMBRANE KEYCAP INDICATOR

• US 20120298491A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozias, Orin M., Nerhood, Robert C. II
• Granted Patent: US 8,748,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/314
• 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 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/016 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser

Abstract

Sub-membrane keycap indicators for keyboard assemblies may be implemented by positioning an indicator light element beneath a switch membrane circuit and within the baseplate of a key device. The indicator light element may be so positioned to direct light upward in a substantially narrow cone to an aperture or lightguide molded into a keycap in order to illuminate or light the indicator aperture or lightguide to indicate the current status of at least one component of an information handling system.

Claims

1. A key device, comprising:

a baseplate;

a keycap coupled to the baseplate in spaced upward and downward movable relationship, a light transmitting feature being provided in the keycap and configured to transmit light through the keycap;

switch membrane circuitry disposed above the baseplate and between the keycap and the baseplate, at least a portion of the switch membrane circuitry being configured to transmit light from below the membrane to above the membrane; and

an indicator light element provided within the baseplate and configured to direct light upward from within the baseplate through the switch membrane circuitry to the light-transmitting indicator feature within the keycap.

2. The device of claim 1, where the indicator light element is disposed within a cavity defined in the baseplate.

3. The device of claim 1, where the indicator light element comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

4. The device of claim 1, where the switch membrane circuitry is translucent or substantially transparent.

5. The device of claim 1, where the switch membrane circuitry is opaque;

and where the light transmitting aperture is defined within the switch membrane circuitry in a position above the indicator light element to allow light from the indicator light element to pass through the opaque switch membrane circuit.

6. The device of claim 1, where the keycap has peripheral edges;

and where the indicator light element is configured to direct light upward from within the baseplate through the switch membrane circuitry to the light-transmitting indicator feature in a pattern that is sufficiently narrow to substantially prevent any light bleed out from under the keycap between the baseplate and the keycap past the peripheral edges of the keycap.

7. The device of claim 6, where the indicator light element and the light transmitting indicator feature are each disposed in off centered relationship to a center of the keycap.

8. An information handling system comprising:

at least one processing device;

at least one key device coupled to the processing device, the key device comprising;

a baseplate,

a keycap coupled to the baseplate in spaced upward and downward movable relationship, a light transmitting feature being provided in the keycap and configured to transmit light through the keycap,

switch membrane circuitry disposed above the baseplate and between the keycap and the baseplate, the switch membrane circuitry being configured to provide an input signal to the processor in response to downward pressure applied to the switch membrane circuitry by downward movement of the keycap, and at least a portion of the switch membrane circuitry being configured to transmit light from below the membrane to above the membrane, and

an indicator light element provided within the baseplate and configured to direct light upward from within the baseplate through the switch membrane circuitry to the light-transmitting indicator feature within the keycap.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a key stabilizer mechanism coupled between the baseplate and the keycap, the keycap being coupled to the baseplate in spaced upward and downward movable relationship by the key stabilizer mechanism; and

a spring mechanism coupled between the keycap and the baseplate.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a keyboard assembly that comprises the key device;

a portable information handling system chassis; and

where the keyboard assembly and the at least one processing device are integrated together into the portable information handling system chassis.

11. The system of claim 8, where the indicator light element is disposed within a cavity defined in the baseplate, and where the switch membrane circuitry is translucent or substantially transparent.

12. The system of claim 8, where the switch membrane circuitry is opaque;

and where the light transmitting aperture is defined within the switch membrane circuitry in a position above the indicator light element to allow light from the indicator light element to pass through the opaque switch membrane circuit.

13. The system of claim 8, where the keycap has peripheral edges;

and where the indicator light element is configured to direct light upward from within the baseplate through the switch membrane circuitry to the light-transmitting indicator feature in a pattern that is sufficiently narrow to substantially prevent any light bleed out from under the keycap past the peripheral edges of the keycap.

14. The system of claim 8, where the at least one processor is configured to selectively illuminate the indicator light element to indicate the status of at least one component of the information handling system.

15. A method of illuminating an indicator keycap of a key device, comprising:

providing a key device comprising;

a baseplate,

a keycap coupled to the baseplate in spaced upward and downward movable relationship, a light transmitting feature being provided in the keycap and configured to transmit light through the keycap, and

switch membrane circuitry disposed above the baseplate and between the keycap and the baseplate, and

an indicator light element provided within the baseplate; and

directing light upward from the indicator light within the baseplate through the switch membrane circuitry to the light-transmitting indicator feature within the keycap.

16. The method of claim 15, where the indicator light element is disposed within a cavity defined in the baseplate.

17. The method of claim 15, where the switch membrane circuitry is translucent or substantially transparent.

18. The method of claim 15, where the switch membrane circuitry is opaque;

and where the light transmitting aperture is defined within the switch membrane circuitry in a position above the indicator light element to allow light from the indicator light element to pass through the opaque switch membrane circuit.

19. The method of claim 15, where the keycap has peripheral edges;

and where the method further comprises directing light upward from the indicator light within the baseplate through the switch membrane circuitry to the light-transmitting indicator feature in a pattern that is sufficiently narrow to substantially prevent any light bleed out from under the keycap between the baseplate and the keycap past the peripheral edges of the keycap.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising selectively illuminating the indicator light element to indicate the status of at least one component of the information handling system.