Keyboard having a lighting system

• US 6,987,466 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan, La, Thai, Low, Wing Kong, Lyon, Benjamin, Welch, Harold, Berkeley, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US10/095,349
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 200/310, 200/313, 200/314, 345/168, 362/84, 362/85, 362/558
• US Class Current: 341/22
• 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 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/038 ambient light dependent
• 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 2219/0621 Optical fiber light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/036 Minimise height
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96042 with illumination

Abstract

A keyboard and methods of making the same. The keyboard comprises of a bottom conducting base plate, an illumination layer, a transparent top conducting layer, a light transmissive keyboard membrane, and a plurality of input keys. The illumination layer is deposited on the bottom conducting base plate. The transparent top conducting layer is deposited on the illumination layer. The light transmissive keyboard membrane is disposed on the transparent top conducting layer. And, the plurality of input keys is disposed on the light transmissive keyboard membrane wherein each of the plurality of input keys has a keyswitch mechanism and a keycap including an upper strike surface attached to the keyswitch mechanism.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising:

a bottom conducting base plate;

an illumination layer deposited on said bottom conducting base plate;

a transparent top conducting layer deposited on said illumination layer;

a light transmissive keyboard membrane disposed on said transparent top conducting layer; and

a plurality of input keys disposed on said light transmissive keyboard membrane, each of said plurality of input keys has a keycap including an upper strike surface and attaches to a keyswitch mechanism.

2. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein said illumination layer comprises of an electroluminescent sheet.

3. A keyboard as in claim 1 further comprising a power source configured to provide an output signal to said illumination layer to cause illuminations to said plurality of input keys.

4. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of input keys is made from a light transmissive material.

5. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein said transparent top conducting layer is made out of indium tin oxide.

6. A keyboard as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of input keys includes at least one symbol.

7. A keyboard as in claim 6 wherein said at least one symbol is defined by a light transmissive portion of said upper strike surface.

8. A keyboard comprising:

an illumination panel, said illumination panel emits light upon an application of a power source;

a keyboard base plate disposed on top of said illumination panel, said keyboard base plate having a plurality of holes forming therethrough;

a light transmissive keyboard membrane disposed on said keyboard base plate; and

a plurality of input keys disposed on said light transmissive keyboard membrane and extended from said keyboard base plate, each of said plurality of input keys has a keyswitch mechanism and a keycap including an upper strike surface attached to said keyswitch mechanism, wherein said plurality of holes directing illuminations to said plurality of input keys.

9. A keyboard as in claim 8 further comprising a stiffener support disposed on a bottom surface of said illumination panel.

10. A keyboard as in claim 8 further comprising a power source configured to provide an output signal to said illumination panel to cause said illuminations.

11. A keyboard as in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of input keys is made from a light transmissive material.

12. A keyboard as in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of input keys includes at least one symbol.

13. A keyboard as in claim 12 wherein said at least one symbol is defined by a light transmissive portion of said upper strike surface.

14. A keyboard as in claim 8 wherein said optical fiber panel comprises of a plurality of optical fibers and wherein a light source is supplied to said optical fiber panel to cause said illuminations.

15. A keyboard as in claim 14 wherein said light source includes one of a halogen lamp, a metal halide lamp, and a light emitting diode.

16. A keyboard as in claim 8 wherein said illumination panel comprises any one of an electroluminescent lamp panel, a diffuser panel, and an optical fiber panel.

17. A keyboard as in claim 16 wherein said diffuser panel comprises of a plurality of groves that reflect lights and wherein a light source is supplied to said diffuser panel to cause said illuminations.

18. A keyboard as in claim 16 wherein said illumination panel comprises an optical fiber panel coupling to multiple light sources, said optical fiber panel comprises of a plurality of fiber bundles, each of said plurality of fiber bundles, having multiple optical fibers, is coupled to one of said multiple light sources, wherein said multiple optical fibers in one of said plurality of fiber bundles interleave with said multiple optical fibers in another one of said plurality of fiber bundles over an area of said keyboard.

19. A keyboard as in claim 18 wherein said multiple light sources include one of halogen lamps, metal halide lamps, and light emitting diodes.

20. A method of making a keyboard comprising:

depositing an illumination layer on a top surface of a bottom conducting base plate;

depositing a transparent top conducting layer on a bottom surface of a light transmissive keyboard membrane having a plurality of input keys, each of said plurality of input keys has a keycap including an upper strike surface and attaches to a keyswitch mechanism;

adhering said bottom conducting base plate to said light transmissive keyboard membrane such that said transparent top conducting layer is disposed on said illumination layer.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein said illumination layer comprises of an electroluminescent sheet.

22. A method as in claim 20 further comprising coupling a power source to said keyboard, said power source provides an output signal to said illumination layer to cause illuminations to said plurality of input keys.

23. A method as in claim 20 wherein each of said plurality of input keys includes at least one symbol.

24. A method as in claim 20 further comprising making said at least one symbol light transmissive.

25. A method as in claim 20 further comprising making each of said plurality of input keys light transmissive.

26. A method of making a keyboard comprising:

depositing an illumination layer onto a bottom conducting base plate;

depositing a transparent top conducting layer on said illumination layer; and

depositing a light transmissive keyboard membrane on said illumination layer, said light transmissive keyboard membrane having a plurality of input keys, each of said plurality of input keys has a keycap including an upper strike surface and attaches to a keyswitch mechanism.

27. A method of making a keyboard:

disposing a keyboard base plate on an illumination panel, said illumination panel emitting light upon an application of a power source;

disposing a light transmissive keyboard membrane on said keyboard base plate wherein

said keyboard base plate has a plurality of input keys extending therefrom;

each of said plurality of input keys has a keyswitch mechanism and a keycap including an upper strike surface and attached to said keyswitch mechanism; and

said keyboard base plate having a plurality of holes forming therethrough wherein said plurality of holes directing illuminations to said plurality of input keys.

28. A method as in claim 27 further comprising disposing a stiffener support on a bottom surface of said illumination panel.

29. A method as in claim 27 further comprising coupling a power source to said keyboard, said power source configured to provide an output signal to said illumination panel to cause said illuminations.

30. A method as in claim 27 further comprising making each of said plurality of input keys light transmissive.

31. A method as in claim 27 wherein each of said plurality of input keys includes at least one symbol.

32. A method as in claim 31 further comprising making said at least one symbol light transmissive.

33. A method as in claim 27 wherein said illumination panel comprises any one of an electroluminescent lamp panel, a diffuser panel, and an optical fiber panel.

34. A method as in claim 33 further comprising including a plurality of optical fiber in said optical fiber panel and supplying a light source to said optical fiber panel to cause said illuminations.

35. A method as in claim 33 wherein said optical fiber panel comprises of a plurality of fiber bundles, each of said plurality of fiber bundles, having multiple optical fibers, is coupled to one of said multiple light sources, wherein said multiple optical fibers in one of said plurality of fiber bundles interleave with said multiple optical fibers in another one of said plurality of fiber bundles over an area of said keyboard.

36. A keyboard as in claim 35 wherein said multiple light sources include one of halogen lamps, metal halide lamps, and light emitting diodes.

37. A method as in claim 33 wherein said diffuser panel comprises of a plurality of groves that reflect lights and wherein a light source is supplied to said diffuser panel to cause said illuminations.