Keyboard design

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9123485-B2
Application number	US-201414473932-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2014
Priority date	Feb 9, 2011
Publication date	Sep 1, 2015
Grant date	Sep 1, 2015

Abstract

Embodiments of a backlit keyboard assembly are described. A keycap assembly is mounted into a case web having intersecting ribs. A flange, which can be angled, is on the bottom perimeter of the keycap and a correspondingly shaped flange is on each rib of the case web. An overlap of the keycap flange and the case web flanges prevents direct sighting of the backlight light source and also provides a more evenly distributed halo around the keycap, thereby improving both aesthetics and functionality by providing better light control and contrast.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illuminated key positioned within an aperture having a flanged aperture perimeter, the illuminated key comprising:
a keycap positioned within the aperture and comprising a keycap flange having a geometry corresponding to that of the flanged aperture perimeter, the keycap flange extending from a perimeter of a bottom of the keycap; and
a backlight positioned below the keycap and oriented to transmit light toward the keycap;
wherein the keycap flange at least partially blocks light from the backlight from exiting the aperture.

2. The illuminated key of claim 1 , further comprising an internal stopping mechanism for stopping the keycap at a designed height when the keycap released by a user, the internal stopping mechanism positioned below the keycap.

3. The illuminated key of claim 2 , wherein the internal stopping mechanism comprises a scissor type mechanism.

4. The illuminated key of claim 3 , wherein the internal stopping mechanism comprises:
a stop pin extending from a pivot center of the scissor type mechanism; and
a hook attached to a base plate to capture the stop pin.

5. The illuminated key of claim 4 , wherein the internal stopping mechanism can directly stop the scissor type mechanism from moving vertically in a z-direction.

6. The illuminated key of claim 1 , wherein the keycap flange and case web flange are angled.

7. The illuminated key of claim 1 , wherein the keycap flange comprises a polyethylene terephthalate polymer sheet attached to a bottom surface of the keycap.

8. A stopping mechanism for stopping a keycap at a designed height from a baseplate when the keycap is released by a user, the stopping mechanism comprising:
a scissor type mechanism positioned below the keycap;
a vertical stop pin attached to a pivot center of the scissor type mechanism; and
a hook for restricting vertical motion of the vertical stop pin at a predetermined distance from the base plate.

9. The stopping mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the hook is attached to a base plate and configured to capture the vertical stop pin.

10. The stopping mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the vertical stop pin and hook can directly stop the scissor type mechanism from moving vertically in a z-direction.

11. A method of making an illuminated key, the method comprising:
providing a base plate having a light source positioned underneath the base plate, the base plate comprising a hook;
engaging the base plate with a scissor type mechanism;
engaging a vertical stop pin attached to a pivot center of the scissor type mechanism with the hook;
engaging the scissor type mechanism with a keycap having a keycap flange around a perimeter of a base of the keycap;
positioning a case having an aperture with a flanged aperture perimeter over the keycap such that a flanged aperture perimeter corresponds to the keycap flange, wherein an overlap of the flanged aperture perimeter and the keycap flange prevent a user from directly seeing the light source.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the keycap flange and the flanged aperture perimeter are at least partially angled.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the scissor type mechanism is rotatably engaged with the keycap.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein engaging the scissor type mechanism comprises snapping linkage structures of the scissor type mechanism into features on an underside of the keycap.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the features are grooves on the underside of the keycap.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising attaching a rubber dome to the base plate.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein attaching the rubber dome comprises positioning a concave dome portion of the rubber dome over contact pads of a membrane on the base plate.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the flanged aperture perimeter is formed by chamfering a surface of the case.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hook restricts the vertical motion of the keycap at a predetermined distance from the base plate when the keycap is released by a user.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hook restricts the vertical motion of the keycap such that the keycap flange is stopped before contacting the flanged aperture perimeter.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Niu James J
• Welch Harold J
• Bronstein Chad A
• Kessler Patrick
• Ligtenberg Chris

Classifications

• H01H13/83 Primary

  characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements · CPC title

• H01H2221/03

  Stoppers for on or off position · CPC title

• G03F7/70733

  Handling masks and workpieces, e.g. exchange of workpiece or mask, transport of workpiece or mask · CPC title

• H01H3/125

  using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser · CPC title

• H01H13/86

  characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size · CPC title