Lighting and usability features for key structures and keypads on computing devices

• US 7,275,836 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2005
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yurochko, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US11/203,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 780 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/29, 362/30, 200/314, 404/52, 404/53
• US Class Current: 362/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A keypad is provided for a computing device. The keypad includes one or more lighting devices or mechanisms for illuminating a plurality of keys structures. In an embodiment, the plurality of key structures are formed from a milky material.

Claims

1. A keypad for a computing device, the keypad comprising:

a plurality of key structures, each of the plurality of key structures being referenced by a top end that includes a surface for receiving user-contact and a bottom end opposite to the top end;

a plurality of discrete light sources provided underneath the plurality of key structures, the plurality of light sources illuminating the plurality of key structures from the bottom end;

a milky material provided at a position that is between the top of each key structure in the plurality of key structures and the plurality of discrete light sources to cause at least some light generated by the plurality of light sources to be passed through each key structure.

2. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the milky material is provided as part of a body or filling of one or more of the plurality of key structures.

3. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the milky material is a resin that forms a body or filling of one or more of the plurality of key structures.

4. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the resin is substantially white.

7. The keypad of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete light sources correspond to a plurality of light emitting diodes.

8. The keypad of claim 1, further comprising a carrier layer that interconnects the plurality of key structures from the bottom.

9. The keypad of claim 8, wherein the carrier includes a plurality of slits that at least partially surround individual key structures.

10. The keypad of claim 9, wherein an individual key structure may have one or more slits formed into the carrier about one or more edges, and wherein the position of the one or more slits is adjacent to an edge that is distal to a position of a proximate discrete light source underneath that key structure.

5. A keypad for a computing device, the keypad comprising:

a plurality of key structures, each of the plurality of key structures being referenced by a top end that includes a surface for receiving user-contact and a bottom end opposite to the top end;

a plurality of discrete light sources provided underneath the plurality of key structures, the plurality of light sources illuminating the plurality of key structures from the bottom end;

a milky material provided at a position that is between the top of each key structure in the plurality of key structures and the plurality of discrete light sources to cause at least some light generated by the plurality of light sources to be passed through each key structure;

wherein the milky material is provided as a separately formed layer between the plurality of key structures and the plurality of light sources.

6. The keypad of claim 5, wherein the separately formed layer is formed from silicon rubber.

11. The keypad of claim 5, wherein the milky material is provided as part of a body or filling of one or more of the plurality of key structures.

12. The keypad of claim 5, wherein the milky material is a resin that forms a body or filling of one or more of the plurality of key structures.

13. The keypad of claim 5, wherein the resin is substantially white.

14. The keypad of claim 5, wherein the plurality of discrete light sources correspond to a plurality of light emitting diodes.

15. The keypad of claim 5, further comprising a carrier layer that interconnects the plurality of key structures from the bottom.

16. The keypad of claim 15, wherein the carrier includes a plurality of slits that at least partially surround individual key structures.

17. The keypad of claim 16, wherein an individual key structure may have one or more slits formed into the carrier about one or more edges, and wherein the position of the one or more slits is adjacent to an edge that is distal to a position of a proximate discrete light source underneath that key structure.