System level features of a keyboard

• US 10,082,880 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2014
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Yarak, III, William P., Stefansson, Erik T., Abraham, Euan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tuan T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Rockshana D
• Application Number:
  US14/472,260
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 36167908, 36167955
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A keyboard device includes a shell having a set of aperture formed into a top surface. A group of keys are disposed in the set of apertures. A platform is disposed under the group of keys and substantially fills an interior of the shell. The platform has a cavity formed in a lower surface of the platform. A circuit board, which is operable to control the keyboard is disposed within the cavity. The platform is configured to prevent ingress of liquid and debris that may enter the set of apertures. In some cases, the shell may have a rear aperture formed into a side wall, which may be configured as an antenna that is tuned to transmit a wireless signals at a transmission frequency.

Claims

1. A keyboard device, comprising:

a group of keys;

a sheet metal shell defining a web having an array of openings along a top surface and side surfaces surrounding the top surface, each key positioned in a respective opening of the array of openings and separated by a section of the web;

a platform enclosed within the sheet metal shell under the group of keys and supporting the group of keys, the platform defining a cavity having a lower surface opposite the group of keys that is recessed into the platform; and

a circuit board coupled to the lower surface of the platform such that the circuit board is positioned within the cavity and below at least a portion of the group of keys, the circuit board operable to control the keyboard device;

wherein;

the platform is positioned between the web and the circuit board and forms a liquid barrier for liquid that enters through an opening of the array of openings.

2. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein

the circuit board is suspended from the lower surface;

and

the suspension of the circuit board prevents liquid in the cavity under the circuit board from reaching the circuit board.

3. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein:

the keyboard device further comprises a base attached to the sheet metal shell and defining a bottom surface of the keyboard device; and

the platform is coupled to the base by an adhesive.

4. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the platform is substantially wedge-shaped.

5. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the top surface and side surfaces define a seamless continuous external surface of the keyboard device.

6. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein:

the keyboard device further comprises a base attached to the sheet metal shell and defining a bottom surface of the keyboard device;

the platform is attached to the sheet metal shell and the base; and

the platform rigidly couples the group of keys to the base.

7. The keyboard device of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch circuit board comprising a set of switches;

wherein

the switch circuit board is between the group of keys and the platform, and

at least one of the set of switches corresponds to at least one key of the group of keys and is actuated when the at least one key is pressed.

8. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein:

the sheet metal shell is formed from a single aluminum sheet; and

the single aluminum sheet defines multiple walls extending from the top surface that define the side surfaces, and

the sheet metal shell is without seams along adjacent walls.

9. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein:

the sheet metal shell includes a rear aperture formed in a rear wall of the sheet metal shell;

the sheet metal shell is electrically coupled to the circuit board; and

a portion of the sheet metal shell defining the rear aperture transmits or receives radio-frequency signals.

10. The keyboard device of claim 9, wherein a width of the portion of the sheet metal shell defining the rear aperture is configured to transmit and receive radio-frequency signals at a transmission wavelength.

11. The keyboard device of claim 9, wherein

the sheet metal shell is formed from an aluminum sheet having an anodized coating;

and

the sheet metal shell is electrically connected to the circuit board via a region on a surface of the sheet metal shell that is substantially free of the anodized coating.

12. The keyboard device of claim 1, wherein the keyboard device is configured to operate as a wireless radio-frequency keyboard.

13. A wireless keyboard, comprising:

a shell formed from sheet metal and defining a web having openings formed along a top surface, sidewalls extending downward from the web, and a rear sidewall defining an aperture;

a set of keys at least partially enclosed in the shell, each key of the set of keys extending through a corresponding opening of the openings of the web;

a platform positioned below and supporting the set of keys, the platform defining a cavity positioned below at least a portion of the set of keys; and

a circuit board positioned within the cavity of the platform and operable to control the wireless keyboard, wherein

the rear sidewall of the shell defining the aperture is electrically connected to the circuit board, and

the rear sidewall of the shell defining the aperture transmits or receives radio-frequency communication between an external device and the circuit board.

14. The wireless keyboard of claim 13, wherein a width of the rear sidewall of the shell defining the aperture is configured to facilitate transmission and reception of radio-frequency signals at a transmission frequency.

17. The wireless keyboard of claim 13, wherein

the shell is formed by bending a sheet of aluminum;

and

the sidewalls of the shell are joined without welds or seams.

15. A method for making a keyboard device, the method comprising:

forming a sheet metal shell comprising a top portion and multiple walls;

forming a set of openings in the top portion of the sheet metal shell to define a web;

installing a group of keys in the sheet metal shell, each key of the group of keys extending through a respective opening of the set of openings;

installing a platform in the sheet metal shell under the group of keys that is fully enclosed by the sheet metal shell and supports the group of keys, the platform having a cavity that is positioned below at least a portion of the group of keys and is recessed into the platform in a lower surface opposite the group of keys;

installing a circuit board within the cavity and coupling the circuit board to the platform, the platform positioned between the web and the circuit board to form a liquid barrier; and

electrically coupling the circuit board to the group of keys.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the top portion and the multiple walls of the sheet metal shell are formed without seams.

18. A keyboard, comprising:

a sheet metal shell defining a web having an array of openings and a set of sidewalls that extend downward from the web;

a set of keys positioned at least partially within the sheet metal shell, each key extending through a respective opening of the array of openings;

a base coupled to the set of sidewalls of the sheet metal shell and defining a bottom surface of the keyboard;

a plastic platform extending upward from the base and supporting the set of keys, the plastic platform defining a cavity positioned below at least a portion of the set of keys; and

a circuit board positioned within the cavity and operably coupled to the set of keys;

wherein the plastic platform shields the circuit board from water that enters through the openings of the web.

19. The keyboard of claim 18, wherein:

the sheet metal shell defines an interior enclosure; and

the plastic platform substantially fills the interior enclosure.

20. The keyboard of claim 18, wherein the plastic platform is bonded to the base by an adhesive.