KEYBOARD ILLUMINATION

• US 20120012448A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pance, Aleksandar, Bilbrey, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 9,275,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• 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:

at least one keycap;

a dome switch layer underlying the keycap;

an encapsulation layer underlying the dome switch layer, the encapsulation layer including a first printed circuit layer configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the at least one keycap; and

a light emissive layer underlying the encapsulation layer, the light emissive layer including 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.

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

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a first surface of the keycap defines a first shape and the emissive area has a shape that is substantially identical to the shape of the first surface of the keycap.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the emissive area is aligned with the first surface of the keycap along at least one vertical axis so that light transmitted by the emissive area is directed upwardly through at least a portion of the first surface of the keycap.

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

6. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the keycap is etched to form a legend of the first surface, and the emissive area has a shape that is substantially identical to shape of the legend.

7. The keyboard of claim 6, wherein the emissive area is aligned with the legend along at least one vertical axis so that light transmitted by the emissive area is directed upwardly through the legend.

8. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the light emissive layer includes a substrate layer, and the first printed circuit layer is formed on the substrate layer.

9. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the emissive area comprises a film of light-emitting polymers.

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

11. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the at least one emissive area covers only a portion of the light emissive area.

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

depositing a light-emitting polymer onto a first layer to form an emissive area;

forming a first circuit on a second layer, the first circuit configured to transmit a signal corresponding to a keycap; and

forming a second circuit on the first layer, the second circuit configured to supply a voltage to the emissive area.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

aligning a keycap with the emissive area along at least one vertical axis so that light transmitted by the emissive area is directed through at least a portion of the keycap in an upward direction.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second layer is configured to encapsulate the light-emitting polymer deposited onto the first layer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second layer is glass.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing a metal layer underneath the first and second layers for providing rigidity to the keycap.

17. A keyboard, comprising:

at least one keycap;

a light emissive layer underlying the at least one keycap, the light emissive layer including at least one emissive area covering only a portion of the light emissive layer and corresponding to the at least one keycap; and

a dome switch layer underlying the light emissive layer.

18. The keyboard of claim 17, further comprising:

an encapsulation layer between the at least one keycap and the light emissive layer, the encapsulation layer configured to encapsulate the light-emitting polymer of the light emissive layer.

19. The keyboard of claim 17, wherein the light emissive layer is a flexible organic light-emitting diode.

20. The keyboard of claim 17, wherein the keycap defines a legend and the at least one emissive area is aligned with the legend along at least one vertical axis so that light transmitted by the at least one emissive area is directed upwardly through the legend.