Keyboard with increased control of backlit keys

• US 8,378,972 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pance, Aleksandar, Crumlin, Alex J., King, Nicholas Vincent, Kerr, Duncan, Ligtenberg, Chris, Orr, James E. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US12/476,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20100302169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-172, 341 22- 28
• US Class Current: 345/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/038 Prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/016 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/037 using organic materials, e.g. organic LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that provide increased control of backlit keys for a keyboard. Some embodiments may include controllers within the keyboard that are capable of dynamically programming illumination of the keyboard based upon interaction, where each key of the keyboard may be individually programmed in a dynamic manner. For example, a spell checking function may be executing on a computer system, and as the user types various words, the keyboard may dynamically program the illumination of keyboard controllers such that the next letter of the word being typed is illuminated by the keyboard. Also, different keyboard illumination schemes may be generated based upon mouse movements by the user and/or based upon which application is currently executing.

Claims

1. A keyboard comprising:

a plurality of keys;

a plurality of light sources coupled to the keys; and

a global control circuit coupled to a first local control circuit controlling a first light source in the plurality of light sources and coupled to a second local control circuit controlling a second light source in the plurality of light sources, wherein the first and second local control circuits are dynamically programmed during operation of the keyboard based on detection of a keystroke associated with an application executing on a computing device coupled to the keyboard.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the interaction with the keyboard includes normal operation of an application program.

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of keys includes a light source from within the plurality of light sources configured to emit two or more colors.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are independently controlled.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 further comprising a first register within the first local control circuit and a second register within the second local control circuit, wherein data is serially shifted from the first register to the second register while the first and second local circuits are dynamically programmed.

6. A system comprising:

a computer;

a keyboard coupled to the computer, the keyboard comprising;

a plurality of keys;

a keyboard controller coupled to the plurality of keys;

a plurality of light sources coupled to the plurality of keys; and

a lighting control circuit coupled to the plurality of light sources;

wherein the keyboard controller detects a keystroke associated with an application executing on the computer, and the lighting control circuit is dynamically programmed based upon the keystroke.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a display, wherein the lighting control circuit is further programmed based upon information on the display.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising an additional keyboard wherein the additional keyboard mirrors the keystroke.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the keys in the plurality of keys includes an assembly with a transparent piece.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least two of the plurality of light sources are side-emitting LEDs coupled to the transparent piece.

11. The system of claim 6 further comprising a first driver executing on the computer, wherein the driver detects the keystroke and reports this information to a second driver executing on the computer.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of light sources is independently controlled.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the keyboard is non-rigid.

14. A method of operating a keyboard as an output device, the method comprising the acts of:

executing an application on a computer system, the computer system coupled to the keyboard;

detecting a keystroke associated with the application; and

dynamically controlling illumination of a plurality of light sources coupled to a plurality of keys of the keyboard, wherein the dynamic control is based upon the keystroke.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the act of generating a data array comprising individual illumination data for each key in the plurality of keys.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the individual illumination data is dynamically changeable based upon the keystroke.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the light sources are capable of simultaneously emanating at least two primary colors and the data array includes separate illumination information for each of the two primary colors.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising directly driving a lighting control circuit within the keyboard using information in the data array.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the dynamic control of the keyboard illuminates a light source from the plurality of light sources that is associated with a key of a probable subsequent key.