Keyboard illumination

• US 9,275,810 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pance, Aleksandar, Bilbrey, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Amy Cohen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fishman, Marina
• Application Number:
  US12/839,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20120012448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,052 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A, 200/308, 200310-314, 200/341, 200510-514, 341/22, 345/168
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/186 using an electroluminiscent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/187 having symbols engraved or printed by laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/038 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/037 using organic materials, e.g. organic LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/046 above switch site
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/02 Laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses disclosed herein relate to backlit visual display elements. One embodiment may take the form a keyboard including at least one keycap, a dome switch layer underlying the keycap, and an encapsulation layer underlying the dome switch layer. The encapsulation layer may include a first printed circuit layer configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the at least one keycap. The keyboard may further include a light emissive layer underlying the encapsulation layer. The light emissive layer may include at least one emissive area corresponding to the at least one keycap and a second printed circuit layer configured to supply a voltage to the at least one emissive area.

Claims

1. A keyboard, comprising:

an illuminable key comprising;

a keycap;

a dome switch positioned below the keycap and comprising a flexible membrane and an electrically-conductive contact;

a light emissive layer positioned below the dome switch and comprising;

a substrate; and

a film of light-emitting polymer formed on the substrate in a shape that corresponds to an area defined by or through the keycap;

an encapsulation layer positioned below the dome switch and over the film of light-emitting polymer, thereby encapsulating the film of light-emitting polymer;

a switch contact layer formed on or coupled to a top surface of the encapsulation layer and configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the illuminable key when the illuminable key is pressed and the flexible membrane of the dome switch compresses a distance sufficient for the electrically-conductive contact to touch the switch contact layer; and

a power supply trace disposed on a bottom surface of the encapsulation layer, the power supply trace configured to supply a voltage to film of light-emitting polymer so that the film of light-emitting polymer generate and emit light toward the area defined by or through the keycap.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the encapsulation layer is transparent.

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the shape of the film of light-emitting polymer is substantially identical to the area defined by or through the keycap.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the film of light-emitting polymer is aligned with the area defined by or through the keycap along a vertical axis such that light generated by the film of light-emitting polymer is directed upwardly through the area defined by or through the keycap.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the encapsulation layer is glass.

6. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the area defined by or through the keycap defines a legend, and the shape of the film of light-emitting polymer is substantially identical to the shape of the legend.

7. The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the film of light-emitting polymer is aligned with the legend along a vertical axis such that light generated by the film of light-emitting polymer is directed upwardly toward and through the legend.

8. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the switch contact layer is formed on the substrate layer.

9. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the film of light-emitting polymer is formed to define a plurality of distinct and separated light emissive areas.

10. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the film of light-emitting polymer comprises an organic light-emitting diode.

11. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the film of light-emitting polymer covers only a portion of the light emissive layer.

12. A method for manufacturing a light emissive layer for illuminating a keyboard, comprising:

depositing a film of light-emitting polymer onto a first surface of a substrate to form a plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas;

depositing an encapsulation layer on the substrate and over the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas;

forming a first circuit on an external surface of the encapsulation layer opposite the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas, the first circuit configured to transmit a signal corresponding to a keycap when the keycap is pressed by a user; and

forming a second circuit on the first surface of the substrate, the second circuit coplanar with the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas and configured to supply a voltage to each of the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas to cause each of the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas to generate and emit light.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

aligning the keycap with at least one of the plurality of distinct and separate light-generating areas along a vertical axis such that light generated thereby is directed toward at least a portion of the keycap.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the substrate is glass.

15. A keyboard, comprising:

a keycap;

a light-generating layer underlying the keycap, the light-generating layer comprising;

a substrate;

a power circuit formed onto the substrate;

a light-emitting polymer deposited onto the substrate and connected to the power circuit, the light-emitting polymer deposited so as to define a first and a second discrete light-generating area, the first and second discrete light-generating areas each covering only a portion of the substrate, the first discrete light-generating area formed into a shape corresponding to an area defined by or within the keycap; and

an encapsulation sheet disposed over the light-emitting polymer, thereby encapsulating the first and the second discrete light-generating areas;

a switch circuit disposed on a surface of the encapsulation sheet opposite the light-emitting polymer, the switch circuit configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the keycap when the keycap is pressed by a user; and

a dome switch underlying the first discrete light-generating area and aligned with the keycap.

16. The keyboard of claim 15, wherein the first and second discrete light light-generating areas are flexible organic light-emitting diodes.

17. The keyboard of claim 15, wherein the keycap defines a legend and the first discrete light-generating area is aligned with the legend along a vertical axis such that light generated by the first discrete light-generating area is directed upwardly through the legend.

18. A keyboard, comprising:

a plurality of keys, each key comprising;

a keycap;

a dome switch underlying the keycap;

an encapsulation sheet comprising;

a top surface oriented toward the keycap, the top surface comprising a switch circuit underlying the keycap; and

a bottom surface opposite the top surface;

a light-generating area disposed onto a top surface of a substrate, the light-generating area positioned to interface the bottom surface of the encapsulation sheet so as to underlay the keycap and such that the light-generating area is encapsulated by the encapsulation sheet; and

a power circuit disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the light-generating area and configured to provide electrical power to the light-generating area.