KEYCAPS WITH REDUCED THICKNESS

• US 20150090570A1
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Leong, Craig C., Niu, James J., Hendren, Keith J., Kwan, Hilbert T., Yen, Jeffrey L., Yuan, Yanyang, Zhao, Feng, Li, Wanshan, Jue, Derrick T., Hong, Ze
• Granted Patent: US 9,640,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/06 to obtain multicolour or other optical effects B05D5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 by boring or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/028 Printed information
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/058 to avoid tilting or skewing of contact area or actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/02 Laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An illuminated metal keycap having a legend diffuser material that may diffuse light through a legend opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the legend may be transparent. The metal keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the metal keycap, around the perimeter of the metal keycap, and/or through the background layer.

Claims

1. An illuminated input apparatus for use with a computing device comprising:

a plurality of keys, each key comprising;

a keycap having a top surface;

a legend aperture formed within the metal keycap;

a legend diffuser material within the legend aperture;

a compressible scissor mechanism configured to support the keycap; and

a light source having an on state and an off state, the light source oriented to transmit light through the legend aperture.

2. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the on state comprises a keycap perimeter illumination mode in which the light source emits light proximate perimeter of the metal keycap.

3. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the on state comprises a legend illumination mode in which the light source transmits light through legend diffuser material and through the legend aperture.

4. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keycap is formed from aluminum.

5. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the legend diffuser material is configured to diffuse light transmitted through the legend aperture.

6. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keycap is anodized.

7. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the legend aperture is formed in the keycap using a laser cutting process.

8. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the legend aperture is formed in the keycap using a laser ablation process.

9. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of the legend diffuser material is coplanar with the top surface.

11. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the legend aperture is defined in part by at least one bridge portion connecting to an island portion.

12. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one bridge portion has a thickness less than that of the keycap.

13. The illuminated input apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one bridge portion is formed using a laser ablation process.

14. A method for manufacturing a light transmissive keycap for illuminating a keyboard, comprising:

forming at least a portion of a legend aperture within a metal keycap;

depositing a translucent legend diffuser material within the legend aperture;

causing the legend diffuser material to reflow into the legend aperture;

exposing the metal keycap and the legend diffuser material to a curing condition, thereby curing the legend diffuser material;

smoothing residual legend diffuser material so that the cured legend diffuser material forms a substantially continuous surface with the top surface; and

smoothing residual legend diffuser material so that the cured legend diffuser material forms a substantially continuous surface with the bottom surface.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising beveling the edges of the metal keycap.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising positioning a light emitting element below the metal keycap such that light emitted from the light emitting element transmits through the translucent legend diffuser material and through the legend aperture.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the legend aperture is cut using a laser cutting process.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the legend aperture is cut using a laser ablation process.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the legend aperture is defined by at least one bridge portion and at least one island portion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one bridge portion has a thickness less than the uniform thickness of the selected metal keycap.

21. A keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys, each comprising a keycap comprising;

a metal top layer having a uniform thickness;

an aperture within the metal top layer defining a legend; and

a diffuser fill deposited on a bottom surface of the metal top layer;

a light emissive layer underlying the plurality of keys; and

an electrical switch layer comprising a plurality of electrical switches, each of the plurality underlying a respective one of the plurality of keys.

22. The keyboard of claim 21, wherein the light emissive layer comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

23. The keyboard of claim 21, wherein the aperture is opened in part by a laser cutting process and in part by a laser ablation process.