Input devices with glyphs having a semitransparent mirror layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022342487-A1
Application number	US-202217811698-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 11, 2022
Priority date	Sep 5, 2017
Publication date	Oct 27, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device includes an enclosure, a substrate within the enclosure, a keycap support mechanism, and a keycap supported by the keycap support mechanism and movable relative to the substrate. The keycap includes a body, a mask layer defining a glyph opening, and a semitransparent mirror layer positioned within the glyph opening. The electronic device also includes a light source configured to direct light through the semitransparent mirror layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
a housing; a display positioned in the housing; a transparent cover overlaying the display and having an outer surface; a masking layer positioned internal to the transparent cover and defining a glyph opening; and a semitransparent mirror layer positioned within the glyph opening.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the masking layer is opaque; the glyph opening is positioned in a bezel portion of the masking layer; and the masking layer surrounds a central opening, the display being viewable through the transparent cover via the central opening.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the glyph opening is positioned in a bezel portion of the masking layer.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the masking layer surrounds a central opening, the display being viewable through the transparent cover via the central opening.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a light source in the housing and configured to illuminate the glyph opening from within the housing.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is pivotally coupled to a second housing and movable between a closed position relative to the second housing and an open position relative to the second housing.

7 . An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having an exterior surface; an opening defined in the housing, defining a symbol shape, and containing a transparent material; a semitransparent mirror layer overlaying the symbol shape of the opening behind the transparent material; and a light source positioned behind the semitransparent mirror layer and operable to illuminate the symbol shape through the semitransparent mirror layer.

8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising a display positioned in the housing, wherein the light source is configured to backlight the display.

9 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein, when the light source is illuminated, light from the light source is only visible through the exterior surface at the opening in the housing.

10 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises a base portion pivotally coupled with a display portion and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the exterior surface being exposed on the housing while the base portion and the display portion are in the closed configuration.

11 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the semitransparent mirror layer has an opaque and reflective appearance when the light source is inactive.

12 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the semitransparent mirror layer comprises a reflective metal positioned on an inner side of the transparent material.

13 . An electronic input device, comprising:
a frame; a substrate supported by the frame; at least one semitransparent mirror layer positioned on the substrate and defining at least one key region; and at least one substantially opaque layer positioned on the substrate within the at least one key region.

14 . The electronic input device of claim 13 , wherein the frame and the substrate collectively define a top surface of a housing of the electronic input device.

15 . The electronic input device of claim 13 , wherein the substrate has a planar top surface.

16 . The electronic input device of claim 13 , wherein a set of key regions are defined by the at least one semitransparent mirror layer, the set of key regions being arranged in a keyboard configuration.

17 . The electronic input device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one semitransparent mirror layer defines a border of the at least one key region.

18 . The electronic input device of claim 13 , wherein a set of openings is formed in the at least one substantially opaque layer, and wherein a set of individual semitransparent mirror layers are localized to particular corresponding openings in the set of openings.

19 . The electronic input device of claim 13 , wherein a set of openings is formed in the at least one substantially opaque layer, and wherein the at least one semitransparent mirror layer extends continuously across the set of openings.

20 . The electronic input device of claim 13 , wherein the semitransparent mirror layer substantially covers portions of the at least one substantially opaque layer.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Lancaster-Larocque Simon R
• Mathew Dinesh C
• Ligtenberg Christiaan A
• Silvanto Mikael M

Classifications

• H01H2219/06

  Reflector · CPC title

• G06F1/1662

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• H01H9/182

  Illumination of the symbols or distinguishing marks (H01H9/181 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title

• F21V7/28

  characterised by coatings · CPC title